Child benefit payments due in bank accounts on June 3 have been missed because of a technical glitch affecting HM Revenue & Customs. Parents took to social media to complain, with some saying they have been left unable to buy food or pay for their child’s bus fare.

About half a million parents have been affected, which is about 30 per cent of recipients who were expecting a payment today.

HMRC, which administers child benefit, said it expects the missed payments to be made on Wednesday. The problem has been caused by a processing error, not a hack as some on social media have been speculating, it said.

HMRC has asked parents not to contact it, adding that more information will be provided on social media as soon as it is available. It said that payments that are due to be paid on Tuesday would be made on time. Those affected can submit a complaint at gov.uk/complain-about-hmrc. If you want to claim redress, keep evidence such as receipts or screenshots to add to your complaint.

“We’re sorry that some customers’ child benefit payments have not arrived as scheduled and we are working urgently to resolve the issue,” HMRC said.

• What is child benefit and how do I claim?

3. How much is child benefit?

People can claim child benefit if they are responsible for bringing up a child under 16, or under 20 if they are in approved education or training. The payments are worth £25.60 a week for the eldest or only child and £16.95 a week for younger children.

4. How has child benefit changed?

Child benefit has been means tested since 2013. At the time, when one parent earned more than £50,000 they started to lose the benefit by 1 per cent for every £100 above the threshold until they lost all of it by the time their income reached £60,000.

It is a parent’s responsibility to work out whether they are entitled to child benefit. Those whose incomes rise above the threshold have to claim the full amount then pay back the portion that they are not entitled to through a self-assessment tax return, or opt out of receiving it altogether.

From April this year the starting point at which the benefit is clawed back rose to £60,000. The point at which it is lost completely has risen to £80,000.

Other plans, which may not happen until 2026, include paying parents only what they are due rather than forcing them to pay some money back using tax returns, calculating eligibility using household rather an individual parent’s income, and ending a quirk in the system that causes some parents to lose their state pension entitlement if they do not claim child benefit.