How much is Child Benefit?
| Child | 2026/27 (now) | From April 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Eldest or only child | £27.05 a week | £28 a week |
| Each additional child | £17.90 a week | £18.55 a week |
April 2027 rates were announced in the Budget on 28 October 2026.
Why the 3-month deadline matters
Child Benefit can only be backdated up to 3 months from when HMRC gets your claim. If you claim when your baby is 5 months old, you lose 2 months of payments. Claim as soon as you've registered the birth.
How to claim
- Register the birth (within 42 days in England and Wales).
- Wait 48 hours, then claim online on GOV.UK or in the HMRC app.
- If you can't claim online, you can claim by phone or post.
Earn over £60,000? Still claim
The High Income Child Benefit Charge applies if one parent has income over £60,000: you repay 1% of the benefit for every £200 over, and all of it at £80,000. Even then, it's worth claiming and choosing not to be paid, because:
- the person who claims gets National Insurance credits towards their State Pension (so it's usually best for a parent who isn't working or earns less to claim), and
- your child is automatically given a National Insurance number at 16.
Ready to go?
Read everything above? Here's the official page to do it:
Want the exact dates for your baby? Get your personal timeline: enter your due date or birthday and see every deadline in order.
Sources: GOV.UK: Child Benefit rates, GOV.UK: how to claim, GOV.UK: High Income Child Benefit Charge. Checked 28 October 2026.