Apply for Family Allowance: Child Benefit Claim Guide 2026

By Eternity Accountants Editorial Team · Reviewed by Shamayun Chowdhury, Senior Accountant · Published: 8 November 2026 · Last reviewed: November 2026 · Applies to the 2026/27 tax year

Ask a grandparent what new parents should claim and the answer is often “family allowance”. The name stuck long after the benefit itself changed. If you want to apply for family allowance for a new baby or a child who has just come to live with you, the benefit you need is Child Benefit.

This guide shows the quickest way to claim, who qualifies, what you will be paid in 2026/27, how far a claim can be backdated, and why higher earners should usually still claim even if they choose not to take the money.

How to Apply for Family Allowance in 2026

Claiming online is the fastest option, and HMRC says money can reach your account within three days. Work through these steps in order:

1. Register your child’s birth. You can claim from 48 hours after registration.
2. Sign in to your HMRC online account or the HMRC app using your Government Gateway or One Login details.
3. Choose Child Benefit and answer the questions about you, your partner and your child.
4. Add your bank details and your National Insurance number, plus your partner’s if you live together.
5. Decide whether to receive payments or opt out, then submit and note your Child Benefit reference.

If you cannot claim online, you can still apply for family allowance on the paper claim form, known as CH2, and post it to the Child Benefit Office. HMRC’s announcement of digital claims explains that adopted children, or children born abroad, may still need extra documents sent by post.

If you search for how to claim Child Benefit instead, you land on the very same HMRC service, so there is only one claim to make.

Is Family Allowance the Same as Child Benefit?

Yes, in practice. Family allowance was first paid on 6 August 1946, and at first only covered the second child onwards. Child Benefit replaced it in stages between 1977 and 1979, according to the history of Child Benefit on the Revenue Benefits website. Today there is no separate family allowance in the UK, so when people ask how to apply for family allowance, they mean Child Benefit.

Who Can Apply for Family Allowance?

Two tests decide most claims: you must be responsible for the child, and you must normally live in the UK. GOV.UK counts you as responsible when the child lives with you, or when you put at least the Child Benefit amount towards their keep.

Only one person can claim

Each child can only have one claimant, usually the parent the child lives with. Couples should think about who claims, because the National Insurance credits go to the claimant. If one of you is staying at home, it normally makes sense for that parent to apply for family allowance.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Child Benefit works the same way across the whole UK and is always claimed from HMRC. Families in Scotland may also be able to get separate payments from Social Security Scotland, but those are extra and need their own application.

Living abroad or recently arrived

Some people who live or work abroad can still claim, depending on the country. Rules for people with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are stricter. If your situation is unusual, Citizens Advice’s guide to claiming Child Benefit is a good next step before you apply.

How Much Family Allowance Will You Get in 2026/27?

The weekly rates went up in April 2026, from £26.05 and £17.25 the year before. Both sets of figures appear on GOV.UK’s Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance rates page.

HMRC normally pays every four weeks, landing on a Monday or Tuesday. Lone parents, and families receiving benefits such as Universal Credit, can ask to be paid weekly instead.

What about the two-child limit?

Child Benefit has never had a two-child limit, so you can apply for family allowance for every child. The separate two-child limit in Universal Credit and tax credits was removed from April 2026, according to Which? reporting on the change.

What You Need Before You Apply for Family Allowance

Have the following to hand and the online form usually takes one short sitting:

• Your child’s birth or adoption certificate, if you have it already.
• Your National Insurance number, and your partner’s if you live together.
• Bank or building society account details for the payments.
• Child Benefit numbers for any other children you already claim for.
• Your child’s passport or travel document if they were born outside the UK.

A missing certificate need not hold you up: claim anyway and send it if HMRC asks. Creating your Government Gateway or One Login sign-in before the due date also saves a fiddly job in the first sleepless weeks.

Changes you must report after you claim

Once payments start, tell the Child Benefit Office about changes straight away. GOV.UK lists marrying or moving in with a partner, your child leaving approved education, or your child starting work of 24 hours or more a week. Unreported changes can lead to overpayments that HMRC will ask you to repay.

Can Child Benefit Be Backdated?

Yes, but only by up to three months from the date HMRC receives your claim. Anything before that is lost for good, so the best time to apply for family allowance is the week you register the birth.

Should You Still Apply for Family Allowance If You Earn Over £60,000?

Usually, yes. Under the High Income Child Benefit Charge, if either partner’s adjusted net income is over £60,000, the higher earner repays 1% of the benefit for every £200 above that figure. At £80,000 or more, the charge equals the full benefit.

Even above £80,000, making the claim and then switching off the payments is usually the smart move. You keep the National Insurance credits that protect your State Pension while your child is under 12, and your child gets a National Insurance number automatically before turning 16. Our guide to the High Income Child Benefit Charge explains pension contributions and other ways to reduce adjusted net income.

What Mistakes Cost Families Child Benefit?

Anyone already filing a tax return simply adds the charge to it. If Self Assessment would only be for the charge, HMRC lets you register to pay it through your PAYE tax code instead, as explained on the GOV.UK charge guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for family allowance before my baby is born?

No. You can apply for family allowance from 48 hours after registering the birth. You can set up your HMRC sign-in details before the baby arrives, which makes the claim faster.

How long does Child Benefit take to come through?

Claims made online or in the HMRC app can be paid in as little as three days. Paper claims take longer, sometimes up to three months.

Can both parents claim Child Benefit?

No. Only one person can claim for each child. The claimant receives the National Insurance credits, so the parent with lower earnings usually makes the claim.

Do I need to claim again for a second child?

Yes. Each child needs a claim, though you can quote your existing Child Benefit number to speed it up. The second child is paid at £17.90 a week in 2026/27.

Can I claim Child Benefit if I am self-employed?

Yes. Child Benefit depends on being responsible for a child, not on how you earn your living. Self-employed parents apply in exactly the same way, and any High Income Child Benefit Charge is simply added to their Self Assessment return.

At what age does family allowance stop?

Payments normally stop when your child turns 16, or at 20 if they stay in approved education or training, such as A levels. Tell HMRC if their circumstances change.

Is family allowance taxable?

Child Benefit itself is not taxable income. However, if your adjusted net income is over £60,000, you may have to repay some or all of it through the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

Final Verdict: How to Apply for Family Allowance

To apply for family allowance today, claim Child Benefit online or in the HMRC app from 48 hours after registering the birth. Claim quickly, because backdating stops at three months. For 2026/27 you get £27.05 a week for your eldest child and £17.90 for each other child. Higher earners should still claim and opt out to protect their State Pension.