Child Benefit is a weekly payment made to the person responsible for bringing up a child under 16 (or under 20 if in approved education or training). From April 2026, the rates increased by 3.2%.
2026-27 Rates
- Eldest or only child: £26.05 per week (£1,354.60 per year)
- Additional children: £17.25 per week each (£897 per year each)
For a family with two children, that is £43.30 per week — £2,251.60 per year.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge
Households where the highest earner earns over £60,000 are subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), which claws back Child Benefit through the self-assessment tax system.
For every £200 earned above £60,000, 1% of Child Benefit is clawed back. At £80,000, the full amount is clawed back and there is no financial benefit to claiming.
The key thresholds (for 2026-27):
- Below £60,000: keep all Child Benefit
- Between £60,000 and £80,000: keep some, repay some
- Above £80,000: full clawback — claiming is only beneficial for National Insurance credits
Should High Earners Still Claim?
Yes — even if you expect to repay it all. Claiming Child Benefit protects the non-working or lower-earning partner's National Insurance record, which counts toward State Pension entitlement.
A parent who is not in paid work who does not claim Child Benefit may build gaps in their National Insurance record, reducing their eventual State Pension.
How to Claim
Claim online at gov.uk/child-benefit, or by completing form CH2. You can backdate claims up to 3 months from the date of the claim.
