How much is Child Benefit in 2026/27?

From 6 April 2026, Child Benefit pays £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 per week for each additional child. Source: GOV.UK.

Do I need to be working to claim Child Benefit?

No. Child Benefit has no employment requirement and no income test to receive the payment. Any parent or guardian responsible for a qualifying child in the UK can claim.

Is Child Benefit the same as Universal Credit?

No. Child Benefit and Universal Credit are separate payments. Child Benefit is a flat-rate payment for all families with children, regardless of whether they claim other benefits. Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit for people on low incomes or out of work, which also contains a child element.

What Is Child Benefit in the UK?

Q: What is Child Benefit in the UK?

Child Benefit is a regular payment from HMRC to parents or guardians responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if in approved education or training). It is paid regardless of income, though high earners may need to repay some or all of it through the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

Last verified: 2 April 2026 | Source: GOV.UK / HMRC

Child Benefit is a regular payment from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to parents or guardians who are responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or unpaid training).

It is one of the most widely claimed family payments in the UK — and it is available to almost every family, regardless of income or employment status.

How Much Is Child Benefit?

From 6 April 2026 (2026/27 tax year), the rates confirmed by GOV.UK are:

Child	Weekly Rate	Annual Amount
Eldest or only child	£27.05	£1,406.60
Each additional child	£17.90	£930.80

Payments are made every four weeks directly into your bank account. The schedule is set when you first register.

Examples:

1 child → £1,406.60/year
2 children → £2,337.40/year
3 children → £3,268.20/year

Who Can Get Child Benefit?

You can claim if:

You are responsible for a child — they live with you, or you contribute to their upkeep
The child is under 16, OR under 20 and in approved full-time education or training (A-levels, T-levels, NVQs up to level 3, traineeships)
You live in the UK
Only one person can claim per child

There is no income test to receive the payment, and no employment requirement. However, high earners may need to repay some of it through the High Income Charge (see below).

The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)

If anyone in your household has an adjusted net income above £60,000, the benefit is subject to a clawback charge:

£60,000–£80,000: The charge reduces the benefit by 1% for every £200 of income above £60,000
Above £80,000: The full amount must be repaid through self-assessment

Important: Even if you will repay 100% through the charge, it is still worth claiming. Claiming builds National Insurance credits for non-working partners, which count toward the State Pension. These credits cannot be recovered retroactively.

How to Claim

You can claim:

Online — through your HMRC online account or the HMRC app
By post — complete form CH2 and send it to the HMRC Child Benefit Office with your child's birth certificate
By phone — call 0300 200 3100

Claims can be backdated up to 16 weeks. Claim as early as possible after the child's birth.

What Child Benefit Is Not

Child Benefit is not:

Universal Credit (a separate means-tested benefit)
Child Tax Credit (a legacy benefit now largely replaced by Universal Credit)
The child element of Universal Credit (a separate amount within UC for families with children)

All of these can potentially be received at the same time, but they are separate programmes with separate eligibility rules.

Use the Calculator

Our Child Benefits Calculator lets you estimate your weekly and annual Child Benefit entitlement for the UK, as well as comparing to child benefit programmes in the USA, Canada and Australia.

UK Child Benefits 2026: Complete Guide — all UK child benefit and family payment programmes in one place
UK Child Benefit 2026/27: Full Guide — rates, HICBC rules, how to claim
High Income Child Benefit Charge 2026 — if your household earns over £60,000
Child Benefits Calculator — estimate your entitlement
What Affects Child Benefit Eligibility? — eligibility by country

All rates verified against GOV.UK, April 2026. Rates are reviewed annually, usually in April.

What Is Child Benefit in the UK? A Plain-English Explanation

Frequently Asked Questions