Can I tick the box on the claim form, or do I have to opt out later?

Either. A new claim can refuse payments on the form (CH2 notes: select 'no' on the payment question). If payments have already started, GOV.UK's opt-out service, online form, phone or post stops them while you stay registered.

If I opt out, do the National Insurance credits still apply?

Yes. GOV.UK's eligibility table awards Class 3 credits to a parent or guardian registered for Child Benefit for a child under 12, even if they do not receive it. The opt-out page repeats that credits still count towards the State Pension.

Can I start the payments again later?

HMRC's 18 May 2026 news page says families who previously opted out can opt back in and restart payments on the HMRC app or online. Restarting payments can bring the tax charge back into scope if income is over the GOV.UK threshold.

Does refusing payments change who should be named on the claim?

No. Credits still sit on the named claimant's record. If mum is not working, official notes still say she should be the claimant even when the household refuses the cash.

Guides · Childcare money · Child Benefit

Can I claim Child Benefit without taking the payments?

Updated 10 September 2026 · Checked 10 September 2026 · By MayTally research desk — Checked against official UK sources

Why does GOV.UK say to claim if I do not want the cash?

GOV.UK's how it works page lists three things a claim can do: the allowance, National Insurance credits that count towards the State Pension, and a National Insurance number for the child without them applying. The next sentence is the register-only rule: if you choose not to get Child Benefit payments, you should still make a claim to get the other advantages.

The opt-out page says the same in charge language: if you opt out of receiving payments, you are still registered, you would not have to pay the tax charge, and you would still be covered for National Insurance credits and the child's National Insurance number.

What stays in place if I refuse the payments?

Swipe sideways for the full table

Registered with payments stopped, as GOV.UK states it
Item	If you take the payments	If you opt out of the payments
Still registered for Child Benefit	Yes	Yes
Cash paid every 4 weeks	Yes, if the award is in payment	No
High Income Child Benefit Charge	May apply if adjusted net income is over the GOV.UK threshold	GOV.UK: you would not have to pay the charge
Class 3 NI credits (child under 12)	Awarded to the named claimant	Still awarded — eligibility page: even if you do not receive it
Child's NI number shortly before 16	Normally sent if they live in the UK and a claim was filled in	Still normally sent; opt-out page repeats this
Duty to report changes	Yes	Yes — GOV.UK says you must still report changes that affect entitlement

From GOV.UK how-it-works, NI credits eligibility, and High Income Child Benefit Charge opt-out, checked on 10 September 2026. Charge thresholds are on the next section.

This page is the register-and-refuse-cash how-to. It is not a keep-or-give-up calculator. GOV.UK's Child Benefit tax calculator is the official estimate of a charge if you take the payments.

What are the current charge thresholds on GOV.UK?

Quote only — not a household decision. GOV.UK's High Income Child Benefit Charge overview (re-read 10 September 2026) and the 2026–27 rates contract both use these figures from tax year 2024–25 onwards.

Swipe sideways for the full table

High Income Child Benefit Charge bands as GOV.UK states them
Adjusted net income	What GOV.UK says about the charge
£60,000 or less	The charge does not apply on the current threshold
Over £60,000 and under £80,000	1% of the Child Benefit for every £200 over £60,000
£80,000 or more	The charge matches the Child Benefit payments

Threshold £60,000, full charge at £80,000, and 1% per £200 from contracts/tax-year-2026-27.json (checked against GOV.UK on 14 August 2026) and GOV.UK /child-benefit-tax-charge, re-read 10 September 2026. 'Partner' on GOV.UK means someone you are not permanently separated from who you are married to, in a civil partnership with, or living with as if you were.

How do I stay registered and refuse the payments?

Make the Child Benefit claim first if you have not already Use GOV.UK how to claim or the HMRC app. A missing claim means no registration, no automatic Class 3 credits, and no automatic National Insurance number for the child.
On a new claim, say you do not want to be paid The CH2 notes (updated 6 April 2026) say to select 'no' on the payment question (question 62 on that form). Which? (6 April 2026) describes the same 'No' box on the claim form. That refuses the cash and leaves you registered.
If you already receive payments, use the official opt-out service GOV.UK: use the online service or online form, or contact the Child Benefit Office by phone or post. You need to sign in, or create sign-in details.
Check you are not in a blocked case GOV.UK: you cannot use the online service or form if you are an appointee or authorised agent. You cannot opt out if the payments are being used to repay an overpayment or certain benefits from another country.
Pay any charge already owed up to the stop date GOV.UK: you must pay any tax charge owed for each tax year up to the date payments stop. Use GOV.UK's Child Benefit tax calculator for an estimate. After you opt out, you must still report changes that affect entitlement.

In shortClaim, stay registered, refuse the cash if that is your plan. Credits and the child's National Insurance number still follow the award. The charge thresholds above are GOV.UK's current bands — not a keep-or-give-up answer for your household.

Questions parents ask

Can I tick the box on the claim form, or do I have to opt out later?: Either. A new claim can refuse payments on the form (CH2 notes: select 'no' on the payment question). If payments have already started, GOV.UK's opt-out service, online form, phone or post stops them while you stay registered.
If I opt out, do the National Insurance credits still apply?: Yes. GOV.UK's eligibility table awards Class 3 credits to a parent or guardian registered for Child Benefit for a child under 12, even if they do not receive it. The opt-out page repeats that credits still count towards the State Pension.
Can I start the payments again later?: HMRC's 18 May 2026 news page says families who previously opted out can opt back in and restart payments on the HMRC app or online. Restarting payments can bring the tax charge back into scope if income is over the GOV.UK threshold.
Does refusing payments change who should be named on the claim?: No. Credits still sit on the named claimant's record. If mum is not working, official notes still say she should be the claimant even when the household refuses the cash.

Sources

Official pages first. If this page and the official page disagree, the official page wins.

GOV.UK — Child Benefit: how it works — checked 10 September 2026
GOV.UK — Opt out of Child Benefit payments — checked 10 September 2026
GOV.UK — High Income Child Benefit Charge — checked 10 September 2026
GOV.UK — National Insurance credits: eligibility — checked 10 September 2026
GOV.UK — Child Benefit: how to claim — checked 10 September 2026
Which? — Child Benefit rates and calculator 2026-27 (6 April 2026) — checked 10 September 2026

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