Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance will rise from Monday 6 April 2026. From that date the eldest-or-only child rate is £27.05 a week, the rate for each additional child is £17.90, and Guardian’s Allowance increases to £22.95 a week, following parliamentary approval. (hansard.parliament.uk)
The uprating reflects a 3.8% increase in line with the Consumer Prices Index used for the 2026–27 review under section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. The Order is enabled by the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992. (hansard.parliament.uk)
Process and timing are standard for an affirmative instrument. The draft was laid on 12 January 2026, was not drawn to the special attention of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, received no comment from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, was approved by the House of Commons on 10 February, considered in the House of Lords Grand Committee on 25 February, and comes into force on 6 April 2026. (statutoryinstruments.parliament.uk)
The new rates apply across the United Kingdom, with corresponding provision for Northern Ireland made under section 132(1) of the 1992 Act. HM Treasury is the laying department for this instrument. (hansard.parliament.uk)
Guardian’s Allowance-paid where a child’s parents have died-rises from £22.10 to £22.95 per week. A report by the Government Actuary was laid alongside the draft orders, setting out the likely effects on the National Insurance Fund and confirming the revised Guardian’s Allowance rate for 2026–27. (gov.uk)
Operationally, Child Benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday, with weekly payment available to single parents or those receiving certain benefits. The new amounts will appear from a claimant’s first scheduled payment after 6 April 2026; where payment dates fall on a bank holiday, HMRC pays on the working day before. (gov.uk)
Worked examples for budgeting: a one‑child household’s entitlement moves from £26.05 to £27.05 per week-an annual increase of £52.00. A two‑child household’s combined entitlement rises from £43.30 to £44.95 per week-up £1.65 weekly, or £85.80 over a full year. These figures are before any tax charge.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge is unchanged by this instrument and continues to apply under separate HMRC rules. For tax years from 2024–25, the taper begins at £60,000 of adjusted net income, with full clawback at £80,000; HMRC’s calculator and PAYE collection routes remain available. (gov.uk)
Linked entitlements are unaffected. As the Government Actuary notes, Widowed Parent’s Allowance remains payable for as long as there is a Child Benefit entitlement; the Order does not alter these dependency rules. (gov.uk)
For practitioners, GOV.UK’s consolidated 2026/27 schedule of benefit and pension rates provides cross‑references helpful for casework and public communications; teams may wish to align materials ahead of April roll‑out. (gov.uk)