Child Benefit
Child Benefit is a non-means-tested payment for people responsible for raising a child under 16 (or under 20 if in approved education or training). The weekly rate is £25.60 for the eldest child and £16.95 for additional children (2025/26). Families where an individual earns over £60,000 a year must repay some or all of the benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge.
Child Benefit in 2025/26 pays £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week for each additional child — rates are normally uprated each April. There is no limit on the number of children who can be claimed for. The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) claws back the benefit via self-assessment: if either parent earns between £60,000 and £80,000 the charge tapers from 0% to 100% of the benefit received; earnings above £80,000 result in a full repayment. Even if you expect to repay it all, registering for Child Benefit protects your National Insurance record (useful for the State Pension) and automatically issues a National Insurance number to your child at 16. Claims can be backdated by up to three months — do not delay registering a new child.