Child Benefit on a £55,000 Salary

On a £55,000 salary in the 2025/26 tax year, Child Benefit for 2 children is £2,251.60 per year. The HICBC charge is £0.00, leaving net benefit of £2,251.60 per year (£187.63 per month).

If you earn £55,000 per year, you are below the HICBC threshold of £60,000 and keep 100% of your Child Benefit. For two children, that is £2,251.60 per year (£187.63 per month). There is no High Income Child Benefit Charge at this income level.

HICBC breakdown at £55,000

The table below shows your Child Benefit, HICBC charge, and net benefit at £55,000 for different numbers of children.

Children	Annual benefit	HICBC charge	Net benefit	Monthly net
1	£1,354.60	£0.00	£1,354.60	£112.88
2	£2,251.60	£0.00	£2,251.60	£187.63
3	£3,148.60	£0.00	£3,148.60	£262.38

What happens if your income rises?

At £55,000, you are £5,000 below the HICBC threshold of £60,000. If your income increases:

• At £60,000: Still no HICBC — you keep the full £2,251.60
• At £65,000: HICBC charge of £562.90 — you keep £1,688.70 of £2,251.60

If you expect your income to cross £60,000, consider salary sacrifice to keep it below the threshold.

Compare Child Benefit at nearby salaries

• £50,000: No HICBC — keep full £2,251.60 (2 children)
• £53,000: No HICBC — keep full £2,251.60 (2 children)
• £57,000: No HICBC — keep full £2,251.60 (2 children)
• £60,000: No HICBC — keep full £2,251.60 (2 children)

Related calculations for £55,000

• Salary breakdown for £55,000 — see your full take-home pay, tax bands, and NI
• Pension tax relief calculator — see how pension contributions reduce your tax bill
• Salary sacrifice calculator — reduce your income below the HICBC threshold
• National Insurance on £55,000 — employee and employer NI breakdown

Frequently asked questions

How much Child Benefit do I keep on a £55,000 salary?

On a £55,000 salary, you keep 100% of your Child Benefit — £2,251.60 per year for 2 children. No HICBC charge applies.

What is the HICBC threshold in 2025/26?

The HICBC threshold is £60,000 of adjusted net income. The charge tapers from £60,000 to £80,000, with full clawback at £80,000. This threshold was raised from £50,000 in April 2024.

Should I still claim Child Benefit on £55,000?

Yes, and there is no downside — at £55,000, you keep the full amount with no HICBC charge.