How much is Child Benefit?

For parents and carers who want to know how much Child Benefit pays in 2026/27.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Child Benefit is £27.05 a week for your eldest or only child, and £17.90 a week for each additional child.

If you or your partner earn over the threshold, you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
You can claim and opt out of payments to avoid the charge while keeping benefits like National Insurance credits.
Child Benefit counts towards the benefit cap.

Key facts

£27.05 a week for eldest child
£17.90 for each extra child
High earners may pay a charge

Child Benefit rates for 2026/27

These rates apply from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027.

Child	Per week	Every 4 weeks	Per year
Eldest or only child	£27.05	£108.20	£1,406.60
Each other child	£17.90	£71.60	£930.80

There is no limit on the number of children you can claim for. Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks.

The rates rose in April 2026. In 2025/26 they were £26.05 for the eldest child and £17.25 for each other child.

What families get in total (2026/27)

Family	Per week	Every 4 weeks	Per year
1 child	£27.05	£108.20	£1,406.60
2 children	£44.95	£179.80	£2,337.40
3 children	£62.85	£251.40	£3,268.20

Worked example 1: three children

Amira has three children. She gets £27.05 for the eldest and £17.90 for each of the other two.

£27.05 + £17.90 + £17.90 = £62.85 a week
Every 4 weeks: 4 x £62.85 = £251.40
Over a year: 52 x £62.85 = £3,268.20

Worked example 2: the High Income Child Benefit Charge

Dan has two children. His adjusted net income is £70,000, and his partner earns less. He gets £2,337.40 Child Benefit in the year.

He is £10,000 over the £60,000 threshold.
The charge is 1% of Child Benefit for every £200 over: £10,000 / £200 = 50, so 50%.
He pays back 50% x £2,337.40 = £1,168.70 through tax.
The family keeps £1,168.70.

If the higher earner's income is £80,000 or more, the charge equals all the Child Benefit.

What changes the amount

Which child is eldest. Only one child in a family gets the higher rate. If two families join together, only one child gets £27.05.
Separated parents. If each parent has a child living with them, each can claim £27.05 for their own eldest child.
Income over £60,000. The higher earner may pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
Age and education. Payments stop at 16 unless your child stays in approved education or training, up to age 20.
The benefit cap. Child Benefit counts towards the benefit cap, which can lower Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.

Guardian's Allowance

If you bring up a child whose parents have died, you may get Guardian's Allowance on top. It is £22.95 a week in 2026/27 (it was £22.10 in 2025/26), and it is tax-free.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Child Benefit is run by HMRC and paid at the same rates across the whole UK.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Rates usually change every April.

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Claim Child Benefit

Common questions

What if we both claim for the same child?

Only one of you will get Child Benefit for that child.

How do I know if I'll pay the tax charge?

Use the Child Benefit tax calculator on GOV.UK.

Source: Child Benefit: what you'll get

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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