United Kingdom · 2025/26
United Kingdom Child benefit calculator
Estimate the Child Benefit a UK family is awarded for the 2025/26 tax year and how much is kept after the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). Enter the number of children and the adjusted net income of the higher earner. Rates apply from 7 April 2025.
| Child Benefit awarded (per year) | £2,251.60 |
| High Income Child Benefit Charge | -£0.00 |
| Child Benefit kept (per year) | £2,251.60 |
| Awarded per month | £187.63 |
| Awarded per week | £43.30 |
How it works
- Child Benefit is GBP 26.05 a week for the eldest or only child (GBP 1,354.60 a year) and GBP 17.25 a week for each additional child (GBP 897.00 a year). It is normally paid every 4 weeks.
- If the higher earner in the household has an adjusted net income above GBP 60,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge claws some of it back: 1% of the benefit for every GBP 200 of income over GBP 60,000.
- Once that income reaches GBP 80,000 the charge equals the full benefit, so nothing is kept. The charge is collected through Self Assessment or your tax code, not by reducing the payment itself.
Worked example
Two children, higher earner on GBP 50,000 is awarded GBP 1,354.60 + GBP 897.00 = GBP 2,251.60 a year (GBP 43.30 a week). Income is below GBP 60,000, so there is no charge and the family keeps the full GBP 2,251.60.
Frequently asked questions
Is the payment reduced if we earn too much?+
No. The full Child Benefit is still paid. The High Income Child Benefit Charge recovers part or all of it separately, usually through Self Assessment or an adjusted tax code, based on the higher earner’s income.
Whose income counts for the charge?+
Only the higher earner’s adjusted net income. It is not the couple’s combined income, so two partners each on GBP 55,000 pay no charge, while one partner on GBP 75,000 does.
Is it still worth claiming if the charge wipes out the benefit?+
Often yes. Claiming protects your State Pension through National Insurance credits and gives the child a National Insurance number. You can claim but choose not to receive payments to avoid the charge.
Does the eldest-child rate change as children grow up?+
The higher rate always applies to whichever child is currently the eldest in the claim. The number of children, not their ages, drives the amount in this calculator. Benefit normally stops at 16, or up to 20 in approved education or training.
Sources
- Child Benefit: What you'll get · GOV.UK
- Child Benefit, Guardian's Allowance and tax credits - rates and allowances · HMRC / GOV.UK
- High Income Child Benefit Charge: Overview · GOV.UK
Last updated: 2025-04-07 · Applies to 2025/26
This is an estimate for general guidance, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Figures can change and individual circumstances vary. Always confirm with the official sources listed before making decisions.
- Rates are from 7 April 2025; annual figures use 52 weeks. Payment is made every 4 weeks; the monthly line is an even-twelfths approximation.
- The charge assumes a single higher earner with the adjusted net income entered, and is rounded down to a whole pound as HMRC does. It excludes pension contributions and Gift Aid that can reduce adjusted net income.
Reviewed by Vikas Dulgunde.