Some UK households claiming Child Benefit will receive an extra £108.20 payment from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) this Tuesday, September 29.
The additional payment is due to September being a five-week month, which means some claimants will receive a double payment this month, depending on when their usual payment date falls.
How Child Benefit payments work
HMRC usually issues Child Benefit payments on either a Monday or a Tuesday. Current rates give claimants £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 per week for each additional child.
As Child Benefit is paid every four weeks, claimants can get up to £108.20 in each four-week payment period for their eldest or only child, while those with more children will get an extra £71.60.
Who gets the double payment
Because September has five Tuesdays, claimants who received their first payment on the first Tuesday of the month will be due to get their next £108.20 payment on Tuesday, September 29, giving them a double payment this September.
This applies if you received your Child Benefit on Tuesday, September 1, making your next payment due four weeks later on Tuesday, September 29.
Explaining how and when payments are made, HMRC said: "Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday. There are different payment dates if it’s due on a bank holiday.
"You can work out when you’re next going to get Child Benefit by counting 4 weeks forward from your last payment. Do not count forward if your payment was due on a bank holiday - the dates are different.
"Your payment might be delayed if the bank is closed for a public holiday on the day HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) pays you. Check with your bank for the date you’ll get your payment."
Claiming Child Benefit and tax rules
According to recent figures from HMRC, more than 6.8 million families are claiming Child Benefit, but more than 30% of new parents are missing out on payments by failing to claim in their baby’s first year.
Child Benefit can only be backdated for up to three months from the date HMRC receives the claim, meaning thousands of families are not currently getting what they’re entitled to receive.
There is no limit as to how many children parents can claim for, and claims can be made just 48 hours after the baby’s birth is registered.
In cases where a Child Benefit claimant or their partner has an individual income of between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner may be liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). For claimants in the 2026/27 tax year, 1% of Child Benefit payments must be paid back to HMRC for every £200 earned above £60,000, while for households with higher earnings of £80,000 or more, all of the Child Benefit must be paid back to HMRC.
If your income exceeds the threshold, you can choose to either get Child Benefit payments and pay the tax charge, or opt out of getting payments and not pay the tax charge.
