Child benefit
If your child is looked after and accommodated, you can get child benefit for any week s/he comes home:1Reg 16(1)(b) CB Regs •for seven nights in a row; or
•for any extra nights that follow immediately after the first seven; or
•on a regular basis for at least two consecutive nights every week.
Example
Jack has been looked after and accommodated for the past six months. He comes home on Thursday 17 September 2020 and stays with his mother until the following Thursday. His mother is entitled to child benefit for the week beginning Monday 14 September 2020. If he stays at least one extra night, following straight after this first period, his mother is also entitled to child benefit for the week beginning Monday 21 September 2020.
You have to make a new claim for child benefit for any periods your child spends at home. It is worth claiming not just for the income you get but also for the national insurance credits it gives you. This helps protect your state retirement pension by helping you satisfy the contribution conditions.
If, when your child comes back to live with you, you expect it to be on a permanent basis, child benefit should start being paid as normal again (provided you make a claim). If your child is then looked after and accommodated again, you should get child benefit paid for a further eight weeks (see here).