Child Benefit Guide

Child Benefit is a regular payment for anyone responsible for bringing up a child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training). It's not means-tested — but a tax charge affects higher earners.

How Much Is It?

Child Weekly rate (2025/26) Annual
First or only child £26.05 £1,354.60
Each additional child £17.25 £897

Child Benefit is paid every 4 weeks (or weekly for single parents). It's tax-free income.

Who Can Claim

  • You're responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 in approved education or training)
  • You live in the UK
  • Only one person can claim per child — if two people are eligible, they need to decide between them

"Approved education or training" includes A-levels, T-levels, NVQs, and similar qualifications — but not degrees or university.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge — The Trap

If either you or your partner earns over £60,000, you start to lose Child Benefit through a tax charge. The charge was raised from £50,000 to £60,000 in April 2024.

How it works

For every £200 of income over £60,000, you repay 1% of the Child Benefit received. At £80,000+, you repay 100% — the full amount.

Individual, not household

The charge is based on the higher earner's individual income, not combined household income. Two people each earning £55,000 (£110k combined) would pay no charge at all.

You still need to register

Even if you opt out of payments to avoid the charge, claim Child Benefit anyway — it protects your National Insurance record (see below).

Example: You earn £70,000. That's £10,000 over the £60,000 threshold. You'd repay 50% of your Child Benefit through your tax return (50 × 1% = 50%). For one child, you'd get £1,354.60 but repay ~£677 — still worth having, and worth claiming.

Why You Should ALWAYS Claim — Even If You Opt Out of Payments

This is the most important thing in this guide. If you have a child under 12 at home and you're not working, claiming Child Benefit gives you National Insurance credits that count towards your State Pension.

  • Each year of credits = one qualifying year for your State Pension
  • You need 35 years for the full pension (£230.25/week in 2025/26)
  • A missed year costs you roughly £342/year in State Pension — for life

If you'd be hit by the High Income Child Benefit Charge, you can claim Child Benefit but opt out of receiving payments. The NI credits still accrue.

Already opted out? If you stopped claiming Child Benefit because of the charge and missed out on NI credits, you can apply to have them backdated — in some cases up to 3 months. Contact HMRC.

How to Claim

  1. Claim online at gov.uk/child-benefit or by post using form CH2
  2. Have your child's birth certificate (or adoption certificate) ready
  3. Claims can be backdated by up to 3 months
  4. If affected by the High Income charge, register for Self Assessment to pay the charge through your tax return

Changes and Reviews

Child Benefit continues if your child is under 16. Between 16 and 20, you need to tell HMRC each year if your child is staying in approved education or training — they may ask for confirmation from the school or college. If your child leaves education, Child Benefit stops.

Use our Take-Home Pay Calculator to check whether the High Income Child Benefit Charge applies to you and roughly how much you'd repay.