Child Benefit

Description

A weekly payment from HMRC to anyone responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training: £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for each additional child. It isn't means-tested, but if either parent's individual adjusted net income is over £60,000, the higher earner pays some or all of it back through the High Income Child Benefit Charge (1% for every £200 over £60,000, so all of it at £80,000). Even families above that level are usually better off claiming and opting out of the payments, because claiming gives a parent National Insurance credits towards their State Pension while the child is under 12 (useful if they aren't working or earn too little to pay NI), and the child is sent a National Insurance number automatically before they turn 16. Administered by HMRC across the whole UK, including Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Eligibility summary

• Available across the whole UK (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).
• Open to individuals — not restricted to businesses.

Notes

Verified Oct 2026 directly on gov.uk's 'Child Benefit: what you'll get' page (£27.05 eldest/only child, £17.90 each additional child; the page doesn't print the tax year, but the figures are consistent with a 3.8% April 2026 uprating) and the 'High Income Child Benefit Charge' page (£60,000 threshold, £80,000 full clawback, individual not household income, higher earner pays). gov.uk's Child Benefit overview confirms the National Insurance credits (child under 12) and the automatic NI number for the child, and says you should still claim even if you choose not to get payments. Not modelled on Profile.ageBand, since eligibility turns on the child's age. Many other entries (Guardian's Allowance, Scottish Child Payment, Care to Learn) use a Child Benefit claim as evidence, so this is often the first claim a new parent should make.

Income cap

No income limit to claim. If you or your partner has individual adjusted net income over £60,000 (from 2024/25; £50,000 before), the higher earner pays the High Income Child Benefit Charge: 1% of the Child Benefit for every £200 over £60,000, reaching the full amount at £80,000. The charge can be paid through PAYE or Self Assessment.

Requirement

You're responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they're in approved education or training. Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.