Child Benefit - Child Abroad

[Twotwos]

Hello,

I am a British citizen, born here and lived here all my life. I have fathered a child abroad. She is now 4 months old. She lives abroad with her mum (non-British citizen) for now but we have come to the agreement that the child will come her to live with me in about 2 year's time. I send her money every month.

For now, am I able and eligible to claim child benefit? I am in full time employment earning under £30k a year.

Has anyone successfully done this?

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards.

[vinny]

Probably no.

However,

Contact the Child Benefit Office to find out if you can make a claim.

[Casa]

Also looking ahead you will have to be fully prepared for the stringent requirements to bring your daughter to live with you in the UK if the mother isn't joining you. Firstly as a unmarried couple, you will have to take a DNA test from a Home Office approved test provider in order to prove paternity. You will also need a Court order (in the country of your child's birth) granting you custody, the mother's written agreement won't be sufficient.
Also be aware that a British passport for your child could take up to a year to obtain when applied for outside of the UK.
I've assumed that the mother isn't married to anyone else?

[pulleyns]

As far as I remember child has to be physical in the uk at the time of apply.

[Twotwos]

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.

I called the helpline and was told that the child must be present in this country otherwise I cannot make a claim. I was informed that the child doesn't necessarily need to have a UK passport and that applications are assessed on a case by case basis so they may ask me for any required documentation after my application has been submitted.

Hope this helps others in a similar situation. Thanks again.

[Wanderer]

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.

I called the helpline and was told that the child must be present in this country otherwise I cannot make a claim. I was informed that the child doesn't necessarily need to have a UK passport and that applications are assessed on a case by case basis so they may ask me for any required documentation after my application has been submitted.

Hope this helps others in a similar situation. Thanks again.

The helpline is notoriously inconsistent with it's opines. Don't trust it.

[CR001]

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.

I called the helpline and was told that the child must be present in this country otherwise I cannot make a claim. I was informed that the child doesn't necessarily need to have a UK passport and that applications are assessed on a case by case basis so they may ask me for any required documentation after my application has been submitted.

Hope this helps others in a similar situation. Thanks again.

The helpline is notoriously inconsistent with it's opines. Don't trust it.

Child Benefits (HMRC) helpline is generally quite accurate and have advised the OP correctly that the child needs to be in the UK. Not so for HO helpline though

[Wanderer]

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.

I called the helpline and was told that the child must be present in this country otherwise I cannot make a claim. I was informed that the child doesn't necessarily need to have a UK passport and that applications are assessed on a case by case basis so they may ask me for any required documentation after my application has been submitted.

Hope this helps others in a similar situation. Thanks again.

The helpline is notoriously inconsistent with it's opines. Don't trust it.

Child Benefits (HMRC) helpline is generally quite accurate and have advised the OP correctly that the child needs to be in the UK. Not so for HO helpline though

Oh! I didn't read properly again, must stop sniffing Ajax....

[CR001]

Child Benefits (HMRC) helpline is generally quite accurate and have advised the OP correctly that the child needs to be in the UK. Not so for HO helpline though

Oh! I didn't read properly again, must stop sniffing Ajax....

Drink beer instead, sniffing Ajax is bad for you