In the UK, Child Benefit pays £26.05 per week for your first or only child and £17.25 per week for each additional child, usually paid every four weeks, totaling roughly £113 for one child and £185 for two per month, though higher earners face a tax charge, and eligibility requires responsibility for a child under 16 or in approved education/training.
If there's a chance you will be taking enough time out of work to miss a year or more of NI contributions while parenting the child, then it is worth you (specifically, the parent who is staying at home) applying for it, as you will get those otherwise missed NI years on your state pension.
No, not everyone gets Child Benefit in the UK, but most people responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 in approved education/training) are eligible; however, high earners (individual income over £60,000) must pay a tax charge, with the benefit stopping completely if either partner earns over £80,000, though claiming still provides crucial National Insurance credits for state pension, so it's often recommended to claim and opt out of payments.
Compared with its GDP, the average social benefit spending is now around 27% across the bloc. But rates vary widely from nation to nation. Finland, France and Austria are the most generous EU members, each spending around 32% of their GDP on social benefits.
What is Child Benefit and why you should claim it (UK)
How much does child benefit Germany?
On January 1st, 2025, child benefits were increased, i.e., €255 per month for each child – regardless of whether it is your first, second or third child. The amount will increase to €259 on 1 January 2026. Important: You will not receive Child Benefits for children who do not live with you.
If you earn £60,000 or more before tax each year you can still claim Child Benefit, but you'll have to start paying a 'Child Benefit tax charge'. If you live with a partner and you both earn £60,000 or more, whoever earns the most will have to pay the tax charge - no matter who makes the claim for Child Benefit.
The system was reformed from April 2024 so that those with earnings over £60,000 lose 1% for every £200 earned. It means that households with someone earning £70,000 lose 50% of their entitlement, while the benefit is extinguished completely at £80,000.
Eligibility for Child Benefit depends on the parent's immigration and residence status, rather than the child's nationality or immigration status. An eligible parent may claim Child Benefit regardless of the child's immigration status.
The more you earn over £60,000, the higher the tax. As long as your income doesn't go above £80,000 each year, it's still worth claiming. If your income goes above £80,000 the extra you pay in tax will cancel out what you get in Child Benefit.
You'll usually have to pay back an overpayment in a lump sum. You'll need your Child Benefit overpayment reference. You can find the reference on your letter about overpayments from HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ). Your reference will be 14 characters long and start with a Y, for example YA123456789123.
How much money do you get from the government for having a baby in the UK?
With the Healthy Start card you'll get: £4.25 each week from week 10 of your pregnancy. £8.50 each week for children from birth to 1 year old. £4.25 each week for children between 1 and 4 years old.
Child Benefit stops automatically on 31 August after your child's 16th birthday. If your child stays in 'approved' education Child Benefit can continue to be paid until they turn 20. You need to tell HMRC that your child is not leaving approved education at 16 or your Child Benefit will stop.
Yes, you can claim Child Benefit with a £65,000 income, but you'll pay back a portion through the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) because you're over the £60,000 threshold, paying back 1% for every £200 over £60k, meaning you'll pay back 25% (50% of the charge is paid by £70k income), but you won't pay it back fully until you earn £80,000. The person with the higher income in the household pays the charge, even if the other receives the benefit.
There is a limit to the amount you or your partner can earn before you start to lose child benefit. Under the High Income Child Benefit Charge , payments start to reduce if one of you earns £60,000.
No, not everyone gets Child Benefit in the UK, but most people responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 in approved education/training) are eligible; however, high earners (individual income over £60,000) must pay a tax charge, with the benefit stopping completely if either partner earns over £80,000, though claiming still provides crucial National Insurance credits for state pension, so it's often recommended to claim and opt out of payments.
For the 2025-2026 tax year (from April 2025), UK Child Benefit rates are £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week for each additional child, as confirmed by GOV.UK. These amounts are usually paid every four weeks into your bank account and apply to children under 16, or up to 20 if in approved education or training.
Which country has the highest Child Benefit in Europe?
In general, family benefits per person are highest in Northern and Western Europe, and lowest in the South and East. After Luxembourg, Nordic countries top the list: Norway (€2,277), Denmark (€1,878), Iceland (€1,874), Sweden (€1,449), and Finland (€1,440).
Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child. Contact the Child Benefit Office if you want someone else to claim Child Benefit. Explain you want to stop getting Child Benefit.
