HM Revenue and Customers (HMRC) is sending early £108.20 payments into the bank accounts of Child Benefit claimants on Friday, May 1.
Child Benefit payments are normally paid on a Monday or a Tuesday every four weeks, but as the early May bank holiday falls on a Monday, usual payments will be disrupted for some claimants. Benefits payments that fall on a bank holiday are always issued earlier than normal, meaning some claimants will have to make their cash last a little longer next month before their next payment arrives. May is bookended by two bank holidays, with one falling at the beginning of the month and another right at the end.
So if a Child Benefit payment date coincides with either of the May bank holidays, on May 4 or May 25, then HMRC has confirmed it will instead send payments into bank accounts on the earliest working day before instead.
If your usual Child Benefit payment fall on either of of the May bank holidays, HMRC will issue your payment on the following dates in May:
- If your payment is due on Monday, May 4, you’ll instead be paid on Friday, May 1
- If your payment is due on Monday, May 25, you’ll instead be paid on Friday, May 22
HMRC said: “Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday. There are different payment dates if it’s due on a bank holiday.
“You can work out when you’re next going to get Child Benefit by counting 4 weeks forward from your last payment. Do not count forward if your payment was due on a bank holiday – the dates are different.
“Your payment might be delayed if the bank is closed for a public holiday on the day HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) pays you. Check with your bank for the date you’ll get your payment.”
Child Benefit claimants will also receive an extra bit of cash in May as new payment rates take effect for the 2026/27 tax year. The weekly payment rate for the eldest or only child has now increased from £26.05 to £27.05, while the weekly rate for each additional child has gone up from £17.25 to £17.90.
As Child Benefit is paid every four weeks, it means parents with one child will get £108.20 per month (up from £104.20) and those with additional children will get an extra £71.60 per month (up from £69).
Child Benefit can be claimed by parents or guardians who are responsible for raising a child under the age of 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
Confirming the 3.8% payment uplift for Child Benefit last year, James Murray, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “The Tax Credits Act 2002 and Social Security Administration Act 1992 place a statutory duty on His Majesty’s Treasury to review the rates of child benefit each year in line with the general level of prices.
“There is a further statutory duty on the Treasury to increase guardian’s allowance in line with price growth. I have now concluded the review for the tax year 2026-27.
“I have decided to increase child benefit rates in line with the consumer prices index for the year to September 2025, which is 3.8%. Guardian’s allowance will also increase by the same rate. This means that, from 6 April 2026: