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The short answer
Child Benefit is paid at two weekly rates: a higher rate for the eldest or only child and a lower rate for each additional child. As at October 2026, GOV.UK lists £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for each additional child; rates usually change each April, so check GOV.UK's Child Benefit page for today's figures.
Child Benefit is one of the few UK benefits that is not means-tested in the usual way: the amount depends on the number of children, not on your income. Income only matters through a separate tax charge for higher earners. For Nigerian families who have moved from NRPF visas to ILR, or who have British partners, it is often the first regular payment from the state.
The two rates
| Who it is for | Weekly rate as at October 2026 (GOV.UK) |
|---|---|
| Eldest or only child | £27.05 |
| Each additional child | £17.90 |
These are the figures on GOV.UK's Child Benefit page when we checked in October 2026. Rates are reviewed each tax year, so the live figure is the one on GOV.UK today. We do not repeat the number anywhere else in this article except in labelled worked examples.
Working out your family's total
Examples only, using the October 2026 GOV.UK rates.
| Children | Weekly | Over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £27.05 | £1,406.60 |
| 2 | £44.95 | £2,337.40 |
| 3 | £62.85 | £3,268.20 |
| 4 | £80.75 | £4,199.00 |
The weekly figure for each family is £27.05 plus £17.90 for each child after the first; the yearly figure is the weekly total multiplied by 52.
Who counts as a child, and who claims
GOV.UK's Child Benefit page sets the age limits and the education rules for older children, and says only one person can get Child Benefit for each child. In blended families, or where a niece or nephew from Nigeria lives with you, check with the Child Benefit Office who should claim for which child before you apply, and tell it if a child moves between households.
Can you get it at all?
Child Benefit is a public fund. The Home Office's public funds guidance (April 2025) says Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Student and Graduate permission carries NRPF; ILR usually does not. A partner who is entitled in their own right, such as a British citizen, may be able to claim without breaching the other partner's conditions, according to the same guidance. Read Child Benefit on a UK visa and, after ILR, how to claim and the backdating limit. This is information, not immigration advice.
When the income charge reduces it
If either parent's adjusted net income is over £60,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge applies, GOV.UK says: 1% of the Child Benefit for every £200 of income over £60,000, and all of it at £80,000. You can choose to stay registered without being paid. See the charge explained.
Long trips to Nigeria
Many families spend the summer holidays in Nigeria. GOV.UK's page on Child Benefit abroad says to tell the Child Benefit Office if you or your child will be abroad for more than 8 weeks. Payments can continue for up to 8 weeks for most reasons, or up to 12 weeks for the death of a family member or medical treatment. A child staying with grandparents in Enugu for a term is a different situation from a family holiday, and GOV.UK says the Child Benefit Office should be contacted where its page does not cover the case. Tell it before you travel rather than after.
Where to check today's figure
- GOV.UK's Child Benefit page, which shows the current weekly rates.
- Your HMRC award notice, which states what you are paid.
- Your bank statements, which show each payment as it arrives.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account holds GBP with UK local account details. If you set aside part of your Child Benefit for school fees or relatives at home, Send shows the rate and the fee before you approve, and naira can sit in a Savings Box in Nigeria.
Questions people ask
How much is Child Benefit per week?
As at October 2026, GOV.UK lists £27.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.90 for each additional child. Check GOV.UK for today's rate.
How much Child Benefit do I get for 3 children?
At the October 2026 rates, £62.85 a week: £27.05 for the first child plus £17.90 for each of the other two.
Do I get the higher rate for every child?
No. The higher rate is for the eldest or only child; each additional child gets the lower rate.
Does my income change my Child Benefit?
Not the rate. Over £60,000 adjusted net income, the High Income Child Benefit Charge claws some or all of it back through tax.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Child Benefit · accessed Oct 2026
- Home Office: Public funds caseworker guidance (9 Apr 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: High Income Child Benefit Charge · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.