HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is issuing early Child Benefit payments of £108.20 to UK households with children today, Friday, August 28, ahead of the late August summer bank holiday on Monday, August 31.
The early payment applies to claimants in England, Wales and Northern Ireland whose Child Benefit would normally be due on the bank holiday. When a benefit payment is scheduled for the same day as a bank holiday, it is instead paid on the earliest working day before.
Why payments are arriving early
Child Benefit is usually paid by HMRC every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday, so payments may coincide with the August 31 holiday. Households expecting a payment on that date will receive it three days early, with funds landing in bank accounts this Friday.
Confirming the change, HMRC said: “Child Benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday. There are different payment dates if it’s due on a bank holiday.”
Payment rates and eligibility
In the 2026 to 2027 tax year, Child Benefit is £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 per week for each additional child, an uplift of 3.8% on the previous year’s rates. Paid every four weeks, this means parents with one child can receive up to £108.20 per period, while those with additional children get £71.60 every four weeks.
Child Benefit can be claimed by parents or guardians responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training. There is no limit on the number of children claimed for, and claims can be made 48 hours after a baby’s birth is registered.
High Income Child Benefit Charge
If a claimant or their partner has an individual income between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner may owe the High Income Child Benefit Charge. For 2026/27, 1% of Child Benefit must be repaid for every £200 earned above £60,000, and all of it must be repaid at £80,000 or more. Claimants above the threshold can either receive payments and pay the charge or opt out of payments and avoid it.
