What Every Parent Needs to Know About Child Benefit

Child Benefit is one of those things many parents have heard of, but don’t always know much about. We knew about it but had no idea about eligibility, income limits and whether it’s actually worth claiming before we had Scarlett. For some families, it feels like an obvious yes. For others, particularly higher earners, it can feel confusing or even not worth the admin.

Understanding how Child Benefit works can help you make an informed decision and avoid missing out on support you’re entitled to.

What is Child Benefit?

Child Benefit is a regular payment from the government designed to help parents and carers with the cost of raising children. It’s paid every four weeks and is available for each eligible child.

Currently, Child Benefit is paid at:

• £26.05 per week for your eldest or only child.
• £17.25 per week for each additional child.

The money is paid directly into your bank account and can be used however you need — there are no restrictions on how it’s spent.

Who is eligible for Child Benefit?

You can usually claim Child Benefit if:

• You’re responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
• You live in the UK.
• You’re the main person responsible for the child.

Only one person can claim Child Benefit per child, but it doesn’t have to be the child’s parent. Guardians or carers can also be eligible. It’s worth noting that claiming Child Benefit automatically awards you National Insurance (NI) credits. This protects your State Pension by preventing gaps in your record if you are not working/ earning less than £125 a week. So it’s crucial to ensure that the non-working or lower-earning partner is the one registered to receive these credits.

What about higher earners?

If either you or your partner earns over £50,000 you may be affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). But for the tax years starting 2024-2025 then this limit has risen to £60,000.

If you or your partner earn more than £60,000 a year, you’ll have to pay some of your Child Benefit back. If you or your partner earn £80,000 or more, you’ll have to pay all of it back.

However, many higher earners still choose to claim but opt not to receive the payments. This can be beneficial because:

• It protects National Insurance credits, which count towards your State Pension.
• It ensures your child receives a National Insurance number automatically at 16.
• It keeps your claim active in case your circumstances change.

In our household I’m the higher earner and there may be some years we have to pay it back (if I’ve had a good blog/ freelance year). But for the current and next tax year where I’m on maternity leave for part of it we should be fine. We aren’t spending any of the money and instead have it in a savings pot (earning interest). Then at the end of each tax year we’ll figure out if we have to pay it back or not.

How to apply for Child Benefit

You can apply for Child Benefit online or by post through HMRC. To apply, you’ll usually need:

• Your National Insurance number.
• Your child’s birth or adoption certificate.
• Your bank details.

You can claim as soon as your child is born or placed with you, but it’s worth knowing that claims can only be backdated for up to three months.

Once approved, payments are usually made every four weeks, though some people choose weekly payments if they’re a single parent or receiving certain benefits.

Why it’s worth understanding Child Benefit

Even if you’re unsure whether you’ll receive payments, registering for Child Benefit can still be an important step. It helps protect your future entitlements and ensures everything is in place should your income or circumstances change later on.

Like many aspects of family finance, Child Benefit isn’t just about the money now — it’s about planning ahead and making sure you’re covered.