Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks, typically on a Monday or Tuesday. There is an option for the payment to be made weekly if the claimant is a single parent or if they or their partner receive certain other benefits such as Income Support or Universal Credit. The first payment may take up to 12 weeks or more if the claimant has just moved to the UK, and payments are backdated for up to 3 months. Payments go directly into a bank or building society account.

In some countries like the Netherlands, child benefit is paid quarterly, in the first week of January, April, July, and October.