Benefits for parents

Use our free benefits calculator to make sure you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to.

You can get child benefit for each of your kids until:

• 31 August on or after they turn 16
• they turn 20 if they stay in approved education or training

There’s no limit to the number of children you can get child benefit for.

The amount you’ll get depends on how many kids you have:

• £25.60 a week for your oldest or only child
• £16.95 a week for each extra child

You don't need to be working to qualify, but you may get less if you or your partner earn over £60,000 a year.

Find out more about child benefit.

Child tax credit is being replaced by universal credit.

This means you can’t make a new claim for child tax credit – you’ll have to apply for the child element of universal credit instead.

If you currently get child tax credit, no payments will be made after 5 April 2025 and you’ll have to switch to universal credit.

Find out more about applying for universal credit.

Universal credit is replacing several older benefits, including child tax credit.

You can only claim the child element of universal credit for a maximum of two children, unless special circumstances apply.

If you’re eligible, you’ll get:

• £287.92 per month per child (for children born on or after 6 April 2017)
• £333.33 per month for your first or only child if they were born before 6 April 2017

Find out more about applying for universal credit.

If your child is under 16 and needs extra help because of a disability, they might be able to get disability living allowance (DLA).

DLA is paid in two parts –  the ‘care component’ and the ‘mobility component’.

Your child will need to meet the criteria for at least one of these to receive DLA.

The amount they’ll get depends on their specific needs as each component is paid at different rates.

If you’re a working parent, you might be eligible for free childcare.

Currently, parents of three and four year olds can get up to 30 hours of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year.

By September 2025, this will be extended to include children from nine months old up to school age.

You’ll usually qualify if you and your partner are:

• in work or starting a new job
• on sick leave or annual leave
• on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave

If you’re not working but your partner is, you might still qualify for free childcare if you’re on carer’s leave or if you get:

• incapacity benefit
• severe disablement allowance
• carer’s allowance
• limited capability for work benefit
• contribution-based employment and support allowance.

You’ll also need to earn a certain amount – check out the eligibility criteria to see if you qualify.

If you have a two year old, you can get 15 hours’ free childcare a week if you're claiming one of these:

• income support
• income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• income-related employment and support allowance
• universal credit (household income under £15,400 a year after tax)
• the guaranteed element of pension credit
• child tax credit, working tax credit (or both) – your household income must be under £16,190 a year before tax
• working tax credit run-on

A two year old can also get free childcare if they:

• have an education, health and care plan
• get disability living allowance
• are looked after by a local authority
• have left care e.g. under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order

Ask your provider if you’ll need to pay for extra costs e.g. nappies or meals

Eligibility varies, so it’s worth checking if you qualify.

You can get tax-free childcare even if you’re already claiming free childcare hours if you’re eligible for both.

You can use tax-free childcare to cover the costs of approved childcare, such as childminders, nurseries, nannies or after-school clubs and play schemes.

To get tax-free childcare, you’ll need to set up an online childcare account.

For every £8 you pay into your childcare account, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year.

You can get up to £500 every three months for each of your kids.

If your child has disabilities, this amount is doubled to £1,000 every three months (£4,000 a year).

See if you’re eligible for tax-free childcare.

You might be able to get a one-off payment to help towards the cost of having children if you’re expecting your first child or:

• you’re having twins and you already have a child under 16
• you’re having triplets and you already have kids

Most people will get £500. This increases to £1,000 if you’re expecting triplets and already have a child.

You don’t need to pay the money back and it won’t affect your entitlement to other benefits.

To qualify, you or your partner will need to be claiming one of the following benefits:

• income support
• income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• income-related employment and support allowance
• pension credit
• child tax credit
• working tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
• universal credit

You can claim the grant from 11 weeks before your baby’s due date up to six months after they’re born.

See if you qualify for a Sure Start maternity grant.

If you receive certain benefits – or you’re under 18 and pregnant – you might qualify for Healthy Start, which helps parents provide nutritious food for their children (up to the age of four).

Eligible parents will be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that will be topped up every four weeks.

This money can then be spent on:

• plain liquid cow’s milk
• fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables
• fresh, dried and tinned pulses
• infant formula (based on cow’s milk)
• Healthy Start vitamins to support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• vitamin drops suitable from birth to 4 years old

Find out how to apply for Healthy Start.

Every child in reception or years 1 or 2 is eligible for a free school meal – no matter what your income is.

From year 3, your child might qualify for free school meals if you get any of the following:

• income support
• income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of pension credit
• child tax credit (as long as you don’t also get working tax credit and your income is under £16,190)
• working tax credit run-on
• universal credit (your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax – this doesn’t include benefits)

If your child gets free school meals, they’ll also qualify for the holiday activity and food programme.

Details of how to apply for free school meals can be found on your local council’s website.