Claiming Child Benefit and the 8 week holiday rule.

Speculator

Couldn't find the answer on the government website so thought I would ask here.

My wife claims child benefit for our daughter and I understand that if she goes abroad for more than 8 weeks, she must notify HMRC so they can stop the payments.

However, what if  she goes abroad for 5 weeks in the summer and a further 4 weeks in December. Will she need to contact HMRC because her total weeks abroad will be 9 weeks?

Spoonie_Turtle

From the legislation and guidance, knowing how similar temporary absences are viewed for other benefits, it looks like it's just that no single period can exceed the 8 weeks.  But IANAL and child benefit is outside my sphere of knowledge so I defer to anyone more experienced if they disagree.

The key wording on which I'm basing the above understanding is "during the first— (a)8 weeks of any period of absence;"

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/223/regulation/24

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/child-benefit-technical-manual/cbtm10030