Can grandparents claim Child Benefit?

The conditions

You can usually claim Child Benefit for a grandchild if:

• you are responsible for them, and
• they are under 16, or under 20 and in approved education or training, and
• you live in the UK

You count as responsible if the child lives with you, or if you pay at least as much as Child Benefit towards their upkeep. Informal family arrangements can count.

In 2026/27 Child Benefit is £27.05 a week for an eldest or only child and £17.90 for each other child.

Who can't claim

• You cannot claim if someone else already gets Child Benefit for the child, unless they stop.
• You might not qualify if the local council pays towards the child's accommodation or keep. Contact the Child Benefit Office to check.

Special cases

The parent is still being paid

When a child moves to live with someone else, the parent usually keeps Child Benefit for 8 weeks, if nobody else claims. They can keep it longer if they pay towards the child's upkeep at least the amount of Child Benefit. Upkeep can include food, clothes, presents, pocket money and housing costs.

To switch, the parent contacts the Child Benefit Office to say they want to stop and who will claim instead. You then make a new claim.

Two people both want to claim

HMRC follows set rules. Someone the child lives with comes before someone who only pays towards their keep. The Child Benefit Office will help you decide if you cannot agree, or decide for you.

Both parents have died

You may also get Guardian's Allowance of £22.95 a week (2026/27). It is tax-free and paid on top of Child Benefit. In some cases you can get it when one parent is still alive.

You look after a grandchild while the parent works

You will not get Child Benefit for this, but you may get Specified Adult Childcare credits. These are National Insurance credits that count towards your State Pension. You may qualify if:

• you are a grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, or a parent not living with the child (or their spouse or civil partner)
• you cared for a child under 12
• you were 16 or over and under State Pension age
• the person getting Child Benefit does not need the credits and agrees to transfer them

There is one credit per Child Benefit claim, however many children are on it. Apply on form CA9176. You must wait until 31 October after the end of the tax year you want credits for. You can apply for years back to 6 April 2011.

How to check and claim

1. Check the child lives with you, or that you pay towards their keep.
2. Check nobody else is claiming, or agree with them that they will stop.
3. Claim online, or by post if you cannot go online.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Child Benefit is run by HMRC across the UK. In Scotland, kinship carers can also apply for Class 3 National Insurance credits.

Related guides

• What is Child Benefit?
• How do I claim Child Benefit?
• How much is Child Benefit?
• What is Guardian's Allowance?
• What are National Insurance credits?

Where this comes from

• Child Benefit: who can get it
• Child Benefit if your child lives with someone else
• Child Benefit: what you'll get
• Guardian's Allowance
• Apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits
• National Insurance credits: eligibility
• HMRC Child Benefit manual: more than one person entitled