Child Benefit rates for 2027/28 will be confirmed in autumn 2026. Current reference rates and the £60,000 HICBC threshold below.
Last reviewed: May 2026. 2027/28 Child Benefit rates will be confirmed in autumn 2026 and take effect from April 2027. This page will be updated when confirmed.
Child Benefit Rates — Reference 2025/26
| Weekly rate (2025/26) | Annual (52 weeks) | |
|---|---|---|
| Eldest/only child | £26.05 | £1,354.60 |
| Each additional child | £17.25 | £897.00 |
2027/28 rates to be confirmed autumn 2026.
Child Benefit Rate History
| Year | Eldest child (weekly) | Each additional child (weekly) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | £21.80 | £14.45 |
| 2023/24 | £24.00 | £15.90 |
| 2024/25 | £25.60 | £16.95 |
| 2025/26 | £26.05 | £17.25 |
| 2026/27 | TBC | TBC |
| 2027/28 | TBC | TBC |
High Income Child Benefit Charge — 2027/28
| Adjusted net income | % of Child Benefit repaid | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Under £60,000 | 0% — no charge | No HICBC, keep full amount |
| £60,000–£80,000 | 1% per £200 above £60,000 (up to 100%) | Register for Self Assessment |
| £80,000 or more | 100% — full repayment | Register for Self Assessment |
HICBC Examples — One Child, 2025/26 Reference Rate
| Income | Annual CB | HICBC charge | Net CB benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| £55,000 | £1,354.60 | £0 | £1,354.60 |
| £65,000 | £1,354.60 | £677.30 (50%) | £677.30 |
| £70,000 | £1,354.60 | £1,015.95 (75%) | £338.65 |
| £80,000+ | £1,354.60 | £1,354.60 (100%) | £0 |
Even at £80,000+ income, you should still claim — NI credits are worth more than the admin cost.
NI Credits from Child Benefit
Claiming Child Benefit (for a child under 12) gives the claimant Class 3 NI credits — worth:
| Each qualifying year | ~£329/year added to State Pension (2025/26 rate) |
| Over 12 years of claiming | ~£3,948/year in State Pension — for life |
| Opportunity cost of not claiming | Very high for non-working parents |
If you opt out to avoid HICBC admin, you lose these NI credits. Claim, then repay via Self Assessment.
How to Claim Child Benefit
You can claim Child Benefit as soon as your child is born or comes to live with you. There is no deadline to claim but you can only be paid from the date you claim — not backdated to the birth unless you claim within 3 months.
Claim options:
- Online: gov.uk/child-benefit — fastest option, takes around 20 minutes
- Phone: 0300 200 3100 (HMRC Child Benefit line)
- Post: Child Benefit claim form CH2 (download from HMRC)
Payments are made every 4 weeks directly into your bank account, on a Monday or Tuesday. Single parents and families on certain benefits can opt for weekly payment.
Guardian’s Allowance
If you are bringing up a child whose parents have both died (or in some cases where one parent has died and the other cannot be found), you may be entitled to Guardian’s Allowance on top of Child Benefit.
| Weekly rate (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
| Guardian’s Allowance | £21.75 |
Guardian’s Allowance is paid in addition to Child Benefit — not instead of it. It is not means-tested and not taxable. You do not need to be the child’s legal guardian.
Stopping and Restarting Child Benefit
If the HICBC applies and you prefer not to manage Self Assessment, you can opt out of receiving Child Benefit payments (while keeping the NI credits). You should restart claiming if your income drops below £60,000 again. Do not stop claiming entirely — use the opt-out payments feature to keep NI credit protection active.