HC Deb 22 February 1999 vol 326 c165W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he requires customers receiving child benefit to distinguish between children of different relationships. [71709]

Angela Eagle

Generally, a person who is responsible for a child either because the child is living with them, or because they are contributing regularly towards the maintenance of the child, will be eligible for Child Benefit. The relationship between the child and the person claiming is immaterial.

Where competing claims are received in respect of the same child and both claimants live at the same address, a parent will have priority of title over a person who is not the child's parent. Step-parents and legally adoptive parents are treated as natural parents.