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<p>The Government has always urged families to claim Child Benefit to help protect
their future right to the State Pension.</p><p> </p><p>The legislation sets out that
claims for Child Benefit (and the accompanying National Insurance credit) can only
be backdated for three months.</p><p> </p><p>Successive governments have considered
that three months is a fair and reasonable time in which to allow those wishing to
claim Child Benefit to do so.</p><p> </p><p>Even though there may be no question that
some parents would have been entitled to Child Benefit had they claimed earlier, such
certainty is not obvious in every case. The longer the delay, the harder it is to
establish entitlement, given the need to verify evidence and ensure consistent treatment.</p>
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