Child Benefit for a new baby, and the High Income Child Benefit Charge
The rates, the 48-hour and 3-month rules, the National Insurance credits that protect your pension, and a worked example of the tax charge.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
As of October 2026, Child Benefit is £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 for each other child, usually paid every 4 weeks. Claim from 48 hours after registering the birth: it can only be backdated 3 months. If one parent's income is over £60,000, part is repaid through tax; above £80,000, all of it.
Rates as of October 2026
| Child | Weekly rate |
|---|---|
| Eldest or only child | £27.05 |
| Each additional child | £17.90 |
Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday. It can be paid weekly if you are a single parent or get certain benefits such as Universal Credit. It is paid for children under 16, or under 20 in approved education or training, and there is no limit on the number of children.
How to claim for your new baby
- Register the birth first (how registration works).
- Claim from 48 hours after registration, online on GOV.UK (or by phone or post).
- Have ready: the birth certificate if you have it, your bank details, your National Insurance number and your partner's.
- No certificate yet? You can still claim; it takes longer and you may be asked to send it.
- Do not wait more than 3 months: claims are backdated for up to 3 months only.
If your child's birth was registered outside the UK, you send the original certificate and the child's passport or travel document; documents usually come back within 4 weeks.
Why claim even if you earn a lot
Claiming brings two things besides the money:
- National Insurance credits for the claimant while the child is under 12, which count towards the State Pension when you are not working or earn too little to pay contributions;
- a National Insurance number for your child, sent shortly before they turn 16, without an application.
Whoever claims gets the credits. If one parent stays at home, they are usually the right claimant. If the credits are not needed, a partner can apply to transfer them, or a family member caring for the child can apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge, as of October 2026
- It applies if either partner's adjusted net income is over £60,000 (for tax years from 2024 to 2025).
- You repay 1% of the Child Benefit for every £200 above £60,000.
- Above £80,000, you repay it all.
- If both of you are over the threshold, the higher earner pays.
- "Adjusted net income" is total taxable income, including savings interest and dividends, before personal allowances and after reliefs such as pension contributions and Gift Aid.
Worked example. Dan's adjusted net income is £70,000. His partner Ella claims for their only child: £27.05 x 52 weeks = £1,406.60 a year. Dan is £10,000 over £60,000, which is 50 steps of £200, so he repays 50%: £703.30. The family keeps £703.30 and the pension credits.
Paying or opting out. You can keep the payments and pay the charge through PAYE or Self Assessment, or opt out of the payments while staying registered, so you keep the National Insurance credits. GOV.UK's Child Benefit tax calculator estimates your figure.
Good to know. Pension contributions reduce adjusted net income. If your income sits just above £60,000, it can be worth asking a tax adviser or reading HMRC's guidance on how they affect the charge.
Living together, splitting up
- If you live with a partner who also claims, only one of you gets the higher rate for the eldest child in the household.
- If a family splits up and each parent has a child living with them, each gets the higher rate for the eldest child they care for.
- Report changes to the Child Benefit Office.
Questions parents ask
When can I claim Child Benefit for a newborn?
From 48 hours after you have registered the birth. Claims can be backdated for up to 3 months, so claim within the baby's first 3 months to avoid losing money.
How much is Child Benefit for two children?
As of October 2026, £27.05 a week for the eldest and £17.90 for the second, so £44.95 a week in total.
Should I claim if I earn over £80,000?
GOV.UK advises making a claim even if you opt out of the payments, because the claimant gets National Insurance credits towards the State Pension and the child gets a National Insurance number automatically.
Who should claim, me or my partner?
Whoever claims gets the National Insurance credits, so it is usually the parent who is at home or earning too little to pay National Insurance. Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Child Benefit: how it works checked October 13, 2026
- GOV.UK — Child Benefit: what you'll get checked October 13, 2026
- GOV.UK — Child Benefit: make a claim checked October 13, 2026
- GOV.UK — Child Benefit: when and how it's paid checked October 13, 2026
- GOV.UK — High Income Child Benefit Charge checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.