UK Child Benefit Calculator 2024-25

What are the UK Child Benefit rates for 2024/25?

In 2024/25 Child Benefit is £25.60 per week for the first or only child, and £16.95 per week for each additional child. For a family with two children this is £42.55 per week, or £2,212.60 per year. For three children it is £59.50 per week (£3,094/year). Child Benefit can be claimed for children under 16, or under 20 if they are in approved education or training (but not higher education). Only one person can claim Child Benefit for each child — usually the main carer. Benefits are paid every four weeks directly into a bank account.

What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)?

The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) claws back Child Benefit if either parent or partner in the household has an adjusted net income above £60,000. The charge is 1% of the Child Benefit received for every £200 the income exceeds £60,000 — so at £62,000 the charge is 10% of the benefit, at £70,000 it is 50%, and above £80,000 the entire benefit is clawed back. The HICBC threshold was raised from £50,000 to £60,000 in the April 2024 Budget, reducing the number of families affected. The charge is paid by the higher earner via Self Assessment. Importantly, only one partner's income is assessed — the higher earner — not combined household income, which can lead to situations where a single income of £80,000 loses all benefit while two earners at £59,000 each keep it all.

Should I still claim Child Benefit if I will have it all clawed back?

Yes, it is almost always worth claiming Child Benefit even if you expect to have it fully clawed back via HICBC. The key reason is National Insurance credits: for each week you claim Child Benefit for a child under 12, you receive an NI credit towards your State Pension, regardless of whether you are working or not. These credits are valuable — a year of NI credits adds approximately £6.35 per week to your State Pension for life. Additionally, your child will be automatically registered for a National Insurance number when they approach 16 if you claim Child Benefit, saving them from having to apply separately. Finally, your income situation may change — a job loss, career break, or pension contributions could bring your income below the threshold, allowing you to benefit without needing to restart your claim.

How can I reduce the HICBC using pension contributions?

Pension contributions reduce your adjusted net income — the figure used to calculate the HICBC. If you earn £70,000, your adjusted net income is £70,000 before pension contributions. If you contribute £10,000 to a pension, your adjusted net income falls to £60,000, which is the HICBC threshold — saving you the entire charge. Even smaller contributions can save money: every £200 of pension contribution below £80,000 reduces the HICBC by 1% of the annual Child Benefit amount. For a family with two children (£2,212/year benefit) this is a saving of £22.13 per £200 contributed — equivalent to a guaranteed 11% return before any investment growth. Pension contributions via salary sacrifice also save National Insurance contributions, making them even more tax-efficient for HICBC-affected families.