How much is UK Child Benefit in 2026/27?

Child Benefit rates from 6 April 2026 are £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 per week for each additional child. Annual equivalents are £1,406.60 for the eldest and £930.80 per additional child. Source: GOV.UK, confirmed April 2026.

Who is eligible for Child Benefit in the UK?

You can claim Child Benefit if you are responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they remain in approved full-time education or training (not a university degree). You must live in the UK. There is no income test to receive the payment, but high earners face a clawback charge.

What is the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge threshold in 2026?

The HICBC threshold is £60,000. If either partner in the household has an adjusted net income between £60,000 and £80,000, the charge claws back 1% of the benefit for every £200 of income above £60,000. Above £80,000, the full benefit is repaid via self-assessment.

How do I claim Child Benefit in the UK?

Claim online through your Government Gateway account at gov.uk, or complete a CH2 paper form and send it to HMRC's Child Benefit Office. You can also call 0300 200 3100. Claims can be backdated by up to 16 weeks (not three months as previously — HMRC extended the backdating period).

Should I still claim Child Benefit if I earn over £80,000?

Yes. Even if the High Income Child Benefit Charge will cancel out all payments, claiming builds National Insurance credits for non-working partners, which count toward their State Pension. Stopping a claim means losing those NI credits. You can claim and pay back 100% via self-assessment.

How long does it take to receive Child Benefit after claiming?

HMRC typically processes new claims within 12 weeks of receipt of the claim form or online application. Payments are made every four weeks directly into your bank account. In some cases, initial payment includes backdated weeks.

Does Child Benefit affect other benefits?

Child Benefit itself does not reduce Universal Credit payments. However, it is counted as income for certain legacy benefits (Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit). From a practical standpoint, receiving Child Benefit does not disqualify you from any other family support payment.

Can I claim Child Benefit for a child who is 16 or 17?

Yes. Child Benefit continues after a child's 16th birthday if they remain in approved full-time non-advanced education (A-levels, T-levels, NVQs up to level 3) or approved unpaid training. You must notify HMRC of their education status each year. Payments stop at age 20 or when they leave education, whichever comes first.

UK Child Benefit 2026/27: Rates, Eligibility & How to Claim

Last verified: 2 April 2026 | Source: GOV.UK / HMRC | Applies from: 6 April 2026 (2026/27 tax year)

UK Child Benefit is one of the most straightforward government payments available to families — virtually every household with children qualifies, regardless of income. Yet many families lose out through late claims, misunderstanding the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge (HICBC), or not realising that high earners should still claim for National Insurance credit purposes.

This guide covers the current 2026/27 rates (from 6 April 2026), eligibility rules, the HICBC thresholds, exactly how to claim, and how to maximise your entitlement.

UK Child Benefit Rates 2026/27

The following rates apply from 6 April 2026 (2026/27 tax year), confirmed by GOV.UK:

Child	Weekly Rate	4-Week Payment	Annual Amount
Eldest or only child	£27.05	£108.20	£1,406.60
Each additional child	£17.90	£71.60	£930.80

Family examples:

A family with one child receives £1,406.60 per year.

A family with two children receives: £27.05 + £17.90 = £44.95/week → £2,337.40/year.

A family with three children receives: £27.05 + £17.90 + £17.90 = £62.85/week → £3,268.20/year.

A family with four children receives: £27.05 + (3 × £17.90) = £80.75/week → £4,199.00/year.

Payments are made every four weeks into your bank account. The payment date is fixed when you register — you cannot choose when to receive it, but you will receive a consistent schedule.

Who is Eligible for Child Benefit?

The Child Must Be:

Under 16 years old, OR
Under 20 years old and in approved full-time education or training (see below)

Approved education and training for 16–19 year olds includes:

A-levels, AS-levels, T-levels
NVQs and vocational qualifications up to Level 3
International Baccalaureate
Home education if it started before age 16 or was approved by the local authority
Traineeships
Unpaid approved training arranged by Jobcentre Plus

University or other higher education does not count — payments stop when a child starts a degree course.

The Claimant Must Be:

Responsible for the child — the child lives with you, or you contribute at least as much as the benefit amount to their upkeep
Living in the UK — there are exceptions for civil servants, armed forces personnel, and certain EU-posted workers
Only one person per child can claim — if two people claim for the same child, HMRC decides who receives it (usually the parent the child lives with)

There is no minimum income requirement and no maximum income to qualify for the payment. However, high earners must repay some or all through the HICBC.

The High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge (HICBC) in 2026

Current Threshold: £60,000

In April 2024, the government raised the HICBC threshold from £50,000 to £60,000. This change means an estimated 170,000 additional families became entitled to keep full Child Benefit.

If either partner in the household (not just the claimant) has an adjusted net income above £60,000:

Income Range	HICBC Rate	Effect
Below £60,000	0%	Keep 100% of Child Benefit
£60,001 – £80,000	1% per £200 over threshold	Partial clawback
Above £80,000	100%	Full repayment required

Adjusted net income is broadly your total income minus pension contributions (private, not employer) and Gift Aid donations. Contributing to a pension is one of the main legitimate ways to reduce adjusted net income below the threshold.

Calculating the HICBC

Example 1 — Single earner at £68,000:

Income above threshold: £68,000 − £60,000 = £8,000
Charge rate: £8,000 ÷ £200 = 40 units × 1% = 40%
Child Benefit for one child: £1,354.60/year
HICBC owed: 40% × £1,354.60 = £541.84
Net Child Benefit kept: £812.76/year

Example 2 — Single earner at £75,000, two children:

Income above threshold: £75,000 − £60,000 = £15,000
Charge rate: £15,000 ÷ £200 = 75 units × 1% = 75%
Child Benefit for two children: £2,251.60/year
HICBC owed: 75% × £2,251.60 = £1,688.70
Net Child Benefit kept: £562.90/year

Example 3 — Household with combined income £130,000 (each earns £65,000): The HICBC applies to individual income, not household income. Each earner is assessed separately.

Both earn £65,000 — each is £5,000 over the threshold
Each owes 25% of the Child Benefit received (since the claimant receives it)
The higher earner is responsible for the charge — since both earn the same, either can be designated

The NI Credits Argument: Why High Earners Should Still Claim

If neither partner is working (for example, one parent stays home after the child's birth), not claiming Child Benefit means losing National Insurance credits. These credits:

Count as qualifying years toward the State Pension
Are worth approximately £328/year in additional State Pension (at current rates, for life)
Cannot be recovered retroactively once lost

The correct approach for high earners is to claim Child Benefit, receive the payments, then repay 100% through the HICBC via self-assessment — keeping the NI credits intact.

You can also opt out of receiving the payments (to avoid the administrative burden of self-assessment) while still maintaining the NI credits. This is done by ticking the relevant box when claiming, or by contacting HMRC after the claim is registered.

How to Claim Child Benefit

Online (Recommended)

Sign in or create a Government Gateway account at gov.uk
Navigate to "Claim Child Benefit" — this is now done through the HMRC app or the Gov.uk claim portal
Enter the child's name, date of birth, and National Insurance number (if over 16)
Provide your bank details for payment
Confirm responsibility for the child

By Post

Complete form CH2 (available from gov.uk or HMRC offices) and send it with the child's original birth certificate (or adoption certificate) to:

HMRC — Child Benefit Office PO Box 1 Newcastle Upon Tyne NE88 1AA

HMRC will return original documents.

By Phone

Call 0300 200 3100 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). You will need your National Insurance number and the child's details.

How Far Back Can You Claim?

HMRC will backdate Child Benefit claims by up to 16 weeks. This means if your child was born in November 2025 and you didn't claim until March 2026, you would receive backdated payment for 16 weeks — but not from the child's birth date.

Claim as early as possible. The sooner you claim, the more you receive. The 16-week backdating window applies from the date HMRC receives your claim, so don't wait.

When Child Benefit Stops

Child Benefit automatically stops on 31 August after the child's 16th birthday unless you tell HMRC the child is continuing in approved education or training.

You must notify HMRC when:

Your child leaves approved education before age 20
Your child starts a degree course or higher education
Your child starts paid work for more than 24 hours per week
Your child claims benefits in their own right (JobSeeker's Allowance, Universal Credit)

HMRC sends a reminder letter in advance of the child's 16th birthday asking you to confirm their education status. Respond promptly to avoid overpayment (which HMRC will recover).

Child Benefit and Other Benefits

Benefit	Interaction with Child Benefit
Universal Credit	Child Benefit is NOT counted as income for UC purposes
Free childcare hours	Separate entitlement; Child Benefit does not affect it
Tax-Free Childcare	No interaction — both can be received simultaneously
Scottish Child Payment	Separate; families in Scotland can receive both
Housing Benefit (legacy)	Child Benefit IS counted as income

Maximising Your Child Benefit

Pension contributions: If your income is just above £60,000, increasing pension contributions reduces your adjusted net income. Every £1,000 contributed to a personal pension reduces adjusted net income by £1,000, potentially moving you below the threshold and eliminating the HICBC entirely.

Claim immediately: Don't wait until the 6-week check-up or any other appointment. You can claim the moment a child is born. The 16-week backdating limit is a hard cut-off.

Both partners check income separately: Remember the HICBC applies to each individual's income, not combined household income. If one partner earns £79,000 and the other earns nothing, the charge applies at 95% of Child Benefit — not 100%.

Self-assessment registration: If you are subject to the HICBC and are not already registered for self-assessment, you must register with HMRC. Failure to declare and pay the charge can result in penalties.

Use our Child Benefits Calculator to estimate your net Child Benefit after applying the HICBC based on your income, or to compare the value of Child Benefit against other family support options available in the UK.

For a broader view of all UK family benefits — including Universal Credit child elements, Tax-Free Childcare, and free childcare hours — see our Family Benefits UK 2026 guide.

UK Child Benefits 2026: Complete Guide — all UK child benefit and family payment programmes in one place
Child Benefit Calculator Guide — calculate your exact weekly and annual entitlement
UK Family Benefits Overview — full overview of all UK family financial support
High Income Child Benefit Charge 2026 — if your household earns over £60,000

UK Child Benefit 2026/27: Rates, Eligibility & How to Claim

UK Child Benefit 2026/27: Rates, Eligibility & How to Claim

Frequently Asked Questions