It was proposed last year that Child Benefit be cut for higher-rate taxpayers from 2013.  This puts households with one higher earner at a disadvantage compared to a family with two people paying basic-rate tax.  This is in the news again at present, and the Chancellor has said that he will set out in the next few months the full policy.

The current amounts of child benefit are £20.30 a week for the eldest child and £13.40 a week for each subsequent child, and benefit lasts until each child reaches 16, sometimes longer if they are still at school.

Until there is further news on this, any families with a higher-rate earner need to be prepared for the possibility of losing child benefit in 2013.  Once full details are available, I shall look at whether there are any legitimate and practical ways for families who might be just  into the higher-rate tax bracket to bring themselves back within the threshold to receive child benefit.