In this section:
- New baby - what tax credits are you entitled to?
- Tax credits when your partner leaves or a new partner moves in
- Your child reaches 16 - are you still entitled to tax credits?
- Tax credits if you or a member of the family goes into hospital
- Tax credits if you or a member of the family goes into custody
Tax credits if you or a member of the family goes into custody
If you or someone else in your family is sent to prison your tax credit payments may be affected. You need to tell us as soon as possible so that we don't pay you too much.
What happens to your tax credits if you are sent to prison?
You can't claim Working Tax Credit if:
- you are sent to prison
- you are sent to a young offenders' institution
You must tell us as soon as possible to avoid getting an overpayment that you may have to pay back.
If you are remanded in custody awaiting trial or sentence, and you were working and claiming tax credits before you went into custody, you continue to be eligible for tax credits while on remand.
What happens to your tax credits when you are released from prison?
If you are released after trial, let us know and your tax credits entitlement will be reviewed.
You may be able to claim tax credits again when you are released from prison, if you are:
- put on probation
- electronically tagged
- released on parole
What happens to your tax credits if your partner gets sent to prison?
If you've been getting tax credits as a couple and your partner is sent to prison you should let us know as soon as possible because your entitlement may change and we may have to review your payments.
What happens to your tax credits if your child gets sent to prison?
If you're claiming Child Tax Credit for a child or young person and they are sentenced to four months or more in custody or detention, you can't get tax credits for them while they serve their sentence. Any tax credits you may be getting for your other children should stay the same. You need to tell us as soon as possible by calling the Tax Credit Helpline.
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).
More useful links
Find out how your tax credit payments are worked out
Find out what changes you have to report
Find out if you still qualify for tax credits if your circumstances have changed
