ALMOST 30,000 families received child benefit in Barnsley last year as the number increased in the town despite it reducing across the rest of the country.

Across the UK, the number who received payments has remained steady after years of decline - though this is not the case in Barnsley.

New HMRC figures show some 29,170 families in Barnsley were receiving child benefit payments as of the end of August.

This was an increase of roughly 95 families on the year before, but a decrease on five years ago, when there were 29,580 in receipt.

Child benefit is paid to any parent or guardian responsible for raising a child under 16, or under 20 if they’re in approved education or training.

Only one person can claim for each child, but there is no limit to how many children you can claim for.

Recipients get £25.06 a week for their first child, and £17.25 for each additional child.

But anti-poverty campaign group Turn2Us warned many are still put off claiming by the ‘complicated and frustrating’ welfare system

Lucy Bannister, head of policy at Turn2Us said: “Our social security system should be there for all of us, especially when we need it most.

“However, often people are not claiming what they are entitled to because of a complicated and frustrating system.

“Rising child poverty means more children going without and missing out.”