In this section:
- Tax credits information if you're coming off benefits
- Which state benefits to report when making a tax credits claim
- Other help you might qualify for if you get tax credits
- Claiming tax credits and disability benefits
Tax credits information if you're coming off benefits
If you're going back to work after a period on benefits, and you are on a low salary, you may be able to get tax credits to top-up your income. You could also get tax credit payments to help with the cost of childcare.
Qualifying for tax credits
If you've recently found work or you're returning to work after being on state benefits, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit. To claim you must normally be over the age of 25 and work at least 30 hours a week. But you only need to work 16 hours or more a week if you or your partner:
- are aged at least 16 and are responsible for a child or young person
- are aged at least 16 and you qualify for an extra payment of tax credits because you're disabled
- are over 50 and going back to work after being on benefit for at least six months
You should expect your paid work to continue for at least four weeks.
Find out if you qualify using our questionnaire
What counts as work for tax credit claims?
If you have children
If you work and pay for childcare, you may be able to get up to 80 per cent of your childcare costs in tax credits. You and your partner (if you have one) have to work for at least 16 hours a week to qualify.
Your payments depend on your income. The lower your income, the more tax credits you can get.
If you have children, you may also qualify for Child Tax Credit. You do not have to be working to claim.
Help with childcare costs - do you qualify?
If you are disabled
You may qualify for an extra amount of tax credits if you meet all these conditions:
- you must usually work for 16 hours or more a week
- you must have a disability that makes it hard for you to get a job
- you must be receiving, or have recently received, a qualifying sickness or disability-related benefit
How much will you get?
You could get:
- up to £2,405 a year, that is around £46 a week, if you are disabled
- up to £3,425 a year, that is around £66 a week, if you are severely disabled
The amount you get will depend on other income you have coming in, such as wages, interest on your savings and some benefits payments.
Disabled people and tax credits
If you're 50 or over
If you're 50 or over and starting work again after being on certain benefits such as Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance or Incapacity Benefit, you may be able to get extra tax credits. To qualify, you'll have to be working for at least 16 hours a week.
You must have been on benefits for at least six months. If you were on and off benefits for shorter periods, you can still get the extra payment if:
- the gap between each period was no longer than 12 weeks
- the total time you were on benefits adds up to at least six months
How much will you get?
The amount of extra tax credits you get is based on how many hours you usually work. You could get:
- up to £1,235 a year, that is around £24 a week, if you work 16 to 29 hours a week
- up to £1,840 a year, that is around £35 a week, if you work 30 hours or more a week
The actual amount you get will depend on what other income you have such as wages, interest on your savings and some benefits payments.
Tax credits information for the over 50s
How to claim
If you have been claiming benefits, such as Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, or Jobseekers Allowance, your Jobcentre Plus - or in Northern Ireland, a Social Security office will help you with your tax credits claim form.
Or you can order a tax credits claim pack from the Tax Credit Helpline on Tel 0845 300 3900 or textphone 0845 300 3909. You can fill the form in yourself and send it back by post. If you need any help completing the form you can call the Tax Credit Helpline who will be happy to provide further advice.
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
Which state benefits to report when making a tax credits claim
