In this section:

Which children can you claim tax credits for?
Help with childcare costs - do you qualify?
Children with disabilities and tax credits - who qualifies?
Can you claim tax credits if you're not the child's parent?
Claiming tax credits if your child lives at more than one address
Who can claim tax credits if your child has a child?

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Can you claim tax credits if you're not the child's parent?

Can you claim tax credits if you're not the child's parent?

You don't have to be a child's natural parent to get Child Tax Credit.

Who can claim Child Tax Credit?

You can claim Child Tax Credit if you have responsibility for a child. Here are some ways of working out whether you are responsible for a child:

they usually live with you
they keep their toys, clothes and so on at your home
you pay for their meals and give them pocket money
you are the main contact for their school
you look after their health, organising visits to the doctor or dentist
you have legal custody

If you're not sure whether you count as being responsible for a child you can call the Tax Credit Helpline for advice.

Example one

Sarah is a single parent with twin boys. After a while, Sarah and the boys move in with her new partner, James, and his son. Because she has a new partner, Sarah has to make a new joint claim for tax credits with James. As the main carer of all three boys, Sarah can claim tax credits for James' son as well as her own two children.

Example two

Aileen has a child while she is still at school. With the support of her parents, who look after the baby, she continues her education while still living at home. Aileen's parents claim tax credits for the baby. Because Aileen is under 16 and her parents continue to look after her, they can get tax credits for her as well.

Tax credits if you adopt or foster a child

You can claim tax credits for a child that you adopt or foster, as long as you are not getting any money from your local authority or Health and Social Services Board.

If you are getting money from your local authority or Health and Social Services Board you should call the Tax Credit Helpline to find out if you can claim.

Contact us

You can contact our Tax Credit Helpline on Tel 0845 300 3900 or textphone 0845 300 3909 (open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, seven days a week except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day).