Overview
- As of November 30, HMRC’s review of 23,794 cases opened between August and October found 14,994 claimants were eligible for Child Benefit, 1,019 were ineligible, and 7,781 cases remain open.
- Suspensions followed a shift to Home Office international travel data while real-time PAYE checks used in the pilot were removed during the expansion.
- Internal documents rated the risk to families as tolerable with minimal severity, despite travel records that can misidentify residents when return journeys are not captured.
- HMRC issued an apology and now gives customers one month to provide evidence before payments are suspended, with many families still supplying documentation.
- Treasury Committee questioning is set for today following criticism from MPs and privacy advocates, while the government continues to cite a £350m five‑year savings goal for the crackdown.