Child Benefit Calculator
What's My Child Benefit?
Calculate your Child Benefit payments and check if you'll need to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
Family Details
You can claim for children under 16, or under 20 if they're in approved education or training
Adjusted net income is your total taxable income before personal allowances and tax reliefs, minus things like pension contributions and Gift Aid donations.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge is based on the highest individual income
Enter your details and calculate to see results
Understanding Child Benefit
How Child Benefit works
How to claim and receive your payments
Child Benefit is a government payment for anyone responsible for bringing up a child. There is no limit on the number of children you can claim for.
Make a claim
Apply to HMRC as soon as your child is born. Payments can be backdated up to 3 months, but no earlier than when your child arrived.
Receive payments every 4 weeks
Payments land on a Monday or Tuesday, in arrears, directly into your bank account. Most families receive the money within 3 working days.
Check if the High Income Charge applies
If your adjusted net income exceeds £60,000, you will need to repay some or all of your Child Benefit via Self Assessment.
Claim without receiving payments
If you are affected by the HICBC, you can claim but opt out of payments. This protects your:
State Pension via National Insurance credits
Child's automatic NI number at age 16
Eligibility for other benefits that require a Child Benefit claim
Payment schedule
- Paid every 4 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday
- Payments are made in arrears
- Tax-free payments
- Usually received within 3 working days
Key dates
High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)
The HICBC claws back Child Benefit payments when the higher earner in the household has an adjusted net income above £60,000.
Income threshold
Charge applies when adjusted net income exceeds £60,000. Based on the individual with the highest income, not combined household income.
How it is calculated
1% of Child Benefit is repaid for every £200 of income above £60,000. The full amount is repaid once income reaches £80,000.
Self Assessment
If you or your partner earn over £60,000 and receive Child Benefit, you must register for Self Assessment and pay the charge through your tax return each year.
Reducing your adjusted net income
If your income is close to or above £60,000, reducing your adjusted net income could lower or eliminate the charge.
Salary sacrifice
- Pension contributions
- Childcare vouchers
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric car scheme
Other deductions
- Personal pension contributions
- Gift Aid donations
- Trading losses (self-employed)
Need to work out your adjusted net income?
Use our take-home pay calculator to see exactly what deductions reduce your taxable income.
Calculate Take-Home PayUseful resources
Keep your personal details up to date with HMRC
Report changes in circumstances promptly
Keep records of any Child Benefit received
This calculator provides estimates only. Child Benefit rates and thresholds are set by HMRC and may change each tax year. This is not financial advice.
Calculate Your Adjusted Net Income
Use this calculator to check if your adjusted net income is above £60,000 (when the High Income Child Benefit Charge starts) or £80,000 (when 100% of Child Benefit must be repaid).
Your Adjusted Net Income
£0
Understand claims, HICBC and protecting NI credits
The child benefit guide covers who can claim, how the charge works and why claiming can still matter even if you opt out of payments.