Child benefit: How much is it worth and who can claim it?
- Published
Child benefit will increase by 1.7% in April 2025.
More families have been able to claim child benefit payments since April 2024.
This followed an increase in the amount you can can earn before the payments start to be withdrawn, and the point at which they stop altogether.
Who gets child benefit?
You can get child benefit if you are responsible for bringing up a child who is:
under 16
under 20 if they stay in approved education or training
Only one person can claim child benefit for a child. There is no limit to how many children you can claim for.
Child benefit stops on or after 31 August when your child turns 16, unless you inform HMRC by that date that your child is continuing in approved education or training., external
It is usually paid into a nominated bank account every four weeks, but if you are a single parent or receive certain other benefits, such as universal credit, you can receive the money weekly.
The rules apply across the UK.
How much is child benefit worth now and what will parents get from April 2025?
Since 6 April 2024, it has been worth:
£25.60 a week for the eldest or only child
£16.95 a week for younger children
The government has confirmed that most benefits will increase by 1.7% in April 2025. This means child benefit will be worth:
£26.05 a week for the eldest or only child
£17.25 a week for younger children
You can find out how much child benefit you may be entitled to at the moment by using the government calculator., external
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge and how much money can I earn before I start to lose child benefit?
In the 2024 Spring Budget, then-Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt increased the amount you can earn before you start to lose child benefit, under the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)., external
Previously, child benefit payments were reduced once a parent earned £50,000. That limit was increased to £60,000.
Payments used to stop entirely once one parent earned more than £60,000. That was increased to £80,000.
More than 86,650 new claims were made in April 2024 after the income rule change.
Despite the increase, the HICBC rules have been criticised for unfairly penalising single parents and families with one high earner.
A household where two parents earn £60,000 - with a total household income of £120,000 - can get the full amount.
But if a household has one parent who earns just above £60,000, their child benefit will start to be reduced, and cut altogether once they earn more than £80,000.
Mr Hunt also said he was considering basing child benefit claims on total household income instead of the highest earner's wage - a move that was broadly welcomed.
However, in the 2024 Autumn Budget, the Labour government ruled out changing the system because it would cost too much to ensure that no families lost out as a result.
How do you apply for child benefit?
You can claim child benefit 48 hours after you have registered a birth, or as soon as a child comes to live with you.
If you claim at a later point, payments can be backdated for up to three months.
You can claim online, external, by post, external or by phone., external
You need the following documents:
your child's birth or adoption certificate
your bank or building society details
your National Insurance (NI) number
if you have a partner, their NI number
Only one parent can claim child benefit
How does child benefit affect National Insurance credits?
Claiming child benefit for a child under the age of 12 means you automatically get NI credits, which count towards your state pension.
These credits can help fill gaps in your NI record if you are not working or if you don't earn enough to pay NI contributions.
The government advises that you should still fill in the child benefit claim form, even if you opt out of getting payments, so that you can get NI credits.
Doing so also means your child will automatically get an NI number when they turn 16. Otherwise they will have to apply for one.
What happens if your family circumstances change?
If a family splits up, the amount of child benefit paid depends on how many children there are, and where they live.
If you have two children and one stays with each parent, you would both get the higher amount for each child.
If you share custody of one or more children, only one of you can claim child benefit on their behalf.
The eldest will still be entitled to the higher amount, and any younger children will get the lower payment.
If two families join together, the eldest child in the new family qualifies for the higher rate, and any other eligible children get the smaller amount.