Child Benefit Calculator
Calculate your UK Child Benefit entitlement and check whether the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) applies to you. Enter your income and number of children to see your net benefit after any clawback.
Working parents may also qualify for the parallel Tax-Free Childcare scheme (£2,000/year per child via a 25% government top-up) — claimable alongside Child Benefit if both partners earn under £100k.
Key Takeaway
If you or your partner earn over £60,000, you may need to repay some or all of your Child Benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).
Key Facts — 2026-27
First Child (weekly)
£27.05
Additional Child (weekly)
£17.90
HICBC Threshold
£60,000
Full Clawback At
£80,000
The higher earner in the household. The charge is measured on adjusted net income — total taxable income including savings interest and dividends, less pension contributions and Gift Aid — not on gross salary.
Net Benefit
£2,337.40After HICBC
Monthly Net
£194.78Per month
Annual Benefit
£2,337.40£44.95/week
HICBC Charge
£0.000% clawback
| Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Weekly rate (first child) | £27.05 |
| Weekly rate (1 additional child) | £17.90 |
| Total weekly benefit | £44.95 |
| Annual benefit (52 weeks) | £2,337.40 |
| HICBC clawback rate | 0% |
| HICBC charge | £0.00 |
| Net annual benefit | £2,337.40 |
How Child Benefit Works
Child Benefit is a tax-free payment from HMRC to anyone responsible for raising a child under 16 (or under 20 if they remain in approved education or training). You do not need to be the biological parent — guardians, foster carers, and adoptive parents can all claim.
The benefit is paid at two rates: a higher rate for the eldest or only child (£27.05/week for 2026-27), and a lower rate for each additional child (£17.90/week). Payments are made every four weeks, or weekly for single parents.
Claiming Child Benefit is important even if you are not entitled to keep the money, because the claim provides National Insurance credits to any parent or carer who is not working. These credits count toward the 35 qualifying years needed for a full State Pension.
Child Benefit Amounts by Number of Children (2026-27)
The eldest or only child is paid £27.05/week and every additional child £17.90/week. The annual figures below assume you keep the full benefit (no High Income Child Benefit Charge).
| Children | Weekly | Every 4 weeks | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £27.05 | £108.20 | £1406.60 |
| 2 | £44.95 | £179.80 | £2337.40 |
| 3 | £62.85 | £251.40 | £3268.20 |
| 4 | £80.75 | £323.00 | £4199.00 |
High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) Explained
The HICBC applies when the highest earner in a household has an adjusted net income above £60,000. For every £200 of income above this threshold, 1% of the total Child Benefit is clawed back via self-assessment. Once income reaches £80,000, the full benefit is repaid.
The charge is based on individual income, not household income. This means a household where both parents earn £59,000 each (combined £118,000) pays no HICBC, while a household where one parent earns £70,000 and the other earns nothing would face a 50% clawback.
Prior to April 2024, the HICBC threshold was £50,000 with full clawback at £60,000. The April 2024 changes raised both thresholds and spread the taper over a wider £20,000 range, reducing the effective clawback rate for those in the taper zone.
HICBC Clawback by Income — Family with 2 Children (2026-27)
A family with two children receives £2337.40 a year. As the highest earner's adjusted net income rises from £60,000 to £80,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge claws back 1% for every £200 of income, until none is kept.
| Adjusted net income | Clawback % | HICBC charge | Benefit kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| £60,000 | 0% | £0.00 | £2337.40 |
| £65,000 | 25% | £584.35 | £1753.05 |
| £70,000 | 50% | £1168.70 | £1168.70 |
| £75,000 | 75% | £1753.05 | £584.35 |
| £80,000 | 100% | £2337.40 | £0.00 |
Pension contributions and Gift Aid reduce your adjusted net income, so paying into a pension can move you back down the taper — sometimes worth more than the contribution itself once the recovered Child Benefit is counted.
The HICBC is typically collected through your tax code — check your code to see if the charge is already being deducted from your pay, or if you need to register for Self Assessment to repay it.
Worked Example
Scenario: You earn £70,000 and have 2 children. You want to know how much Child Benefit you actually keep after the HICBC.
Step 1 — Calculate the gross benefit: First child: £27.05/week. Second child: £17.90/week. Total weekly benefit: £44.95. Annual benefit: £44.95 × 52 = £2,337.40.
Step 2 — Calculate the HICBC clawback: Your income exceeds the £60,000 threshold by £10,000. Clawback percentage: £10,000 ÷ £200 = 50%. HICBC charge: £2,337.40 × 50% = £1,168.70.
Step 3 — Net benefit: £2,337.40 − £1,168.70 = £1,168.70 per year, or about £97.39 per month. You still benefit from claiming, and the non-working parent (if applicable) still receives NI credits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?
How much is Child Benefit per child in 2026-27?
Should I still claim Child Benefit if I earn over £60,000?
Is Child Benefit based on household income or individual income?
When did the HICBC thresholds change?
Sources
Related Calculators
Last updated June 2026. Reflects 2026-27 and 2025-26 tax year rates.
Related Calculators
Child Benefit Rates 2026/27
Weekly, 4-weekly and annual Child Benefit by number of children, plus the HICBC thresholds and taper.
Child Maintenance Calculator
CMS 2012 scheme rates — nil, flat, reduced, basic and basic plus, with other-children and shared-care adjustments.
Tax-Free Childcare Calculator
Government top-up eligibility and savings calculator.
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