Payments direct into an account while you are away

The Child Benefit Office can pay your Child Benefit into a bank, building society or Post Office® card account while you are away. But the account must be in the UK.

Finding out how much is paid into the account

The Child Benefit Office will tell you when the first payment will be made, and how much it is for. You can check your Child Benefit payments on your account statements. On some statements your Child Benefit Number may be shown next to the payments you have received. If you think your payment is wrong, please contact the Child Benefit Office.

If not enough money is paid into the account

The Child Benefit Office will either make another payment, or add the money they owe to your next payment. They will contact you to let you know what they are going to do.

If too much money is paid into the account

For example, this could happen if you give the Child Benefit Office information which means you are entitled to less money. If they do not have time to change your regular payment, you may get too much, and you will have to pay back the extra money that you were not entitled to. The Child Benefit Office will always contact you if this happens.