HMRC is sending 'really important' letters from May 8 that could provide a boost of up to £2,336 for families. The brown envelopes, which will start arriving from Friday morning, contain information about Child Benefit payments worth £1,400 per child.
Child Benefit Payments Set to Stop Automatically
Child Benefit will automatically stop on 31 August on or after a child’s 16th birthday unless parents confirm their teenager’s plans. Around 1.5 million reminder letters will be sent from late April, with most landing on doorsteps in early May. Letters are expected to arrive from 8 May 2026.
How Much Is Child Benefit Worth?
Child Benefit is worth £27.05 a week – or £1,406.60 a year – for the eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for each additional child. For a family with two children, this works out at £2,336 annually.
Anyone with children under 16 is eligible. Parents of children under 20 in full-time education or approved unpaid training can also claim. For the 2026/27 tax year, the rate is £27.05 a week for the first child and £17.90 for each additional child.
Martin Lewis Urges Parents to Claim
Money Saving Expert, founded by BBC and ITV star Martin Lewis, said: 'You can claim it right away. Apply once you've registered the birth or your child comes to live with you. It can be backdated by up to three months.'
Claiming Child Benefit can also boost your State Pension. If you (or your partner) are not working, or earning less than £129 a week, claiming Child Benefit lets you earn National Insurance (NI) credits, which you need to receive the full State Pension.
Only one parent gets Child Benefit. If two people are responsible for the same child, only one will get the payment, so consider which parent may need the NI credits.
Mr Lewis has called Child Benefit 'really important' on his previous episodes of his ITV show. But remember, if you earn above £60,200, you'll have to pay some of the benefit back via the High Income Child Benefit Charge. Earn above £80,000 and you'll have to pay back the full amount. You can opt out of payments but still claim to protect NI credits.
