Child Benefit Calculator (2025/26)
See what child benefit your family gets, whether the High Income Child Benefit Charge takes any of it back — and what the parties' plans on the two-child limit mean for Universal Credit families.
Your family
Child benefit vs the two-child limit — two different things
Child benefit is paid for every child, whatever the family size. The two-child limit is a separate rule inside Universal Credit that stops the child element (about £3,514 a year per child) for third and subsequent children born after April 2017. The government is scrapping the two-child limit; Reform UK would bring it back. If your family is on Universal Credit, use the two-child limit calculator to see what the change is worth.
The £60,000–£80,000 trap
The High Income Child Benefit Charge creates a steep effective tax band: a parent of three earning between £60,000 and £80,000 loses £3,149 of child benefit on top of 40% tax and NI — an effective marginal rate approaching 60%. Pension contributions reduce your adjusted net income and can restore your child benefit.
Frequently asked questions
How much is child benefit in 2025/26?
£26.05 a week for your eldest child and £17.25 a week for each additional child — about £1,355 a year for one child, £2,252 for two and £3,149 for three. It is paid regardless of how many children you have; the two-child limit applies to Universal Credit, not child benefit.
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?
If the higher earner in your household has adjusted net income over £60,000, you repay 1% of your child benefit for every £200 above that, so it is fully repaid at £80,000. The charge is based on the higher earner alone — two parents on £59,000 each keep everything.
Is child benefit the same as the two-child benefit limit?
No. Child benefit is paid for every child. The two-child limit restricts the child element of Universal Credit (about £3,514 a year per child) to two children for children born after April 2017 — the government is scrapping that limit, and Reform UK would reinstate it.
Should I still claim child benefit if I earn over £80,000?
Usually yes — you can claim but opt out of payments, which still protects your National Insurance credits toward the state pension and your child's automatic National Insurance number at 16.