New Child Benefit Rates: Find Out What You’ll Be Paid in 2026
Millions of families claiming Child Benefit will see an increase in their payments from next week, as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) encourages those yet to claim to use the HMRC app or go online to claim theirs today.
From 6 April, claimants will receive £27.05 per week – or £1,406.60 a year – for the eldest or only child and £17.90 per week – or £930.80 a year – for each additional child, with no limit as to how many children parents can claim for. This is an annual increase of £52 and £33.80 respectively.
Latest figures show that while more than 6.9 million families receive Child Benefit payments, only 72% of families claimed it in their baby’s first year. A Child Benefit claim can only be backdated for up to 3 months from the date your claim is received by HMRC, which means thousands of families are missing out.
HMRC has released a YouTube video explaining how new parents can make a claim.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Looking after a child can be expensive and especially a newborn baby. It takes a few minutes to claim Child Benefit via the app and doing so as soon as you can after your baby is born will ensure you don’t miss out on vital financial support.”
Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks and will automatically be paid into a bank account.
Anna Sharkey from the Money and Pensions Service, said:
“Use MoneyHelper’s free Benefits Calculator if you think you, or someone you know, might be eligible for Child Benefit. The calculator will show you all the benefits you’re eligible for. Other MoneyHelper tools for new parents include the Baby Cost Calculator to help you budget when having a baby, and the Baby Money Timeline which gives you key dates to help you plan your finances.”
Parents in receipt of Child Benefit payments, or who are making a new claim where either they or their partner have income of more than £60,000 a year, may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).
Parents eligible for the charge can use the HICBC PAYE digital service to pay the charge through their PAYE tax code rather than completing a Self Assessment tax return, if they have no other reason to file a return.
The service is available to parents who are liable for the charge, where their income exceeds the HICBC threshold. Eligible parents can register via the HMRC app or on GOV.UK. Parents who choose to pay the charge through their Self Assessment can continue to do so.
Families who have previously opted out of Child Benefit payments can opt back in and restart their payments quickly and easily on the HMRC app or online. A person living in a household subject to the HICBC will still receive National Insurance credits if they claim Child Benefit but choose to opt out of receiving payments.
