Child Benefit. How do they return supporting documents?

[krakozhab]

Hi all,

I am going to apply for Child Benefits as, finally, all our family received ILRs. Since my daughter was not born in the UK, I will need to send her birth certificate and her passport along with the application. I am a bit worried about how will they return the documents. Will they use the standard post or special delivery? It is a bit risky to send such important documents by regular post. Did anybody have this experience?

[Amber]

Returned by standard post. You can take certified copies before you send.

[krakozhab]

Thank you, Amber. I am afraid that the certified copy of the passport will not work anyway in case the documents are lost. What if I enclose a prepaid special delivery envelope asking them to return the documents in this envelope? Did anybody use this method?

[Amber]

I’m not sure how they would deal with that, you could try it but they may not do so.

[Londoner007]

If you send them a special delivery envelope with your address on it, I have seen previously that they use the same envelope to return it to you, but other times they just send it back second class. Hit and miss but worth a try

[Dashh]

Hi

Can you let me know if they used the prepaid envelope?
I am helping my friend with their child benefit form and she's a bit hesitant sending the documents without secured delivery.

Thanks in advance

[krakozhab]

Hi all,

Finally, received my supporting documents from the Child Benefit office (submitted a few weeks ago). I used special delivery to submit the documents and application form. I also enclosed a short cover letter where asked to return the documents using a prepaid special delivery envelope that I also attached. I just want to confirm that they used the prepaid special delivery envelope to return my supporting documents.

I hope this information can be helpful for someone who worries about the safe return of the documents.