Child Benefit is going up from 12 April 2027, with parents getting an extra 95p a week for their eldest or only child.
For a family with two children, that works out at £6.40 more every four weeks, or £83.20 over a full year.
But there’s a catch worth knowing about. Some families could find that other benefit rules reduce how much extra money they actually get.
The Treasury confirmed the new rates on Wednesday 28 October 2026, with payments increasing by 3.5% in line with inflation.
It’s one of several changes announced in the Autumn Budget. We’ve also broken down what the Autumn Budget 2026 means for your money, including changes to wages, bills and other household costs.
What are the new Child Benefit rates for 2027?
From Monday 12 April 2027, the weekly rates will be:
- £28 for your eldest or only child, up from £27.05.
- £18.55 for each additional child, up from £17.90.
The increase will apply across the UK and was confirmed in the Treasury’s official announcement.
How much extra Child Benefit will you get?
Most families receive Child Benefit every four weeks, rather than monthly.
Here’s what the new amounts mean for families with one, two or three children.
| Children | New four-week payment | Extra every four weeks | Extra over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| One | £112.00 | £3.80 | £49.40 |
| Two | £186.20 | £6.40 | £83.20 |
| Three | £260.40 | £9.00 | £117.00 |
The annual figures compare 52 weeks at the old and new rates. They’re useful for budgeting, but aren’t the exact extra amount you’ll receive during the 2027/28 tax year.
Your first payment after 12 April might also include some days at the old rate, depending on when you’re normally paid.
Why some families might not get the full increase
There’s an important catch for households affected by the benefit cap.
This limits the total amount of certain benefits a household can receive, and Child Benefit counts towards it.
The government has confirmed that the benefit cap will remain frozen for 2027/28.
If your Universal Credit is already being reduced because of the cap, the higher Child Benefit payment could mean a further reduction in your Universal Credit.
So although your Child Benefit goes up, you might not be any better off overall.
This doesn’t affect everyone claiming Universal Credit, only those affected by the benefit cap.
If you’re unsure whether it applies to you, check the breakdown of your Universal Credit payment. You can also ask through your Universal Credit journal or read the benefit cap rules on GOV.UK.
What if someone in your household earns over £60,000?
There’s a separate rule for higher-income families.
If either you or your partner has an adjusted net income above £60,000 a year, you may have to repay some Child Benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
At £80,000, the charge takes back the full amount.
You can still claim Child Benefit and choose not to receive the payments. This can protect National Insurance credits towards your State Pension.
You can check how much you might have to repay using HMRC’s calculator.
Skint Dad says:
I’m not going to pretend that £6.40 extra every four weeks is going to transform things for a family with two children.
It’s money you’d rather have than not have, but one quick top-up shop could swallow it.
What concerns me more is that some families might not see their overall benefits go up at all because of the benefit cap.
I think parents deserve to know exactly how much extra they’re getting, rather than just hearing that payments are rising.
My advice is to check what the increase actually means for your household before counting on that extra money in your budget.
Do you need to do anything before April?
If you’re already receiving Child Benefit, you don’t need to make a new claim. Your payments should increase automatically when the new rates start.
But there are a couple of things worth checking.
If you’re affected by the benefit cap, check whether your total benefit payments are likely to change before adding the extra money to your budget.
And if you’re not currently claiming Child Benefit, don’t wait until April to look into it.
Claims can normally only be backdated by three months, so putting it off could mean missing money you’re entitled to.
You can claim Child Benefit online through GOV.UK.
It’s also worth checking whether you’re missing out on other support.
We’ve explained how to check if you’re entitled to unclaimed benefits, including free calculators that can help you work out what you could receive.
