Answers · UK 2025/26

Should I still claim Child Benefit just to protect my State Pension if my partner earns too much?

Yes, usually. Even if the High Income Child Benefit Charge claws back the full payment, registering for Child Benefit gives the carer National Insurance credits until the child turns 12. Those credits protect your State Pension, so you can claim but tick the box to not receive payments and avoid the charge.

Last updated: 10 June 2026Last reviewed: 10 June 2026How we verify

Full answer

Child Benefit pays GBP 26.05 a week for the eldest child and GBP 17.25 for each other child in 2026/27. The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) claws it back between GBP 60,000 and GBP 80,000 of adjusted net income for the higher earner, and at GBP 80,000 or above the charge equals 100% of the benefit. That makes the payment look pointless, but the claim itself matters. Registering for Child Benefit gives the person caring for a child under 12 Class 3 National Insurance credits, which count towards the 35 qualifying years needed for the full new State Pension of GBP 241.30 a week. Worked example: a parent who stays home with two children for 10 years but never registers could lose 10 qualifying years, potentially cutting their State Pension by roughly GBP 68 a week (10/35 of GBP 241.30), worth thousands over retirement. The fix: complete the Child Benefit claim to get the NI credits, but on the form choose not to receive the payments. That keeps the credits flowing while avoiding the HICBC and the need to file a Self Assessment return to repay it. The credits must go to the registered claimant, so the lower-earning or non-working partner should be the one named. Use the Child Benefit calculator to model the charge. Check the credit rules and claim at gov.uk/child-benefit.