Child Benefit — Coming Soon
Last updated: April 2026 · Reviewed by: Silverwings Benefits Team · Source: HMRC
Child Benefit is a near-universal payment for anyone responsible for bringing up a child. We’re building a dedicated Child Benefit support service — check if you could be eligible below and register your interest.
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What is Child Benefit?
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How to Apply for Child Benefit
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Child Benefit is a tax-free payment for anyone responsible for bringing up a child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training). Unlike most benefits, there is no means test to claim it in the first place — almost every family is entitled to something. The catch for higher earners is the High Income Child Benefit Charge, which can claw back some or all of the payment through the tax system. Even so, claiming is usually worthwhile for the National Insurance credits alone. This page brings together everything you need to know, with links to detailed guides on eligibility, rates, the high income charge, and what happens as your child gets older.
Child Benefit Rates
£26.05
per week
£17.25
per week, per child
No limit on the number of children you can claim for. See our full rates breakdown for worked examples.
Earning Over £60,000? Read This First
If you or your partner earn over £60,000, some or all of your Child Benefit may be clawed back through the High Income Child Benefit Charge — tapered up to £80,000, where it cancels out entirely. But claiming is still usually worth it, even if you opt out of receiving the payments, because it protects your National Insurance record.
Read our full High Income Child Benefit Charge guide →Explore Child Benefit
Eligibility
Who can claim, residency rules, and who counts as responsible for a child.
How Much You Get
Current rates, worked examples, and how it’s paid.
High Income Child Benefit Charge
The £60,000-£80,000 taper explained.
16-19 Year Olds
What happens when your child turns 16, and how to keep payments going.
Child Benefit: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Child Benefit means-tested?
No, Child Benefit itself is not means-tested and anyone responsible for a child can claim it, whatever their income. However, higher earners may need to pay some of it back through the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
Should I claim even if my income is too high to keep the money?
Usually yes. Claiming (even if you opt out of the payments) protects National Insurance credits for the claiming parent and registers your child for a National Insurance number ahead of their 16th birthday.
Can Child Benefit be backdated?
Yes, Child Benefit can usually be backdated up to 3 months, so it is worth claiming as soon as possible after your child is born or comes to live with you.
What's the difference between Child Benefit and the child element of Universal Credit?
They are entirely separate. Child Benefit is a standalone, near-universal payment, while the Universal Credit child element is part of a means-tested benefit with its own rules and a two-child limit for most families.
Register Your Interest
Our dedicated Child Benefit support service is launching soon. Register your interest below, and we’ll be in touch the moment it’s ready.
Register My Interest