Benefits & Support
Child Benefit Calculator UK 2026 — How Much Will You Get?
Calculate your Child Benefit payments for 2025/26. Weekly and monthly amounts, High Income Child Benefit Charge, and how to claim.
Child Benefit helps with the costs of raising children. Here’s how much you’ll receive and what to watch out for.
Child Benefit Rates 2025/26
Weekly and Annual Amounts
| Child |
Weekly Rate |
4-Weekly |
Annual |
| First/eldest |
£25.60 |
£102.40 |
£1,331.20 |
| Each additional |
£16.95 |
£67.80 |
£881.40 |
By Number of Children
| Children |
Weekly |
Monthly (approx) |
Annual |
| 1 |
£25.60 |
£110.93 |
£1,331 |
| 2 |
£42.55 |
£184.38 |
£2,213 |
| 3 |
£59.50 |
£257.83 |
£3,094 |
| 4 |
£76.45 |
£331.28 |
£3,975 |
| 5 |
£93.40 |
£404.73 |
£4,857 |
Payment Schedule
| Payment Type |
Details |
| Standard |
Every 4 weeks (Monday/Tuesday) |
| Weekly |
If you’re a single parent or receive certain benefits |
| Guardian’s Allowance |
Additional £20.40/week if applicable |
High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)
Threshold Calculation
| Highest Earner Income |
Child Benefit Status |
| Under £50,000 |
Keep all benefit |
| £50,000 - £60,000 |
Partial charge applies |
| Over £60,000 |
Full charge (100% clawback) |
How HICBC Works
| Income Over £50,000 |
% Charged Back |
| £50,000 |
0% |
| £52,000 |
20% |
| £54,000 |
40% |
| £56,000 |
60% |
| £58,000 |
80% |
| £60,000+ |
100% |
Charge = (Income - £50,000) ÷ £100 × 1% of Child Benefit
HICBC Examples
| Scenario |
1 Child |
2 Children |
| Income £50,000 |
£0 charge |
£0 charge |
| Income £52,000 |
£266 charge |
£443 charge |
| Income £55,000 |
£666 charge |
£1,106 charge |
| Income £58,000 |
£1,065 charge |
£1,770 charge |
| Income £60,000+ |
£1,331 (all) |
£2,213 (all) |
What Counts as Income
| Included |
Not Included |
| Salary/wages |
Employer pension contributions |
| Bonuses |
Childcare vouchers |
| Benefits in kind |
Child Benefit itself |
| Rental income |
Dividend allowance (£500) |
| Savings interest |
ISA income |
| Self-employment profits |
|
Net Pay Sacrifice to Reduce Income
| Strategy |
Effect |
| Increase pension contributions |
Reduces taxable income |
| Salary sacrifice schemes |
Reduces taxable income |
| Charitable giving |
Gift Aid reduces income |
| Trading losses |
Can reduce income |
Eligibility
Who Can Claim
| Requirement |
Details |
| Responsible for child |
Living with you or supporting them |
| Child’s age |
Under 16, or under 20 if in education |
| Residence |
You and child live in UK |
| Immigration status |
No visa restriction on benefits |
Only One Person Claims
| Situation |
Who Claims |
| Living together |
Either parent (usually higher earner if HICBC) |
| Separated |
Person child lives with |
| Shared care |
Usually the one child spends most nights with |
When Child Benefit Ends
Age Limits
| Situation |
Benefit Ends |
| Standard |
31 August after 16th birthday |
| In approved education |
31 August after 20th birthday |
| Leaves approved education |
8 weeks after leaving |
| Starts paid work 24+ hours |
When work starts |
Approved Education
| Counts |
Doesn’t Count |
| A-levels |
University degree |
| T-levels |
Paid apprenticeship |
| Scottish Highers |
Employment |
| NVQ level 3 or below |
Training schemes with pay |
| BTEC |
Gap year |
National Insurance Credits
Why This Matters
| Credit Type |
Benefit |
| Class 3 NI credits |
Count toward State Pension |
| Automatic |
If you’re the claimant |
| No charge |
Free protection |
| Protects up to |
12 years of credits |
Still Claim Even If…
| Situation |
Recommendation |
| You’d pay HICBC |
Claim but opt out of payments |
| Your partner earns £60k+ |
You still get NI credits |
| You’re not working |
Essential for pension |
How to Opt Out of Payments
| Step |
What to Do |
| 1 |
Claim Child Benefit |
| 2 |
Choose “don’t pay” option |
| 3 |
Still registered (for NI credits) |
| 4 |
No payments, no HICBC |
Claiming Child Benefit
How to Claim
| Method |
Details |
| Online |
gov.uk/child-benefit |
| Post |
Form CH2 |
| When |
As soon as birth registered |
| Backdating |
Up to 3 months |
Documents Needed
| Document |
Purpose |
| Child’s birth certificate |
Proof of child |
| Your NI number |
Identity |
| Bank details |
For payment |
| Partner’s details |
For HICBC assessment |
Claim Timeline
| When |
What Happens |
| Birth |
Claim as soon as registered |
| Within 3 months |
Full backdating |
| After 3 months |
Lose earlier payments |
| Decision |
Usually within 2 weeks |
Calculator: Your Family
Quick Calculator
| Your Situation |
Fill In |
| Number of children |
|
| First child rate |
× £1,331 |
| Additional children |
× £881 |
| Total annual |
|
| Highest earner income |
|
| HICBC (if over £50k) |
|
| Net annual benefit |
|
Worked Example: 2 Children, £55,000 Income
| Calculation |
Amount |
| Child 1 |
£1,331 |
| Child 2 |
£881 |
| Gross benefit |
£2,212 |
| HICBC (50% of benefit) |
-£1,106 |
| Net benefit |
£1,106 |
Break-Even Point
| Children |
Income Where Net = £0 |
| 1 |
£60,000 |
| 2 |
£60,000 |
| Any number |
£60,000 (same threshold) |
HICBC vs Salary Sacrifice
Example: £55,000 Earner, 2 Children
| Without Sacrifice |
With £5k Pension |
| Income: £55,000 |
Income: £50,000 |
| HICBC: £1,106 |
HICBC: £0 |
| Tax saved: £0 |
Tax saved: £1,000 (20%) |
| NI saved: £0 |
NI saved: £100 |
| Child Benefit kept |
£2,212 |
Total Benefit of Sacrifice
| Element |
Gain |
| HICBC avoided |
£1,106 |
| Tax relief |
£1,000 |
| NI relief |
£100 |
| Pensions contribution |
£5,000 saved |
| Total advantage |
£2,206 better off |
Summary
| Family Size |
Annual Benefit |
| 1 child |
£1,331 |
| 2 children |
£2,212 |
| 3 children |
£3,094 |
| 4 children |
£3,975 |
| HICBC Threshold |
Action |
| Under £50,000 |
Claim and receive |
| £50,000-£60,000 |
Consider salary sacrifice |
| Over £60,000 |
Claim but opt out of payments |
| Always |
Claim for NI credits |
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