Your 2026 Money Prep: Child Benefit, Tax Codes & Maternity Pay

Planning for a baby isn’t just about nappies and nursery lists. A little financial admin now can save stress (and money) later. As we head towards 2026, there are a few key checks every expectant or new parent in the UK should make, especially around Child Benefit, tax codes and maternity pay.

Below is a calm, practical checklist, based on current rules and official guidance, to help you feel organised going into the next tax year.

The quick context: what’s changed and what resets every April

Child Benefit & HICBC (High Income Child Benefit Charge)

Since April 2024, the income threshold for the High Income Child Benefit Charge increased:

• The charge now starts at £60,000

• Child Benefit is fully repaid at £80,000

• The charge tapers gradually between those two figures

This means many more families can now keep some or all of their Child Benefit, or opt back in if they previously opted out.

👉 Check the latest guidance on the HMRC Child Benefit and HICBC pages to confirm how this applies to your household income.

HMRC admin updates now in use

Recent administrative changes mean:

• Some parents can now pay the HICBC through PAYE, rather than filing a full Self Assessment

• Digital prompts and nudges from HMRC are being used more widely, especially around Child Benefit eligibility

These changes are designed to reduce paperwork, but only if your details are up to date.

👉 Always rely on official HMRC guidance when deciding whether you still need to file a tax return.

The annual reset: 6 April (new tax year)

Every 6 April, the UK tax year resets. That can affect:

• Tax codes

• Income thresholds

• Benefits calculations

• PAYE and Self Assessment records

If you’re pregnant, on maternity leave, or returning to work, this reset matters more than you might think.

What to check now (before 6 April 2026)

1. Your Child Benefit status

Even if you earn over the threshold, it’s often still worth claiming:

• To protect National Insurance credits (especially if one parent isn’t working)

• To ensure your child is registered automatically for things like a National Insurance number later

What to do now

• Check who in your household is named as the claimant

• Review your current or expected income for the tax year

• Decide whether to claim, opt out of payments, or restart a claim

2. Your tax code (especially if you’re pregnant)

Pregnancy and maternity can trigger tax code issues, particularly if:

• Your pay drops during maternity leave

• You receive statutory pay plus employer top-ups

• You change hours or return to work part-time

What to do now

• Log in to your HMRC personal tax account

• Check your tax code matches your current situation

• Flag any obvious errors early, and don’t wait until the end of the tax year

  
  

3. Maternity pay: what you’ll actually receive

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is based on:

• Your average weekly earnings during a specific qualifying period

• Your employment status and length of service

Employer maternity policies can vary widely, and it’s common for parents to overestimate take-home pay during leave.

What to do now

• Ask HR for a written breakdown of your maternity pay schedule

• Confirm when pay changes (for example, when SMP drops to the lower rate)

• Check how this interacts with tax, pensions and benefits

4. National Insurance credits

If you (or your partner) will stop working or earn less while caring for your baby, NI credits matter.

Child Benefit can protect:

• Your State Pension record

• Eligibility for certain future benefits

This is especially important if one parent earns below the Lower Earnings Limit during maternity or parental leave.

A gentle planning mindset (not a panic list)

None of this is about doing everything perfectly. It’s about:

• Knowing what’s changing

• Checking a few key details

• Avoiding surprises later

A single hour spent reviewing your Child Benefit status, tax code and maternity pay can make the rest of the year feel far calmer.

How Yune helps (without the overwhelm)

Money admin often gets lost in pregnancy because it’s wrapped up in jargon and “I’ll do it later” energy.

Yune replaces outdated books with short, friendly learning moments, helping you:

• Understand UK-specific rules (like Child Benefit and maternity pay)

• Learn things at the right time, not all at once

• Build confidence through simple, quiz-style explanations you can revisit anytime

It’s practical pregnancy knowledge, without the mental load.

Final reminder

Rules can change, and everyone’s situation is different. Always double-check details using official HMRC guidance or speak to a qualified adviser if you’re unsure.

If you want pregnancy learning that fits around real life... Yune’s got you.