Child Tax Credit Calculator
Child Tax Credit closed to everyone on 5 April 2025 and is replaced by Universal Credit. Estimate the equivalent UC child elements you'd now receive for 2025/26.
Child element estimate
Now paid via Universal Credit. 2025/26 rates.
Tax Credits ended on 5 April 2025. New help with children is through Universal Credit — start at GOV.UK Universal Credit.
Child Tax Credit has ended
Child Tax Credit (CTC) closed to all claimants on 5 April 2025. There are no live tax-credit awards any more, and you cannot make a new claim. The support it provided has moved into Universal Credit, which now pays a monthly child element for each dependent child. This tool shows the equivalent UC child amounts so you can see what you'd receive today.
For 2025/26 the Universal Credit child element is £339.00 a month for a first child born before 6 April 2017, or £292.81 for a first child born later and for each additional child. Disabled-child additions of £158.76 (lower) or £495.87 (higher) may also apply.
2025/26 child element rates (Universal Credit)
| Element | 2025/26 (monthly) |
|---|---|
| First child (born before 6 April 2017) | £339.00 |
| First child (born on/after 6 April 2017) and other children | £292.81 |
| Disabled child — lower addition | £158.76 |
| Disabled child — higher addition | £495.87 |
Source: GOV.UK — Universal Credit and Tax credits have ended.
The two-child limit
Universal Credit usually pays a child element for your first two children only — the two-child limit — unless an exception applies (such as a multiple birth or a child born as a result of non-consensual conception). Disabled-child additions are paid for every qualifying child regardless of the limit. To see your full award including standard allowance, housing and earnings, use our Universal Credit calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still claim Child Tax Credit?
No. Child Tax Credit closed to everyone on 5 April 2025 and no new claims are possible. Help with the cost of children is now provided through the child element of Universal Credit instead.
How much is the Universal Credit child element in 2025/26?
It is £339.00 a month for a first child born before 6 April 2017, and £292.81 a month for a first child born on or after that date and for each additional child, subject to the two-child limit.
What is the two-child limit?
Universal Credit normally only pays a child element for your first two children. Children born on or after 6 April 2017 beyond the first two usually do not get an element unless an exception applies, such as a multiple birth.
Do disabled children get extra?
Yes. A disabled child addition of £158.76 a month (lower) or £495.87 a month (higher) is paid for each qualifying disabled child, on top of the child element, and these are not affected by the two-child limit.
Will I be moved from tax credits automatically?
If you were on tax credits you should have received a Migration Notice asking you to claim Universal Credit. You must claim by the deadline in the letter to keep your support and any transitional protection.