The UK government offers Child benefits to the parents or guardians who are primarily responsible for child care. The child benefit is a boon for many new parents as the newborn expenses can be really high.
The DWP has announced that all the benefits payment dates will be made earlier due to the Christmas and New Year holidays, however, with 2024 coming to an end, many people must be wondering about the 2025 payment dates.
UK Child Benefit Payment Dates 2025
UK residents can receive financial assistance through Child benefits to cover their dependent child’s living expenses. The Child benefits offer needed support to many eligible households and help them provide a better life for their children.
The Department of Work and Pensions processes Child benefit payments every four weeks either on Monday or Tuesday. Some recipients may receive the weekly payment when they are a single parent or the partner is receiving certain benefits, like Income support. The payment date may differ from person to person depending on your first payment date when you have applied for the Child benefit.
The Child benefit payment dates can easily be calculated based on your last payment date, however, it may differ if it falls on a bank holiday. Hence, the recipients can mark the following payment date that will change due to the bank holiday:
| Due Date | Change Payment Date |
| 30 Dec 2024 | 31 Dec 2024 (Northern Ireland only) |
| 17 Mar 2025 | 18 Mar 2025 (Northern Ireland only) |
| 18 Mar 2025 | 19 Mar 2025 (Northern Ireland only) |
| 21 April 2025 | 17 Apr 2025 |
| 05 May 2025 | 02 May 2025 |
| 26 May 2025 | 23 May 2025 |
| 14 July 2025 | 15 July 2025(Northern Ireland only) |
| 15 July 2025 | 16 July 2025 (Northern Ireland only) |
| 04 Aug 2025 | 05 Aug2025 (Scotland only) |
| 25 Aug2025 | 22 Aug 2025 |
| 29 Dec 2025 | 30 Dec 2025 (Northern Ireland only) |
| 30 Dec 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 (Northern Ireland only) |
The payment dates falling on the above date will be changed to the above-mentioned dates, hence mark these dates.
What makes you eligible for the UK Child Benefit Payment?
The UK people can get the Child benefit when they meet the following eligibility requirements:
- If you are responsible for caring for a child under 16 and you are a UK resident, then you normally qualify for the benefit.
- The child must be living with you and you pay for the child’s expenses which is almost the same as the benefit in food, clothes, etc.
- If the child’s age is 16 or above, you may receive the benefit when the child is dependent on you and studying in an approved education or training program.
- You can claim the benefit when you have adopted a child or fostered a child.
- You can also claim the child benefit when you are looking after someone else’s child in an informal arrangement.
- You may receive child benefits when you live in certain countries or you are a crown servant.
- You have the pre-settlement status or settled status under the EU settlement scheme.
- People who are looking for a job can also claim the child benefit as job seekers for 90 days till they get a job offer.
- If you recently moved to the UK, you can claim the Child benefit under certain conditions.
How much can you receive through UK Child Benefit Payment?
The Child benefits are paid on the weekly rates where the allowance depends on the first child or additional children allowance. So, based on the Child benefit weekly rates and the increment in April 2024, the UK residents who qualify for the Child benefit will receive the following payments:
- For the eldest or first child, the applicants will receive £25.60 for a week (four-week payment of £102.4)
- For additional children, the weekly Child benefit rate is £16.95 (four-week payment of £67.8)
Recently, the UK government has announced that most of the benefits rates will be increased by 1.7% from April 2025, so based on the increase, the Child benefit recipients can expect the following payment from April 2025:
- For the eldest or first child, the applicants will receive £26.05 for a week (four-week payment of £104.2)
- For additional children, the weekly Child benefit rate is £17.25 (four-week payment of £69)
What factors can affect the Child benefits payments?
The UK’s Child benefit payments can changed or stopped due to the following factors:
- If the family has split up and the child lives with one parent, then only the parent with whom the child lives can claim the Child’s benefit. However, if there are two children and one lives with one parent and the other with your other partner, then both parents can claim the first child benefit.
- If you live jointly and one partner claims child benefit, then only the partner who claims will receive the child benefit, you both cannot apply for the same child. However, if you claim the Child benefit for a different child, you cannot get the child benefit at a higher rate and if you do you may need to return the money to the authority.
What are High-Income Child Benefit Charges?
Under the UK’s Child benefit, there is an income limit for the parents, and if the parent’s joint adjusted income goes beyond the limit they may have to pay the high-income child benefit charges,
The government has increased the HICBC income limit for the parents to £60,000 from the previous £50,000. So, if both the partners have an individual’s income above the threshold, then one of them with a higher income will pay the charges. Now, if both partners have individual income over £80,000 you will pay the HICBC based on the child benefit you received.
The parents should understand that once their income goes over £80,000 the child benefit payment stops, however, when the income goes above £60,000 the child benefit may reduce.
The UK residents receive Child benefit payments and get the support they require to raise their children and fulfill their needs. So, check your payment dates based on your first payment date and keep the bank holidays in mind.