The CH2 is HMRC's Child Benefit claim form for people who can't claim online. You fill it in and post it to the Child Benefit Office at the address on the form, adding form CH2 (CS) if you're claiming for more than 2 children. Claim as soon as the birth is registered or the child comes to live with you, because Child Benefit can only be backdated for up to 3 months.
Everything below comes from the GOV.UK CH2 publication page, HMRC's CH2 Notes and the GOV.UK Child Benefit and High Income Child Benefit Charge guides, as of October 2026.
Paper or online
HMRC's notes put the difference plainly: claim online, or through the HMRC app, and you could get your first payment in as little as 3 days. The paper CH2 is for people who can't use those routes. If neither the online service nor the form works for you, you can contact HMRC and claim by phone.
Who should claim
- Either you or your partner, if you're responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 and in approved education or training.
- Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child; if two people can't agree, HMRC decides.
- You don't have to be the child's parent, and you may be able to claim even if the child doesn't live with you, for example if you pay at least the same as Child Benefit towards their upkeep.
- You can claim whatever you earn or have in savings.
If you're adopting, you can claim as soon as the child comes to live with you, without waiting for the adoption to finish.
Why you should claim even if you don't want the payments
This is the part people skip. The person awarded Child Benefit automatically gets National Insurance credits until the child turns 12, which protect their State Pension. HMRC's notes say that if one of a couple doesn't work or doesn't pay National Insurance contributions, they should be the one to fill in the form. And the child usually gets their National Insurance number shortly before turning 16 without having to apply. You can claim and tick no to payments on question 62, and still get those advantages.
Current rates
| Who the allowance is for | Weekly rate |
|---|---|
| Eldest or only child | £27.05 |
| Each additional child | £17.90 |
These are the GOV.UK rates as of October 2026. It's usually paid every 4 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday, or weekly for single parents and some people on other benefits such as Universal Credit.
Separated and blended families
The rates follow the household, not the parents. GOV.UK says that if a family splits up, you get £27.05 a week for the eldest child; if one of two children lives with each parent, you each get £27.05. If you move in with a partner who also claims, the household gets the higher rate only for the eldest child and £17.90 for any younger ones. You can claim for different children, but if you live together and both claim the higher rate, you may have to pay some back. Report the change to the Child Benefit Office.
When your child turns 16
Child Benefit normally continues to 20 if your child stays in approved education or training. If a 16 or 17 year old leaves and registers with a careers service run by the government or with the armed services, you can apply for it to continue for 20 weeks. It stops if they start paid work of 24 hours or more a week and leave approved education, start an apprenticeship in England, or start getting certain benefits in their own right.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge
| Higher earner's adjusted net income | What happens |
|---|---|
| Up to £60,000 | No charge |
| Between £60,000 and £80,000 | 1% of the Child Benefit for each £200 over £60,000 |
| Over £80,000 | The charge equals the Child Benefit received |
The person with the higher adjusted net income pays it, through Self Assessment or, from summer 2025, through their PAYE tax code. If you opt out of payments, there's no charge but you keep the National Insurance credits. Check both incomes every year you claim.
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Filling in the CH2, step by step
- Register the birth first. You can claim 48 hours after registering the birth, or once a child comes to live with you.
- Have your National Insurance number ready, and your partner's if you have one. You'll find yours online, in the HMRC app, or on a payslip or P60.
- Answer the residence questions carefully: for this form, the UK means England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, not the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.
- Add your bank or building society details; payments can't go to a Post Office card account.
- Decide whether you want payments, on question 62.
- Post the form now, even without the birth or adoption certificate. Send the documents as soon as you can.
If you don't have a National Insurance number yet, HMRC says to send the claim anyway and tell it the number as soon as you can, though the claim will be delayed.
The verdict
If you can claim online, do: it's faster. If you can't, the CH2 does the same job, and the one thing that costs families is waiting. With backdating capped at 3 months, post the form as soon as the birth is registered, and claim even if the tax charge means you'll opt out of the payments, because the National Insurance credits are worth keeping. If you pay the charge through a return, it's due with your other tax by the Self Assessment deadline.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CH2 form?
It's HMRC's Child Benefit claim form for people who can't claim online. You fill it in and send it to the Child Benefit Office at the address on the form.
How far back can Child Benefit be backdated?
Up to 3 months from the date you make the claim.
Do I need the birth certificate to send a CH2?
No. HMRC's notes say to make the claim now even if you don't have all your documents, then send them as soon as you can.
How much is Child Benefit?
GOV.UK gives £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for each additional child.
Should I claim Child Benefit if I earn over £80,000?
HMRC says you should still claim, even if you decide not to get the payments, so the claimant gets National Insurance credits.
