Couple
Same money, different answer
Child Benefit is means tested on one person's income, never on what a couple earn between them.
Two families on exactly the same money, split two ways, find out what that quirk is worth: one is charged the whole benefit back from the first year, and the other is charged nothing at all until rising pay catches up with the thresholds.
Employment
Welfare
Child
ISA
Investments
Expenses
The same household pay, earned roughly evenly, so neither of you starts above the Child Benefit floor. You keep the whole benefit in the first year and less of it every year after, because your pay rises faster than the floor does.
Try this plan
Employment
Welfare
Child
ISA
Investments
Expenses
The same household pay, most of it through one person, so one of you is at the top of the charge from the first year and the whole benefit is taken back.
Try this plan
One main earner
Earning the same money through two people, rather than mostly through one, leaves this family ~£301.4k better off: they keep the Child Benefit for a decade longer, and less of their pay is taxed at the higher rate while the children are at home.
