Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance: rates for the 2026/27 tax year

HMRC has published a table of Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance rates on GOV.UK. According to the government page, the rates for the 2026/27 tax year were confirmed on 9 March 2026. They had earlier been published as provisional on 5 December 2025.

Child Benefit rates

The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. Weekly Child Benefit rates are:

• 2026/27: £27.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.90 for each other child,
• 2025/26: £26.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.25 for other children,
• 2024/25: £25.60 for the eldest or only child and £16.95 for other children.

Guardian's Allowance rates

Guardian's Allowance is a weekly benefit. Its rates are:

• 2026/27: £22.95,
• 2025/26: £22.10,
• 2024/25: £21.75.

Tax credits no longer apply

The page reminds readers that the tax credits system ended on 5 April 2025. The document now includes only the former maximum annual Working Tax Credit rates for 2023/24 and 2024/25, for reference. For 2025/26, the elements in that table are marked "not applicable". Former data on the childcare element and Child Tax Credit is also included.

What this means for you

Parents and guardians living in the UK can compare what they currently receive with the official 2026/27 rates. The rate for the eldest or only child is £1 a week higher than in 2025/26. The rate for other children is 65p higher, and Guardian's Allowance is 85p higher.

The table gives only the amounts. It does not explain who is eligible or what residence requirements apply. Rules on applying and eligibility should be checked on the GOV.UK pages for Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance.