FEWER Bradford families received child benefits last year, new figures reveal.

Figures from HMRC show around 70,490 families in Bradford were in receipt of benefits for 134,280 children in the 12 months to August last year.

This was 710 fewer families than the year before.

Only one parent per family can claim child benefit and there is no limit to how many children it is claimed for.

On April 6, it rose to £25.60 a week from £24 for the eldest or only child, and £16.95 for younger children, up from £15.90.

Nationally last year, fewer families than ever were receiving child benefits - 6.9 million - down from seven million in 2022 and from a record of 7.9 million in 2012, before the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICB) was introduced. 

The HICBC was introduced in January 2013 and did not affect a child's entitlement, but meant the recipient would be liable to repay some or all of their entitlement if their income, or their partner’s income, exceeded £50,000 per year. The threshold has increased to £60,000 as announced at the Spring Budget.