In this section:
- New baby - what tax credits are you entitled to?
- Changes to your childcare arrangements and tax credits
- Tax credits when your partner leaves or a new partner moves in
- Your child reaches 16 - are you still entitled to tax credits?
- Maternity, paternity and adoption leave and tax credits
- Your child has a child - who can claim 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 hospital
If someone in your family is ill or goes into hospital, it doesn't usually affect your tax credits.
On this page:
- If you - or your partner - go into hospital
- You are in a couple and have childcare costs
- If your child goes into hospital
- If your child develops a long-term illness or disability
- Help with healthcare costs
- Contact the Tax Credit Office
- More useful links
If you - or your partner - go into hospital
In hospital for up to 28 weeks
If you or your partner is ill or in hospital for up to 28 weeks you can still get tax credits as long as you are getting one of the following:
- Statutory Sick Pay
- short term Incapacity Benefit at the lower rate
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support paid on the grounds of incapacity for work
- National Insurance credits on the grounds of incapacity for work, or limited capability for work
This applies to employees and self-employed people.
In hospital for more than 28 weeks
If you or your partner is ill or in hospital for more than 28 weeks you should tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as possible and within one month. Even if your Working Tax Credit stops, you may get other benefits. Your Child Tax Credit should remain the same as long as you are still responsible for any children.
If you get extra tax credits for having a severe disability
Your tax credits won’t be affected - even if your Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance is stopped because you’re in hospital.
You are in a couple and have childcare costs
You may be able to get extra tax credits if:
- one of you is in hospital – it doesn’t matter for how long
- you pay childcare costs
- you - or your partner – works 16 hours or more a week
Help with childcare costs - do you qualify for extra tax credits?
If your child goes into hospital
As long as you are still responsible for your child, you will still get tax credits for them. You don't need to tell the Tax Credit Office about them being in hospital.
If you were paying for childcare and your payments change or stop because your child is in hospital, this may affect how much tax credits you can get. You should tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as possible and within one month if your childcare costs change.
Find out more about changes to childcare
arrangements and tax credits
If your child develops a long-term illness or disability
You may be entitled to more tax credits if your child becomes disabled. If you are entitled to Disability Living Allowance for your child you should tell the Tax Credit Office straight away.
Find out more about extra tax credits for children with disabilities
Help with healthcare costs
If you get tax credits and someone in your family goes into hospital, you might be able to get help with the cost of healthcare and travel.
Find out about getting help with health costs on the Directgov website
Contact the Tax Credit Office
If you need more help you can call the Tax Credits Helpline which is open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The numbers you can ring are:
- Tel 0845 300 3900
- Textphone 0845 300 3909 - if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment
If you're calling from overseas you can also contact the Tax Credit Office on Tel + 44 289 053 8192.
More useful links
Find out how your tax credits entitlement is worked out
You have a disability – can you get extra tax credits?
