Claiming Child Benefit from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can automatically boost your future State Pension payments through National Insurance credits. Parents or carers responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if the child is in approved education or training, are eligible to claim.
How Child Benefit Boosts Your State Pension
Child Benefit not only provides financial support for childcare costs but also offers National Insurance credits that count toward your State Pension. These credits are awarded automatically by HMRC once you start receiving Child Benefit, helping to fill gaps in your National Insurance record—for example, if you are on maternity leave, not working, or do not earn enough to pay National Insurance contributions.
Following a 3.8% uprating in April, Child Benefit is now worth £27.05 per week for the first or eldest child and £17.90 for each additional child. Over a full year, this amounts to £1,406.60 for the eldest or only child and an additional £930.80 per additional child, with no limit on the number of children.
National Insurance Credits Explained
HMRC states: "By claiming Child Benefit, you can get: an allowance paid to you for each child, National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension, and a National Insurance number for your child without them having to apply for one." If you choose not to receive Child Benefit payments, you should still make a claim to get the other advantages. HMRC adds: "You’ll get National Insurance credits automatically if you claim Child Benefit and your child is under 12. These credits count towards your State Pension, so you do not have gaps in your National Insurance record if either you’re not working or you do not earn enough to pay National Insurance contributions."
If you do not need the National Insurance credits, your family may be eligible for support instead. Your husband, wife, or partner can apply to transfer the credits, or a different family member who provides care for your child can apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits.
State Pension Requirements
To get any new State Pension, you need a minimum of 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record. Generally, you need at least 35 qualifying years to receive the full rate, which is currently £241.30 per week. The Department for Work and Pensions explains: "If your National Insurance record started before April 2016, you may have been contracted out. While you were contracted out, you or your employer paid more into your workplace or private pension and less into your State Pension. If you were contracted out, you will usually need more than 35 qualifying years to get the full rate of new State Pension. If your National Insurance record started after April 2016, you will need 35 qualifying years to get the full rate of new State Pension."
How to Claim Child Benefit
You can claim Child Benefit 48 hours after registering the birth of your child or once a child comes to live with you. It can be backdated for up to three months from the date of your claim. Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child, so parents and carers must decide who is best to claim it. The claimant will receive the National Insurance credits toward their State Pension.
High Income Child Benefit Charge
If a Child Benefit claimant or their partner has an individual income between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner may be liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). For the 2026/27 tax year, 1% of Child Benefit payments must be repaid to HMRC for every £200 earned above £60,000. For households with earnings of £80,000 or more, all Child Benefit must be repaid. If your income exceeds the threshold, you can either get Child Benefit payments and pay the tax charge or opt out of payments and not pay the charge. Opting out still allows you to receive National Insurance credits and a National Insurance number for your child.
