HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will be sending bumper £216.40 payments to some UK households claiming Child Benefit this September. Child Benefit can be claimed by parents or guardians who are responsible for raising a child under the age of 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
The benefit is currently worth £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 per week for each additional child, and it is paid to claimants every four weeks. Payments are usually issued by HMRC on either a Monday or a Tuesday, giving parents with one child £108.20 in each four-week payment period, while those with more than one child can get an extra £71.60 per child.
Why September brings a double payment
September is a five-week month, meaning it has five Tuesdays. As such, some Child Benefit claimants who normally receive their payment on a Tuesday will be paid twice by HMRC this month, giving them bumper payments of at least £216.40 in September.
This will be the case if you were paid on Tuesday, September 1, as your next payment will be due four weeks later on Tuesday, September 29, making September a double payment month.
How HMRC explains payment dates
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.”
Many families missing out
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, so it’s well worth taking the time to apply for it.
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.
