Calculate your Child Benefit entitlement and check whether the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge (HICBC) applies. Updated for 2025/26 rates.
| Eldest or only child | £26.05/week |
| Each additional child | £17.25/week |
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Child Benefit is a payment from HMRC to help with the cost of raising children. It is paid every 4 weeks and is available to anyone responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if they are in approved education or training).
You can claim Child Benefit if you are responsible for a child who lives with you. Only one person can claim Child Benefit for the same child. If two people are both responsible for the same child, they should decide between them who will claim — or it will go to whoever claims first.
If you or your partner has an adjusted net income above £60,000, a tax charge applies that effectively claws back some or all of the Child Benefit received. This is called the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge (HICBC).
The charge is collected through Self Assessment. Even if your income is above the threshold you should still claim Child Benefit — it protects your entitlement to National Insurance credits.
Claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12 gives you National Insurance credits, which count towards your State Pension. This is particularly important for people who are not working or earning below the NI threshold. Even if you opt out of receiving payment due to the HICBC, you should still register to protect your NI record.
Adjusted net income is your gross income minus certain deductions including pension contributions, Gift Aid donations and trading losses. Making pension contributions is one of the most effective ways to reduce your adjusted net income below the £60,000 threshold if you are close to it.
Claim Child Benefit online at gov.uk or by completing form CH2. You can backdate claims by up to 3 months. Claims should be made as soon as possible after the birth of your child.