Twins qualify for a single credit

Parents of twins and triplets are launching a campaign to change the tax credit system for families with newborn children which they claim penalises them.

Parents are only eligible for one of the �545 baby tax credits in any one year, according to the charity Twins and Multiple Birth Association (Tamba).

Its director Helen Forbes told BBC News parents who "spread their families over a number of years" would qualify for the credit every time they have a baby.

If your family is an instant family - if you have twins or triplets - then you need that money all at once Tamba director Helen Forbes

But the same does not apply to parents who have multiple births.

She said: "If you have twins, you are losing out on �545.

"And if you have triplets, you are missing out on more than �1,000.

"If your family is an instant family - if you have twins or triplets - then you need that money all at once."

Tamba estimates "closing this loophole" would cost the government �5m a year.

But Ms Forbes told BBC News this was "small fry" when "considered in the light of a total child tax credit bill of �12bn".

From April the New Tax Credit replaced the old benefits and tax credits with a single system.

All families with an income up to �66,000 a year are eligible to claim the baby tax credit if they have a child under a year old.

The credits are paid by the Inland Revenue direct to the parent who takes most responsibility for childcare.

The charity is drawing attention to this as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.

To mark the day it is hosting Britain's largest gathering of multiple-birth families at Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire on Saturday.