Child Benefit is a regular government payment for people responsible for children under 16, or under 20 if they are in approved education or training. Recent changes have made it available to many more higher earners than before.

📋 Key points
  • How much is Child Benefit?
  • Who can claim?
  • The High Income Child Benefit Charge
  • Why you should claim even if you pay it back

How much is Child Benefit?

For 2026/27, Child Benefit pays £26.05 per week for the eldest child and £17.25 per week for each additional child. That is £1,354.60 per year for one child, rising to £2,251 per year for two children.

Payments are usually made every four weeks directly into your bank account.

Who can claim?

You can claim Child Benefit if you are responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they are in approved education or training such as A-levels or a traineeship. There is no minimum income requirement to claim.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge

Households where one parent earns more than £60,000 per year are subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge, which claws back some or all of the Child Benefit through the tax system.

The charge was significantly reformed in 2024. Previously it applied from £50,000, but the threshold was raised to £60,000. For every £200 earned above £60,000, 1% of Child Benefit is clawed back. The benefit is fully clawed back at earnings of £80,000.

If you or your partner earns between £60,000 and £80,000, it is worth calculating whether you are better off claiming the benefit and paying the charge, or simply not claiming.

Why you should claim even if you pay it back

Even if you are subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge, claiming Child Benefit and then repaying it through a Self Assessment tax return has an important benefit for the parent who is not working: it provides National Insurance credits that count towards the state pension.

Bottom line

Always claim Child Benefit — even if you expect to owe some or all of it back through the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The NI credits for non-working parents are too valuable to miss. Check the government's Child Benefit tax calculator to understand your position.