Oxford News
Child Benefit increases confirmed by HMRC from April 2026
HMRC pays Child Benefit, and families with one child will now receive the new amount of £27.05 per week, up from £26.05 each week.
Families will also receive £17.90 per week (up from £17.25) for each additional child they have after that. There is no limit to how many children families can claim for.
Payments will increase in line with the Consumer Price Index for the year to September 2025, which is 3.8%. As a result, from April 2026:
- Child Benefit for the eldest child will rise from £26.05 to £27.05 per week
- Payments for additional children will go from £17.25 to £17.90 per week
- Guardian’s Allowance will increase from £22.10 to £22.95 per week
Child Benefit, normally paid every four weeks, means families will receive:
- £108.20 for the eldest child
- £71.60 for each additional child
- £91.80 for Guardian’s Allowance
Families with ongoing claims do not need to contact HMRC, as the increased benefit payment will continue to be paid directly into their bank accounts. Anyone who needs to update their personal details, such as a change of bank account or address, can do so online at GOV.UK.
Parents can also backdate their claims by up to three months.
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You get Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:
- under 16
- or under 20, if they stay in approved education or training
If you or your partner earn over the Child Benefit threshold
If either you or your partner’s income (after deductions) is over the threshold, you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
This income is before any personal allowances and Gift Aid, but includes interest from savings and dividends.
Work out if your adjusted net income is over the threshold using the Child Benefit tax calculator . If it is, the calculator will also tell you how much charge you’ll have to pay.
If both you and your partner have an individual income that’s over the threshold, then whoever has the higher adjusted net income is responsible for paying the charge.
If either you or your partner has an individual income of £80,000 or more above the threshold, you’ll be charged the same amount as you make through Child Benefit payments. You’ll end up with no extra money from Child Benefit, but you can still get the other advantages provided by Child Benefit, like National Insurance credits.
You’ll also need to fill in a Self Assessment tax return each tax year to pay the charge.
Child Benefit and National Insurance Credits
You’ll get National Insurance credits automatically if you claim Child Benefit and your child is under 12.
These credits count towards your State Pension, so you do not have gaps in your National Insurance record while you’re raising a child if either:
- you’re not working
- you do not earn enough to pay National Insurance contributions
If you do not need the National Insurance credits, your family may be eligible to get the support instead. Either:
- your husband, wife or partner can apply to transfer the credits
- a different family member who provides care for your child can apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits
Only one person can get Child Benefit for each child.
14 pupils from Aureus School in Didcot, Oxfordshire, travelled to Southampton’s Utilita Bowl to watch two ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches.
They saw New Zealand take on Sri Lanka and England face Ireland.
Rob Hayden, head of PE at Aureus School, said: “The first match was really close, with Sri Lanka hitting a four to win the match in the final over.
“There was a rain delay which delayed the England match by one hour and 30 minutes, but this allowed the group to watch the cricket match under the floodlights, which was a really good experience.
“Having England play well and win, created a special atmosphere at the ground.”
The trip is part of a yearly tradition at Aureus School, which has strong ties to the women’s game through a visiting coach, Queentor Abel of the Kenya Women’s Team.
Mr Hayden said: “We have currently got a coach who comes into school who is a current cricket player for the Kenya Women’s Team, Queentor Abel.
“This showed the students they have a great coach to help them improve.
“We took the group as a trip to inspire the students to play cricket outside of school.”
Aureus School is part of the GLF Schools multi-academy trust.
GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles appeared on the 24th series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in 2024.
GK and Rev Coles “struck up the best of friendships” while on the ITV reality show, one they have continued outside the jungle.
ITV axes GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles series
The pair had begun work on a new ITV series themed around life and death.
Speaking to Attitude Magazine, GK said: “We are exploring walks of life from two different generations — one from a gay godly man and a gay ungodly woman.
“There are some depressing bits in there, but one thing about me is that I will make a joke about it.”
A pilot episode for the series was filmed last year.
However, the new series has now been axed by ITV, according to The Sun.
An insider said: “There were high hopes for the project because producers were excited by the dynamic between GK and Richard, not least because it seemed to amuse viewers.
“They enjoyed the idea of the wise older man interacting with the streetwise millennial as they explored some pretty deep subjects.
“But after provisional filming took place, it was decided not to proceed with it as a series — much to the disappointment of everyone involved.”
GK had previously said it had been a “dream” working with Rev Coles on the series.
On Instagram, she said: “Working with you has opened my eyes to worlds I’d never heard of or dreamt of before.
“Some of them have been nightmares, but some of them have been dreams — and today has been a dream.”
ITV has been contacted for comment.
Freeview channel axed 2 years after relaunch
Meanwhile, News UK’s live streaming opinion channel, Talk, has been axed as part of the latest Freeview update.
Talk originally broadcast as TalkTV on channel 237 from April 2022, with 24-hour news and opinion programming.
Its most high-profile programme was Piers Morgan Uncensored, which later moved to YouTube, though Channel 5 continues to broadcast highlight segments.
TalkTV was eventually relaunched as Talk, a visual radio stream, on Freeview channel 280 in April 2024.
The change came after the channel struggled to attract viewers and ran up losses for News UK, according to RXTV.
News UK still operates similar visual streams for TalkSport and Times Radio.
Were you looking forward to GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles’ new ITV series? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.
The 41-year-old pop icon was due to perform at Werchter Boutique festival in Belgium last night, Saturday, June 28, when the event was unexpectedly cut short.
The festival’s committee decided to end the day’s performances early, at 9pm just after a set from Pitbull, due to a weather forecast of ‘severe thunderstorms from midnight onwards at the earliest’ and a government warning.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson’s pub staff ‘walk out after many problems’
Perry wrote on Instagram: “Sadly my set at Werchter Boutique tonight can’t happen due to a government mandated cancellation because of the incoming inclement weather and crowd safety concerns.
“I was backstage at the show in the middle of hair and makeup when this news was delivered, and they gave me no choice.
“I am just as unhappy as you are. Unfortunately this is beyond my control, but the safety of all 55,000 of you always comes first and foremost.”
The performance was due to mark the popstar’s return to the one-day event held in Belgium’s Festivalpark for the first time in more than 15 years.
READ MORE: Sara Cox in new venture as UK charity collapses with £430k owed
Perry added: “I am sorry I can’t change the weather, and even sorrier that all of us can’t be together tonight. I was looking forward to being back after 17 years, I was even gonna wear the same outfit from that 2009 show again. I love you all, and please get home safe.”
It comes just a week before the star’s next scheduled festival appearance, at the brand-new Blenheim Festival in Wodostock, Oxfordshire, where she is due to perform on July 4.
The current forecast for that date is sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-20s.
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