Child Benefit Rates 2025/26
Child Benefit rates from April 2025: £25.60 per week for the eldest qualifying child (£1,331.20/year). £16.95 per week for each additional qualifying child (£881.40/year). A family with two children receives £44.55 per week (£2,316.60/year) and with three children £61.50 per week (£3,198/year). Payments are made every 4 weeks directly into a bank account. Child Benefit is not means-tested at the point of claim — anyone can claim regardless of income, though higher earners face the High Income Charge.
"Child Benefit rates from April 2025: £25.60 per week for the eldest qualifying child (£1,331.20/year)"
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 (including A-levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs up to level 3, and some traineeships). Only one person can claim for each child. There is no restriction based on the claimant's nationality or immigration status, though you must be living in the UK. Adoptive parents, guardians, and others who are responsible for a child can all claim. You do not need to wait for the child's birth to be registered to start a claim.
How to Claim
You can claim Child Benefit online at gov.uk or by completing a CH2 form. You will need your child's birth or adoption certificate and your bank details. Payments start from the date your child is born if you claim within 3 months — claims can be backdated by a maximum of 3 months. The online claim usually takes around 15 minutes and payments normally begin within 3 weeks of the claim being approved.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge
If either you or your partner has an adjusted net income over £60,000 in 2025/26, the High Income Child Benefit Charge applies to the higher earner. The charge is 1% of the Child Benefit received for every £200 of income above £60,000. At £80,000 or above, the charge equals 100% of the benefit. Example: a parent earning £68,000 with two children receives Child Benefit of £2,316.60/year. Their income exceeds £60,000 by £8,000. Charge = (£8,000 ÷ £200) × 1% × £2,316.60 = 40 × £23.17 = £926.64 repaid through Self Assessment. They keep £1,389.96 of the benefit.
"The charge is 1% of the Child Benefit received for every £200 of income above £60,000"
Should You Opt Out of Payments?
If your income is above £80,000, you are paying back every penny of Child Benefit through the charge, so opting out of payments avoids the administrative burden of Self Assessment. However, you should never cancel the Child Benefit claim entirely — only opt out of receiving the payments. Registering for Child Benefit generates National Insurance credits for the claimant if they are not working or earning below the Lower Earnings Limit. These credits count toward State Pension entitlement and are worth thousands over a lifetime. If you opt out of payments, you can opt back in at any time via your Personal Tax Account.
Reducing the Charge With Pension Contributions
The High Income Child Benefit Charge is based on adjusted net income, not gross income. Pension contributions (whether through workplace salary sacrifice, personal contributions, or SIPP payments) reduce your adjusted net income pound for pound. If you earn £65,000 but contribute £5,000 to a pension, your adjusted net income is £60,000 — below the threshold — and no charge applies. This makes pension contributions exceptionally effective for families in the £60,000–£80,000 range: they save 40% income tax, restore Child Benefit, build retirement savings, and may restore a tapered Personal Allowance — all simultaneously.
Child Benefit and Self Assessment
If you or your partner earn over £60,000 and receive Child Benefit, the higher earner must register for Self Assessment and declare the charge each year — even as a PAYE employee who has never filed a return. Many people are unaware of this and receive surprise HMRC bills covering multiple years. HMRC can go back up to 4 years. If you have been caught out, you may be able to apply for a reduction in penalties if you had a reasonable excuse. Register as soon as your income rises above £60,000 — or when a partner's income does.
"Many people are unaware of this and receive surprise HMRC bills covering multiple years"
Thousands of families have been caught out by the High Income Child Benefit Charge without realising they owed it. If either parent earns over £60,000, the higher earner must register for Self Assessment and declare the charge — even if they have never filed a tax return before. Failure to do so results in penalties on top of the charge itself. HMRC can go back up to 4 years.
Finance Motion — General guidance only.
Not regulated financial advice.