Child Benefit Rates 2026/27
Weekly, 4-weekly and annual amounts by number of children, plus the HICBC thresholds
Child Benefit weekly rates — 2026-27 and 2025-26
| Who the payment is for | 2026-27 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Eldest or only child | £27.05 | £26.05 |
| Each additional child | £17.90 | £17.25 |
Rates apply from 6 April 2026. There is no cap on the number of children you can claim for.
How much Child Benefit for 1, 2, 3 or more children (2026-27)
Only the eldest child is paid at the higher rate. Every child after the first is paid the additional-child rate, so each extra child adds £17.90 a week.
| Children | Weekly | Every 4 weeks | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £27.05 | £108.20 | £1,406.60 |
| 2 | £44.95 | £179.80 | £2,337.40 |
| 3 | £62.85 | £251.40 | £3,268.20 |
| 4 | £80.75 | £323.00 | £4,199.00 |
| 5 | £98.65 | £394.60 | £5,129.80 |
Annual figures assume 52 weekly payments. Child Benefit is normally paid every 4 weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge (2026-27)
HICBC is a tax charge on the higher earner, not a cut to the payment — every family receives the same weekly rates above. The charge is assessed on the highest single adjusted net income in the couple, so a household with two people each earning £55,000 pays nothing while a household with one earner on £80,000 loses the entire award.
| Highest income in the couple | Child Benefit you keep |
|---|---|
| Up to £60,000 | All of it — no charge |
| £60,000 to £80,000 | Reduced — 1% repaid per £200 of income above £60,000 |
| £80,000 or more | None — the full award is clawed back |
The £20,000 band between the two thresholds is exactly £20,000 ÷ £200 = 100 steps of 1%, which is why the award tapers to nil precisely at £80,000. Pension contributions and Gift Aid reduce adjusted net income, so they can pull an income back below the threshold — use the Child Benefit Calculator to model your own charge.
Child Benefit for 16 to 19 year olds
Child Benefit does not automatically stop at 16. It continues to the 31 August following your child's 16th birthday, and can then run until their 20th birthday while they remain in approved full-time non-advanced education or approved training — A levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs up to level 3, home education started before 16, or a traineeship. You need to tell HMRC that your child is staying on, otherwise payments end at that 31 August.
It does not continue for a university degree or other advanced course, and it stops if your child starts paid work of 24 hours or more a week, or claims benefits such as Universal Credit in their own right.
Claim even if you expect to repay all of it
Registering for Child Benefit gives the caring parent National Insurance credits towards the State Pension while a child is under 12, and gives the child an automatic National Insurance number at 16. If your income is above £80,000 you can claim and opt out of the payments, keeping the credits without incurring the charge. Check the effect of the credits with the State Pension Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Child Benefit in 2026-27?
Child Benefit pays £27.05 a week for your eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for each additional child. There is no limit on the number of children you can claim for. Payment is normally made every 4 weeks, so a family with one child receives £108.20 per payment and £1,406.60 over a full year.
How much is Child Benefit for 2 children?
For two children you receive £44.95 a week — £27.05 for the eldest plus £17.90 for the second. That is £179.80 every 4 weeks, or £2,337.40 a year. Only the eldest child attracts the higher rate; every child after the first is paid at the additional-child rate.
How much did Child Benefit go up in April 2026?
The eldest-child rate rose from £26.05 to £27.05 a week, and the additional-child rate from £17.25 to £17.90. Child Benefit is uprated each April in line with the previous September's CPI inflation figure, the same uprating that applies to most other benefits.
What is the Child Benefit income threshold for 2026-27?
The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) starts once the higher earner in the household has an adjusted net income above £60,000. You repay 1% of your Child Benefit for every £200 of income above that, so the whole award is clawed back once income reaches £80,000. The threshold applies to the highest single income in the couple, not the combined household income.
Is it worth claiming Child Benefit if I earn over £80,000?
Usually yes — you can claim and then opt out of receiving the payments. Registering still credits you with National Insurance credits towards your State Pension while you care for a child under 12, and it gives your child an automatic National Insurance number at 16. If you take the payments and are liable for HICBC, you settle it through a Self Assessment return or, since 2025, through your PAYE tax code.
Can I keep claiming Child Benefit after my child turns 16?
Yes, if they stay in approved full-time non-advanced education or approved training — for example A levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs up to level 3, or a traineeship. Payment can continue until the 31 August after their 16th birthday automatically, and beyond that up to their 20th birthday while the course continues. It stops if they start a university degree, begin paid work of 24 hours or more a week, or claim benefits in their own right.
Is Child Benefit taxable or means-tested?
Child Benefit itself is not taxable income and is not means-tested — the amount you receive does not depend on your earnings or savings. The HICBC is a separate tax charge on the higher earner, not a reduction in the benefit, which is why the weekly rates above are the same for every family regardless of income.
Sources
Reflects 2026-27 and 2025-26 Child Benefit rates and HICBC thresholds, verified against gov.uk.