Should I still claim Child Benefit if I earn over £80,000?

Usually yes — but you can choose not to receive the payments to avoid the tax charge. The key reason to still make a claim is that it protects your State Pension: a parent who isn't working gets National Insurance credits towards their State Pension until the child turns 12, and your child automatically gets a National Insurance number near their 16th birthday. If you don't want the payments, you can tick the box to claim but opt out of receiving the money — you keep the National Insurance protection without the tax charge. You can opt back in later if your income falls.

How do I pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge?

If you keep receiving the payments and you (or your partner) are liable, you normally pay the charge through Self Assessment — you register with HMRC, file a tax return, and pay the charge by 31 January. From 2025, HMRC has been introducing a way to pay the charge through your PAYE tax code without filing a Self Assessment return. Whichever applies, keep a record of how much Child Benefit you received in the tax year.

How do I claim Child Benefit?

You can claim Child Benefit as soon as you've registered the birth or a child comes to live with you. Apply online through GOV.UK or the HMRC app — many claims are now processed within a few days. Claims can be backdated up to 3 months, so don't delay. You'll need your child's birth or adoption certificate, your bank details, and your and your partner's National Insurance numbers.

← Back to Sorted Child Benefit · UK guide

Child Benefit — claim it, even if you earn well.

Q: How much is Child Benefit in 2025/26?

Child Benefit is £26.05 a week for your eldest or only child, and £17.25 a week for each additional child, for the 2025/26 tax year. It's usually paid every 4 weeks into your bank account. There's no limit on the number of children you can claim for. Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.

Q: What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?

The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) is a tax charge that applies if you or your partner has an individual adjusted net income over £60,000. You pay back 1% of your Child Benefit for every £200 of income above £60,000, so by £80,000 the charge equals the full amount of Child Benefit. It's based on the higher earner's individual income, not your combined household income — so a couple could each earn £59,000 (£118,000 between them) and pay nothing, while a single earner on £80,000 pays it all back.

Last verified 6 Jun 2026 · Source GOV.UK Child Benefit + High Income Child Benefit Charge · Publisher: SortedUK Ltd (filed 5 Jun 2026)

Child Benefit is £26.05 a week for your eldest or only child and £17.25 a week for each other child (2025/26). Even if you earn too much to keep the money, you should usually still make a claim — it protects your State Pension and gets your child a National Insurance number. The High Income Child Benefit Charge only starts at £60,000 and takes it all back by £80,000, and it's based on one person's income, not the household's.

£26.05/wkEldest or only child

£17.25/wkEach other child

£60,000Charge starts

£80,000All paid back

Will the charge hit me? More family money

How much you get

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

It's usually paid every 4 weeks into your account, and there's no limit on the number of children you can claim for. Only one person can get Child Benefit for a particular child. For one child that's about £1,355 a year; for two, about £2,252 a year.

Why claim even if you're a high earner

This is the most missed point about Child Benefit. Making a claim does two valuable things beyond the money:

It protects your State Pension. A parent who isn't working (or earns too little to pay National Insurance) gets NI credits towards their State Pension until the child turns 12 — but only if there's a Child Benefit claim in place.
It gets your child a National Insurance number automatically near their 16th birthday.

The opt-out trick for high earners If your income is over £80,000 and you don't want the tax charge, you can still tick the box to claim but choose not to receive the payments. You keep the State Pension protection and your child's NI number, with no tax charge to pay. If your income later drops, you can opt back in.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge

If you or your partner has an individual income over £60,000, a tax charge claws some or all of the Child Benefit back:

You pay back 1% of your Child Benefit for every £200 of income above £60,000.
By £80,000, the charge equals the full amount of Child Benefit.
It's based on the higher earner's individual income — not your combined household income.

The two-earner quirk A couple who each earn £59,000 — £118,000 between them — pay no charge at all, because neither individual is over £60,000. But a single earner on £80,000 loses the lot. The charge looks at one person, not the household.

How you pay it

If you keep the payments and you're liable, you normally pay the charge through Self Assessment (register with HMRC, file a return, pay by 31 January). HMRC has been rolling out a way to pay it through your PAYE tax code instead, without a full return — check the latest on GOV.UK.

How to claim

Claim it now — free

Child Benefit on GOV.UK → 📞 HMRC 0300 200 3100

Have ready: your child's birth/adoption certificate, your bank details, and your and your partner's National Insurance numbers. Backdating is limited to 3 months — don't delay.

Claim as soon as you've registered the birth or a child comes to live with you.
Apply online on GOV.UK or via the HMRC app — many claims are now decided within days.
Backdating is limited to 3 months, so don't delay — every month you wait is money you can't get back.
You'll need your child's birth/adoption certificate, your bank details, and your and your partner's National Insurance numbers.

If you didn't claim when your child was born New parents sometimes skip Child Benefit because of the high-income charge — and unknowingly lose State Pension credits. If a parent has gaps because no claim was made, you may be able to apply for National Insurance credits for past years. Check GOV.UK "Specified Adult Childcare credits" and "NI credits for parents and carers".

Free UK support

GOV.UK Child Benefit — rates, claim form + the High Income Charge.
HMRC Child Benefit helpline — 0300 200 3100.
Citizens Advice — 0800 144 8848. Free help + a full benefits check.
Turn2us — free benefits calculator to find what else you may be missing.

Child Benefit — common questions

How much is Child Benefit in 2025/26?

£26.05 a week for your eldest or only child and £17.25 a week for each additional child, usually paid every 4 weeks. No limit on the number of children; only one person can claim for a given child.

What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?

A tax charge if you or your partner has individual income over £60,000. You repay 1% of the Child Benefit for every £200 above £60,000, so it's fully clawed back at £80,000. It's based on the higher earner's individual income, not your combined household income.

Should I still claim if I earn over £80,000?

Usually yes — tick the box to claim but choose not to receive the payments. You keep the State Pension National Insurance credits and your child's NI number, with no tax charge. You can opt back in if your income falls.

How do I pay the charge?

Normally through Self Assessment (file and pay by 31 January). HMRC has been introducing a way to pay it through your PAYE tax code without a full return — check GOV.UK for what currently applies to you.

How do I claim?

Apply online on GOV.UK or the HMRC app once the birth is registered or a child comes to live with you. Backdating is limited to 3 months, so claim promptly. You'll need the birth/adoption certificate, your bank details and National Insurance numbers.

Sources Child Benefit rates · GOV.UK (£26.05 eldest/only, £17.25 each other, 2025/26). High Income Child Benefit Charge · GOV.UK (starts £60,000, full at £80,000, 1% per £200). State Pension / NI credit protection · GOV.UK Child Benefit. Free help: HMRC Child Benefit 0300 200 3100 · Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848 · Turn2us benefits calculator. Rates reviewed each April. Last reviewed: 6 June 2026.

Your safest next step today

New baby or new to your home? Claim Child Benefit now.

It's £26.05/week for your first child, it protects a non-working parent's State Pension, and it only backdates 3 months. Even high earners should claim and opt out of payments rather than not claim at all.

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