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How to Use the Child Benefit Calculator
- Enter the number of children you're claiming for — Child Benefit is paid per child under 16, or under 20 if in approved education or training.
- Enter the highest earner's income in your household — this is the figure that triggers HICBC if above £60,000.
- Click "Calculate" — the tool shows the weekly rate, gross annual, HICBC charge, and net annual after the clawback.
How Child Benefit works in the UK
Child Benefit is a payment from HMRC to anyone responsible for bringing up a child under 16 — or under 20 if the child is still in approved education (e.g. A Levels, Scottish Highers, or some vocational training). It's a per-child payment with a higher rate for the eldest or only child and a lower rate for each additional child.
For the 2025/26 tax year, the rates are:
- Eldest or only child: £26.05 per week (£1,354.60 per year)
- Each additional child: £17.25 per week (£897.00 per year)
So a family with two children gets £26.05 + £17.25 = £43.30 per week, or £2,251.60 per year. Three children: £60.55 per week or £3,148.60 per year. Payments are made every four weeks, directly into your nominated bank account, and are tax-free at the point of payment.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)
HICBC is a tax charge introduced in 2013 that effectively withdraws Child Benefit from higher-earning households. It works through the individual's Self Assessment: if the higher-earning partner in the household has "adjusted net income" over £60,000, they pay a charge through their tax return. The charge tapers by 1% for every £200 of income above £60,000, so at £80,000+ the charge equals 100% of the Child Benefit received — full clawback.
Important: the threshold rose from £50,000 to £60,000 from April 2024, and the full-withdrawal threshold from £60,000 to £80,000. Earlier guidance still references the old numbers — the calculator above uses the current 2025/26 figures.
HICBC applies to the individual with the highest income, not the household jointly. If one partner earns £75,000 and the other £20,000, HICBC applies based on the £75,000 figure — not the combined £95,000. This creates a deliberate disparity: a single-earner household on £65,000 pays HICBC, while a dual-earner household on £59,000 + £59,000 (household income £118,000) pays nothing.
Why you should claim even if HICBC will claw it all back
This is the single most important thing to know about Child Benefit, and it's often missed. Even if your household's highest earner is over £80,000 and HICBC will claw back 100% of the benefit, you should still claim it — and then choose to receive nothing while maintaining the claim.
The reason: claiming Child Benefit automatically credits you with National Insurance (NI) contributions for each year you have a child under 12 at home. These NI credits count toward your State Pension qualifying years. Without them, a parent who takes years out of paid work to care for children could end up short of the 35 qualifying years needed for a full new State Pension — costing tens of thousands of pounds over retirement.
On the claim form, you can tick a box saying "I don't want to receive Child Benefit payments" — this maintains your NI credits without HMRC having to pay and then claw back via HICBC. If you're certain both partners will always be over £80k, this is the cleanest route. If either might drop below the threshold (career break, business loss, redundancy), receiving the payment is still worth it — the HICBC clawback is settled via Self Assessment at the end of the year anyway.
How HICBC is paid
HICBC is paid through Self Assessment. Anyone with adjusted net income over £60,000 who claims Child Benefit must register for Self Assessment (if not already registered) and complete a return each year. The HICBC charge appears on the tax calculation and is paid alongside any other income tax owed, usually by 31 January following the tax year.
Some employers offer salary sacrifice arrangements that can bring adjusted net income below £60,000 — pension contributions, cycle-to-work schemes, childcare vouchers (legacy) — and this genuinely avoids HICBC. Tax-efficient pension contributions are the most common route: contributing £5,000 to a pension from a £65,000 gross salary brings adjusted net income to £60,000, avoiding the charge while also saving for retirement.
Who is "responsible for a child" for Child Benefit?
You can claim Child Benefit if the child lives with you, or you're paying at least as much as the Child Benefit rate toward their upbringing (e.g. separated parents — one claims, one may contribute). Only one person can claim per child. In separated families, HMRC awards the claim to the primary carer — usually the parent the child lives with more than half the time.
If two people dispute who should claim, HMRC makes a decision based on evidence — where the child is registered with a GP and school, what share of care each parent provides, and so on. Shared custody arrangements need to agree in advance who claims, because only one of you can. Some parents split the years (one claims for three years, the other for three) to share HICBC liability when both earn over the threshold.
Claiming Child Benefit for the first time
New parents should claim Child Benefit as soon as possible after the birth — within 3 months of the birth, claims can be backdated to the birth date. After 3 months, they can only be backdated by 3 months, so delay costs money. Claim online at gov.uk/child-benefit or by post (form CH2). You'll need the child's birth certificate, your National Insurance number, and your bank details.
For children arriving by adoption or guardianship, similar rules apply — claim as soon as the child starts living with you permanently. Claims for children in approved education past 16 require confirmation from the school or college; HMRC will contact you around the child's 16th birthday to ask about plans.
How much is Child Benefit for 2025/26?
For 2025/26, Child Benefit is £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child, and £17.25 per week for each additional child. So a family with two children receives £43.30 per week, and a family with three receives £60.55 per week. Payments are tax-free at the point of receipt, paid every four weeks.
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)?
HICBC is a tax charge paid through Self Assessment by the higher-earning partner in a household if their adjusted net income exceeds £60,000. The charge tapers by 1% for every £200 of income above £60,000, reaching 100% (full clawback) at £80,000 or more. Earlier thresholds of £50,000 and £60,000 applied before April 2024.
Should I still claim Child Benefit if I earn over £80,000?
Yes — but you can tick a box on the claim form to decline actual payments while maintaining the claim. Claiming gives you National Insurance credits for every year you have a child under 12, which count toward your State Pension. Without those credits, a parent who takes time out of paid work could end up short of the 35 years needed for a full State Pension.
When does Child Benefit stop?
Child Benefit stops at age 16 unless the child continues in approved education or training (A Levels, BTEC, T Levels, some apprenticeships). It can continue up to age 20 if they remain in approved education. HMRC contacts you before the child's 16th birthday to confirm continuing education status.
Can both parents claim Child Benefit?
No. Only one person can claim per child. In separated families, the primary carer (the parent the child lives with more than half the time) usually claims. In shared custody, only one parent can claim per child, but parents can agree to split claims by child or by year.
How do I avoid HICBC?
If your adjusted net income is between £60,000 and £80,000, contributing more to a pension can bring your income below the threshold — pension contributions reduce adjusted net income pound-for-pound. Salary sacrifice schemes (cycle-to-work, older childcare vouchers) also reduce the figure. A £5,000 pension contribution from a £65,000 salary brings you to exactly £60,000, avoiding HICBC entirely.
How do I claim Child Benefit?
Claim online at gov.uk/child-benefit or by post using form CH2. You'll need the child's birth certificate, your National Insurance number, and bank details. Claim within 3 months of the birth for full backdating; after 3 months, claims can only be backdated by 3 months.
Is Child Benefit the same as Child Tax Credit?
No. Child Benefit is a universal payment available to all (subject to HICBC). Child Tax Credit was a means-tested benefit that has been absorbed into Universal Credit — new claims for it closed years ago. If you're on Universal Credit, you receive a "child element" within your UC payment in addition to Child Benefit.
