Martin Lewis says child benefit payments missing as Natwest and Halifax customers respond

Martin Lewis is reporting child benefit payments are missing for thousands of people this morning as fans of the Money Saving Expert confirmed the widespread issue from his followers.

Martin Lewis posted on X: " Are you expecting a child benefit payment today. If so has it been paid. Some seem to be reporting missing payments?"

There is a suggestion from Martin Lewis' followers that the issue could be affecting people depending on their bank. Halifax customers appear to have received the child benefit correctly while others with Natwest have not.

One X user going by @flynn_danni responded that the food she needed for her children's lunch boxes wasn't delivered on time as the child benefit payment didn't arrive into her account on time and the food order she made was cancelled.

Many other users reported that their has not been delivered either.

X user @donnymacgill said: "Not paid so far this month. Paid monthly, not had a payment since 2nd May. Expected in this morning and nothing."

It comes as DWP PIP claimants were issued advice on what to do if they are refused benefits.

Natwest customer @MasaneAmaha_x, posted: "Mine hasn't gone in either today I bank with Natwest, I'm not sure if it's a banking issue but may be more of a technical one on their part.

"When I called up at 9am they said they were experiencing a high amount of calls and stated there were technical issues, b4 it hung up on me."

A poll Mr Lewis posted on X with 6,280 responses found that 23.5 percent of respondents have not received their expected child benefit payment this morning.

Conversely only 7.1 percent were due to be paid and actually received the payment and of the repondents 55 percent of those answering the poll said they do not receive child benefit payments.

In reponse to the answers from the poll Mr Lewis posted: "It's early but currently it looks like 80 percent of people expecting #ChildBenefit payments this morning haven't got it. I'm on a train, but have spoken to my team and asked them to contact the govt to find out what's happening and what people should do."

X user @nevereversleep, posted: "They switched their phones off! I tried to call many times, thank you for calling us good bye, that’s all they say.

"Direct debits today, school buses , food for canteens still not paid. Logged in into my HMRC and it says it’s paid , but it’s not!"

HMRC has confirmed an issue with payments and says it is investigating. Those calling HMRC to check are being given a pre-recorded message but have not yet been told when payments will be made.