In this section:
- How to claim tax credits
- Help with the tax credits claim form
- How to avoid common mistakes on your tax credits claim form
- When your tax credits claim can be backdated
- Protect your right to tax credits by claiming early
- Claiming tax credits as an appointee
- When can you expect your first tax credits payment?
- Tax credits - rights and responsibilities
When your tax credits claim can be backdated
Depending on your circumstances we may pay tax credits for up to three months before the date on which we got your claim form. This is known as backdating your claim.
When your claim is backdated automatically
Backdating happens automatically when we deal with your tax credits claim using the dates you've given us on your claim form.
We can usually only backdate a claim for a period of up to three months before the date you make the claim, so it's important to fill in your claim form and send it back to us as soon as you think you qualify. You could lose money if you wait.
If you're responsible for children
If you're claiming for a new baby, we'll automatically backdate your claim to their date of birth if you make the claim within three months. For example, if you have a baby on 12 June and we don't receive your claim form until 12 October, we will only backdate your payments to 12 July.
Likewise, if you become responsible for a child, we'll automatically backdate your claim to the date you started looking after the child as long you make the claim within three months.
If you've come off benefits
If you've stopped claiming benefits because you've started a new job, or because you now work more than 16 hours a week, we may backdate your tax credits payments to the date your benefits stopped, if you claim within three months.
When your claim can be backdated for more than three months
In certain circumstances, your tax credit claim can be backdated for more than three months.
If you, your partner or child is disabled
If you, your partner or a child for whom you are responsible is disabled, we may be able to backdate your tax credits for more than three months.
Find out more about tax credits if you are disabled
Find out more about tax credits if your child is disabled
If you're claiming asylum in the UK
If you make a claim for tax credits within three months of being recorded as a refugee, we may backdate your tax credits to the date you made your asylum claim.
New arrivals to the UK and tax credits
How to check if we've backdated your claim
We send you an award notice following your first claim for tax credits, and then every time you report a change in circumstance. The award notice will show you which tax credit elements you are receiving and from which date you are being paid.
It is important that you check your award notice carefully when you receive it, and tell us if something is wrong, missing or incomplete.
Checking your tax credits award notice
