Child Benefit Payments Set for 3.8% Increase from April 2026
HM Revenue and Customs has officially confirmed that Child Benefit payment rates will rise from April 2026, providing a financial boost to millions of families across the United Kingdom. The increase, set at 3.8%, aligns with the inflation rate recorded the previous September, ensuring that support keeps pace with the cost of living.
New Weekly Payment Rates Announced
Under the new rates, which have been provisionally noted on the GOV.UK website, the weekly Child Benefit for the first child will increase from £26.05 to £27.50. For any additional children, the payment will rise from £17.25 to £17.90 per week. These adjustments reflect the government's commitment to supporting families with children, particularly in light of ongoing economic pressures.
Child Benefit is paid every four weeks by HMRC directly to eligible claimants. There is no limit on the number of children for whom you can claim, but it is important to note that only one person can receive the benefit per child, even if two individuals share caregiving responsibilities.
Eligibility Criteria and High Income Charge
To qualify for Child Benefit, you must be responsible for a child under the age of 16, or under 20 if they are in approved education or training. The child must normally live with you, or you must contribute at least the equivalent amount towards their care. This benefit is a vital source of support for over seven million families nationwide.
However, families where either partner earns over £60,000 annually are subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge. This requires repayment of 1% of the benefit for every £200 earned above £60,000. Once earnings exceed £80,000, the entire Child Benefit amount must be repaid. Payments for this charge can be managed through self-assessment or adjustments to your PAYE tax code.
Recent Issues and HMRC Apology
The announcement comes in the wake of recent controversies where HMRC suspended payments for thousands of families due to errors in a fraud crackdown pilot scheme. Nearly 17,100 claimants have now had their payments restored after the tax office acknowledged major problems with a new checking system that incorrectly identified some individuals as having left the country permanently.
An HMRC spokesperson expressed regret, stating: “We’re very sorry to those whose payments have been suspended incorrectly. We have taken immediate action to update the process, giving customers one month to respond before payments are suspended. We remain committed to protecting taxpayers’ money and are confident that the majority of suspensions are accurate.”
Typically, Child Benefit is stopped if a recipient goes on holiday for more than eight weeks. The pilot scheme used travel data to assess permanent departures, but this led to erroneous suspensions for some who had returned from trips abroad. HMRC has since revised its procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.
This rate increase aims to provide much-needed relief to families, ensuring that Child Benefit continues to play a crucial role in supporting child-rearing costs across the UK.
