The UK Child Benefit is financial assistance, which is sent by the HM Revenue and Customs to a parent. It is received for a child under 16, a patent can even get it for a child under 20, if he or she stays in approved education or training like A-levels, NVQs, or certain apprenticeships.
The child benefit in the United Kingdom is received monthly, once every four weeks. The payment cycle depends on when you first started getting the payout; When the payment date falls on a bank holiday it is received earlier vai direct deposit to the bank account.
For a child, the payment is received by only one person, even if both parents share custody. For May 2025, whose payment is due on the 26th, will get it on the 23rd of the same month because the payment date is falling on the Spring Bank Holiday.
| Payment Frequency | Monthly (every 4 weeks) |
| Eldest/Only Child Rate | £26.05 per week / £104.20 per month |
| Additional Child Rate | £17.25 per week / £69.00 per month |
| May 2025 Payment Date | Paid on 23 May (due to 26 May bank holiday) |
| Eligibility Age | Under 16, or under 20 in education/training |
| Residency Requirement | Must live in the UK |
| Income Limit | Repay if income > £60,000 (£80K = full repay) |
| Application Method | Online + post CH2 form |
How much can one get?
As per the revised payment from April 2025, the child benefit is £26.05 weekly for the eldest or only child with £17.25 for each additional child. A parent with only one child is going to get £104.2 in May 2025, for each additional child, the parent will get an additional £29.
There is no limit to the number of children you can claim the UK Child Benefit; you may check the weekly and monthly payment rates by going through the tabulated data for up to 5 children.
| Number of Children | Weekly Rate (£) | Monthly Rate (£) |
| 1 Child | £26.05 | £104.20 |
| 2 Children | £43.30 | £173.20 |
| 3 Children | £60.55 | £242.20 |
| 4 Children | £77.80 | £311.20 |
| 5 Children | £95.05 | £380.20 |
Eligibility to get the benefit
To avail the benefit of UK Child Benefit, the parent must meet certain eligibility criteria:
- The parent has a child under age 16 or under 20 only if he/she stays in approved education or training.
- You must be a permanent resident of the United Kingdom, i.e., England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
- Any of the couple i.e. either the husband or the wife has a National Insurance number.
- Your and your husband’s/wife’s annual income should be above £60,000.
Note: If your or your partner’s annual income is above £60,000, you can still claim the UK Child Benefit, but you may have to pay back 1% for each £100. Individuals with an annual income of £80,000 or more are required to pay the full amount back.
How to apply for the benefits?
A parent who has a child under the age of 16 or 20 and meets certain requirements may qualify for the UK Child Benefit. The step-by-step instructions to avail of this benefit are available below.
Note: Before applying, make sure to have your child’s birth or adoption certificate, your National Insurance number, your partner’s National Insurance number (if you have one), and your bank or building society account details.
- Navigate to the website of the UK Government at gov.uk/.
- Look out for an option that reads ‘Childcare and parenting’ under the Services and information, and tap on it.
- Now, you will see an option that reads ‘Financial help if you have children.’ Tap on it and go to the next page.
- Find an option that reads ‘Child Benefit,’ and click on it and get redirected to another webpage.
- Tap on the option of Make a Claim, and then hit the option of Start Now to access the form.
- Lastly, you have to provide all the details, attach documents, and submit the application.
After the submission of the online application, you need to print and fill out the Child Benefit claim form (CH2), and post it to the address on the form. The officials will take up to four weeks to confirm your application; once it is confirmed, you will also get a letter.