Child Benefit Calculator

Child Benefit is a regular tax-free payment from the UK government to anyone who is responsible for bringing up a child. It is one of the most widely claimed benefits in the UK, and for good reason — it provides a reliable income boost during the early years of parenthood, and it's particularly valuable when combined with your Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance.

For the 2026/27 tax year, the Child Benefit rates are:

• First child: £27.05 per week (£1,406.60 per year)
• Each additional child: £17.90 per week (£930.80 per year)

These payments are made every 4 weeks directly into your bank account. You can claim from the moment your child is born and continue receiving Child Benefit until your child turns 16, or until they turn 20 if they stay in approved education or training.

How to Claim Child Benefit

Claiming Child Benefit is straightforward and you should do it as soon as your baby is born. Here's the process:

1. Register the birth — this is a legal requirement within 42 days in England and Wales (21 days in Scotland)
2. Complete the Child Benefit claim form (CH2) — you can download this from GOV.UK or claim online
3. Include your child's birth certificate — the original, which will be returned to you
4. Submit within 3 months — claims can be backdated by up to 3 months, so don't delay

Important: Even if you think you might be affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge (see below), it is still highly recommended that you register for Child Benefit. You can choose to receive the payments and pay back some or all through tax, or you can opt not to receive payments while still being registered. Registration protects your National Insurance record.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)

The High Income Child Benefit Charge is a tax clawback that applies when the higher-earning partner in a household has an adjusted net income above £60,000 per year (increased from £50,000 in April 2024). This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Child Benefit, so let's break it down clearly.

How the clawback works:

• If the higher earner has income between £60,000 and £80,000, the charge is 1% of the Child Benefit for every £200 over £60,000
• At exactly £80,000, the charge equals 100% of the Child Benefit — effectively wiping it out entirely
• If the higher earner is above £80,000, you lose all the benefit through tax

Example: If you have one child and the higher earner makes £70,000, they're £10,000 over the threshold. That's 50 lots of £200, so the clawback is 50% of the annual Child Benefit (£1,406.60 × 50% = £703.30 repaid through Self Assessment). Your net benefit is £703.30 per year.

Note that the HICBC is based on individual income, not household income. It applies to whichever partner earns more. If both partners earn £59,000 each (combined £118,000), there is no charge. But if one partner earns £80,000 and the other earns nothing, the full charge applies.

Why You Should Still Claim Even If You're Affected by HICBC

There are two powerful reasons to claim Child Benefit even if the higher earner's income means you'll lose some or all of it to the HICBC:

1. National Insurance credits: The parent who claims Child Benefit receives National Insurance credits for each week they're not working (or earning below the NI threshold). These credits count towards your State Pension entitlement. This is especially important during maternity leave when your earnings drop — your take-home maternity pay may be below the NI Primary Threshold, and without Child Benefit credits you could have gaps in your NI record.

2. You can opt out of payments: You can register for Child Benefit but choose not to receive the actual payments. This means you get the NI credits without having to deal with the HICBC or Self Assessment. This "best of both worlds" option is often overlooked.

Child Benefit During Maternity Leave

Child Benefit is a crucial part of your income during maternity leave. When you're receiving the flat rate of Statutory Maternity Pay (£194.32 per week), an extra £27.05 per week for your first child adds up to a significant boost — that's an additional £1,406.60 over the year.

Also consider that during maternity leave, the higher earner's income may not change, but your own income will be significantly lower. If the HICBC is based on your partner's income and it's above the threshold, your reduced maternity pay unfortunately doesn't help avoid the charge. However, if you are the higher earner and your maternity leave reduces your annual income below £60,000 for the tax year, you may find that the HICBC doesn't apply — or applies at a lower rate — for that year.

Child Benefit for Multiple Children

If you have more than one child, your Child Benefit increases with each additional child, though at a lower per-child rate. Here's the annual breakdown:

Note that the two-child limit introduced in 2017 for some means-tested benefits (such as Universal Credit) does not apply to Child Benefit. You receive Child Benefit for every eligible child, regardless of how many you have.

Child Benefit and Your State Pension

One of the most overlooked benefits of claiming Child Benefit is its impact on your State Pension. If you're a parent who stays at home or works part-time while caring for a child under 12, the Child Benefit claim automatically gives you National Insurance credits. These credits fill gaps in your NI record and count towards the 35 qualifying years you need for the full new State Pension (£241.30 per week in 2026/27, up from £230.25 in 2025/26).

Without these credits, a period of maternity leave followed by part-time work or being a stay-at-home parent could leave you with a reduced State Pension decades later. This is why financial advisers strongly recommend that the primary carer always claims Child Benefit — even if the household is subject to the HICBC.

Reducing the HICBC Through Salary Sacrifice or Pension Contributions

There are legitimate ways to reduce or eliminate the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The most common strategy is for the higher earner to make additional pension contributions (either through salary sacrifice or personal pension contributions). Pension contributions reduce your adjusted net income, which is the figure used to calculate the HICBC.

Example: If the higher earner makes £70,000 and contributes £10,000 to a pension, their adjusted net income drops to £60,000 — below the HICBC threshold. They keep the full Child Benefit, get tax relief on the pension contribution, and build their retirement savings at the same time.

Plan Your Complete Maternity Finances

Child Benefit is just one piece of the puzzle. To get a complete picture of your finances during maternity leave, explore our other free tools:

• SMP Calculator — calculate your Statutory Maternity Pay week by week
• Maternity Allowance Calculator — for self-employed or recently changed jobs
• Take-Home Pay Calculator — see your maternity pay after tax
• Maternity Leave Planner — work out all your key dates

For a full guide to managing your money during maternity leave, including budgeting tips and benefit maximisation strategies, read our financial planning for maternity leave guide.