Updated for 2026/27 Independent estimate Not GOV.UK

Free Child Benefit calculator 2026/27 UK

Work out the current Child Benefit amount for your household and compare it with the HICBC charge if income is higher.

Weekly rate first Monthly and annual equivalents included Built for current child-count queries
Coverage note: UK-wide Child Benefit rates are fixed nationally. The follow-up issue for many families is the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

Free Child Benefit calculator 2026/27 UK

Get the weekly Child Benefit figure first, then the monthly equivalent and annual amount for your child count in 2026/27.

Live answer card summary Weekly, monthly and annual totals
2026/27
Main details
2026/27 rates used
First child £27.05/wk Each extra child £17.90/wk Usually paid every 4 weeks
£45 per week £2,337/yr
Weekly amount £44.95
Monthly equivalent £194.78
Annual amount £2,337.40
Children used 2
Eldest or only child £27.05
Additional children £17.90
Monthly equivalent £194.78

Breakdown

Eldest or only child £27.05
Additional children £17.90
Monthly equivalent £194.78

Important notes

If anyone in the household has adjusted net income over £60,000, check the HICBC page next.
You can claim Child Benefit and opt out of payments if you want National Insurance credits without the cash payment.

A straightforward Child Benefit estimate

Child Benefit is one of the simplest mainstream UK family payments to estimate because the weekly rates are fixed and not means tested. That makes this page useful as both a quick budgeting tool and a first step before checking whether the High Income Child Benefit Charge could claw some or all of it back.

The output is shown as weekly and annual totals because many parents think about Child Benefit in weekly terms, while tax planning for HICBC usually works better on an annual basis.

Why this page links directly to HICBC

A Child Benefit figure on its own can be misleading for households with one higher earner. If either partner’s adjusted net income goes above the threshold, some or all of the benefit may need to be paid back through PAYE or Self Assessment.

That is why this calculator deliberately sends you onwards to the HICBC page rather than leaving the family payment isolated. Search intent here is often a combined question: how much do I get, and do I actually keep it.

When Child Benefit still matters even if payments stop

Some people opt out of receiving Child Benefit payments because of the tax charge, but keep the claim live. That can still protect National Insurance credits and help make sure a child gets a National Insurance number automatically later on.

For many households the practical question is not just whether the payment lands in the bank, but whether the claim itself should exist. This page is written with that real-world decision in mind.

Related calculators for this topic

These are the pages most families need next when checking Child Benefit, HICBC and childcare support together.

Frequently asked questions

What rates does this Child Benefit calculator use?
It uses the confirmed 2026 to 2027 weekly rates of £27.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.90 for each additional child.
Does Child Benefit affect Universal Credit?
Child Benefit is paid separately, but it can still count towards the benefit cap if the cap applies to your household.
Should higher earners still claim Child Benefit?
Often yes. Some households still claim and either pay the HICBC or opt out of payments so National Insurance credits are protected.

Independent estimate only

This page is written to answer the real search query quickly, then hand off to the official process and the more specific guides that decide the final outcome. That is deliberate: these pages are designed to be useful, not generic.