Child Benefit

Overview

Child Benefit is a payment administered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for anyone responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16, or under 20 if the child is in approved education or training. It is paid at a higher rate for the eldest or only child and at a lower rate for each subsequent child. The payment is available across the UK, including in Northern Ireland, and is normally paid every four weeks. Child Benefit itself is not means-tested, but the High Income Child Benefit Charge means that where the higher earner in the household has an adjusted net income above a set threshold, some or all of the benefit is recovered through the tax system. Because of this, some higher-earning parents choose to register for Child Benefit but opt out of receiving payments — registration still protects National Insurance credits that count toward State Pension for the parent not in paid work, and it ensures the child receives a National Insurance number automatically at 16. Only one person can claim Child Benefit for a given child. Eligibility is determined by HMRC. This page references figures and criteria from the primary GOV.UK source; the authoritative source for any individual award remains HMRC.

Applies in UK-wide. Administered by HMRC. This page is general information; contact HMRC for your individual circumstances.

Rates

Eligibility criteria include

• AGE
  You normally qualify if you are responsible for a child under 16. ^[GOV.UK]
• RESIDENCE
  You must live in the UK to normally qualify for Child Benefit. ^[GOV.UK]
• HOUSEHOLD
  You'll usually be responsible for a child if you live with them, or you're paying at least the same amount as Child Benefit (or the equivalent in kind) towards looking after them. ^[GOV.UK]
• AGE
  Child Benefit can continue if the child is under 20 and stays in approved education or training. ^[GOV.UK]
• HOUSEHOLD
  Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child. If two people are responsible for the same child, they must agree who will claim; if they cannot agree, HMRC will decide. ^[GOV.UK]
• HOUSING STATUS
  You'll get Child Benefit if you foster a child, as long as the local council is not paying anything towards their accommodation or maintenance. ^[GOV.UK]
• RESIDENCE
  You may be able to get Child Benefit if you go to live in certain countries or if you're a Crown servant. ^[GOV.UK]
• IMMIGRATION
  If you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you can claim Child Benefit. ^[GOV.UK]
• IMMIGRATION
  If you have pre-settled status and are working, you must be earning or expect to earn above the primary threshold for employees paying National Insurance for 3 continuous months. ^[GOV.UK]
• IMMIGRATION
  If you have pre-settled status and have sufficient resources to support yourself financially, you can claim Child Benefit, but you may not be eligible if you claim Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit or Universal Credit. ^[GOV.UK]
• IMMIGRATION
  If you have pre-settled status and are studying, you must have sufficient resources to support yourself financially. ^[GOV.UK]
• IMMIGRATION
  If you are a family member of an EEA or Swiss national who has a right to reside (as their spouse/civil partner, dependent child/grandchild under 21, or dependent parent/grandparent), you can claim Child Benefit. ^[GOV.UK]
• WORK STATUS
  Child Benefit stops if the child starts paid work for 24 hours or more a week and is no longer in approved education or training. ^[GOV.UK]
• WORK STATUS
  Child Benefit stops if the child starts an apprenticeship in England. ^[GOV.UK]
• OTHER
  Child Benefit stops if the child starts getting certain benefits, such as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit. ^[GOV.UK]
• INCOME
  If either you or your partner's adjusted net income is over the threshold, you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge. ^[GOV.UK]
• INCOME
  If either you or your partner has an individual income of £20,000 or more above the threshold (£10,000 or more before April 2024), you'll be charged the same amount as you make through Child Benefit payments, resulting in no net benefit from Child Benefit payments. ^[GOV.UK]
• AGE
  Child Benefit can continue for 20 weeks if a 16 or 17 year old leaves education or training and registers with a government-sponsored careers service or the armed services. ^[GOV.UK]
• HOUSING STATUS
  You may be able to get Child Benefit for an informal arrangement to look after a friend or relative's child, but you might not qualify if the local council is paying towards the child's accommodation or maintenance. ^[GOV.UK]
• IMMIGRATION
  If you have pre-settled status and are looking for work, you can continue to claim Child Benefit as a jobseeker for 91 days, unless you get a job offer. ^[GOV.UK]

Sources