Are child benefit payments going up and how much more will I get?

MILLIONS of households in the UK receive benefits to help with the cost of living.

You can usually claim two different rates for child benefit depending on how many children you have.

Most parents in the UK can claim child benefit but there are still certain eligibility rules.

You can claim if you're responsible for a child who is under 16 or under 20 and in approved education or training.

Only one person in the household can get child benefit, but there is no limit to how many children you can claim it for.

Here we explain everything you need to know about claiming child benefit.

How much is child benefit?

There are two child benefit rates - one for the eldest child and another for each further child or children.

The current rate for your eldest or only child is £24 per week, which is £96 a month or £1,152 a year.

You can get £15.90 for every additional child, which equates to around £63.60 a month or £763 a year.

In April this year, child benefits will rise by 6.7%, based on inflation figures from September 2023.

The new rate for your eldest or only child will be £25.60 per week. That's £102.40 a month or £1,229 a year.

You will be able to get £16.95 for every additional child, which works out to £67.80 a month and £814 per year.

Child benefit payments are likely to rise again April 2025 in line with inflation from September this year.

How do I get child benefit?

Child benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.

But you can have the money paid weekly if you’re a single parent or getting certain other benefits like Income Support.

You can get the money paid into any account, apart from a Nationwide cashbuilder account in someone else’s name.

You need to apply for child benefit which you can do

Only one person can get the benefit for the child or children though so you'll have to decide which parent will get it.

There are other benefits you might get on top of child benefit if you're on a low income, like the child element of Universal Credit.

Who is eligible to claim child benefit?

You will normally qualify for child benefit if you live in the UK and you're responsible for a child under 16.

The support can also be claimed for a child under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.

To be considered responsible for a child, you will live with them or you're paying at least the same amount as child benefit rates to look after them - for example food, clothes or pocket money.