2024/25 rates — includes High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge
Even if you earn over £80,000 it is still worth claiming Child Benefit as it counts towards your National Insurance record.
The UK Child Benefit Calculator works out how much Child Benefit you are entitled to in 2024/25 and whether the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge (HICBC) reduces or eliminates that entitlement based on the higher earner's adjusted net income. Enter the number of qualifying children, the eldest child's date of birth to confirm eligibility, and the annual adjusted net income of the higher earner in the household. The calculator shows your annual and monthly Child Benefit payment, your HICBC liability if applicable, and your net benefit after the charge — so you can see at a glance whether it is worth claiming or better to opt out.
For 2024/25, Child Benefit pays £25.60 per week for the eldest or only qualifying child and £16.95 per week for each additional qualifying child. Payments are made every four weeks or weekly to single parents. Child Benefit is available for children under 16, or under 20 if they remain in approved education or training. There is no income limit to claim, but the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge claws back 1% of your benefit for every £200 of adjusted net income above £60,000. At adjusted net income of £80,000 or above, the charge equals 100% of the benefit — making it effectively worthless to claim unless you can reduce your income below the threshold through pension contributions.
A significant change took effect from 6 April 2024: the threshold at which the HICBC begins was raised from £50,000 to £60,000, and the taper was changed so the benefit is only fully withdrawn at £80,000 (rather than £60,000 previously). This means families where the higher earner earns between £50,000 and £60,000 are now entitled to the full Child Benefit for the first time since 2013. If you previously opted out of Child Benefit because of the old £50,000 threshold, it is now worth re-registering through HMRC to claim the benefit again and update your position in the National Insurance credits system.
For 2024/25, Child Benefit is £25.60 per week for the first or only child, and £16.95 per week for each additional child. These rates increased in April 2024. Payments are made every four weeks (or weekly for single parents) directly into your bank account.
The HICBC is a tax charge on the higher-earning partner in a household that receives Child Benefit. It claws back 1% of the benefit for every £200 of adjusted net income above £60,000 (from April 2024). At £80,000 adjusted net income the charge is 100% — equal to the full benefit amount. You must pay the HICBC through Self Assessment if you or your partner owe it.
Yes. Pension contributions reduce your "adjusted net income" — the income figure used to calculate the HICBC. If contributions bring your income below £60,000, you avoid the charge entirely. If they bring it between £60,000 and £80,000, you pay a partial charge. Salary sacrifice pension contributions are particularly effective because they also reduce your National Insurance contributions.
If your adjusted net income is solidly above £80,000 and you cannot reduce it through pensions, you may choose to claim Child Benefit but not receive payments (keeping the NI credits for the non-working partner), or opt out entirely. Claiming without receiving payments protects your partner's National Insurance record and your child's automatic NI number at age 16 — valuable even if the payments themselves are charged back.
Child Benefit is not treated as income for Universal Credit purposes, so it does not reduce your UC payment. However, if you receive other means-tested benefits, check with a benefits adviser as the interaction can be complex depending on your full financial situation.
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