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
Other help you might qualify for if you get tax credits
If you are claiming tax credits because you are on a low income, or you have children, you may be entitled to other support from the government.
Help with health costs
If you are getting tax credits because you are on a low income, you could get help with certain health costs that include free NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment, NHS wigs and fabric supports, eyesight tests, optical vouchers (towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses), and help with the cost of travel to receive NHS treatment under the care of a consultant, or through referral by a doctor or dentist.
If you qualify, you will automatically get an NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate sent to you in the post. Information about Tax Credit Exemption Certificates is available by calling 0845 609 9299.
Download a leaflet on help with health costs from the NHS website
More about help with health costs on the Department of Health website
Healthy Start
The Healthy Start scheme provides free vitamin supplements and weekly vouchers which can be spent on milk, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables or infant formula.
To qualify, you must be pregnant and must:
- be getting Child Tax Credit for a child under the age of four
- not be getting Working Tax Credit
- have a household income of £15,575 a year or less
If you are pregnant and under the age of 18, you will automatically
qualify whether or not you get tax credits or other benefits.
More about the Healthy Start
scheme on the Healthy Start website
Sure Start Maternity Grant
If you have a new baby and you're getting tax credits, you may qualify for the Sure Start Maternity Grant. You can get £500 for each baby as a lump sum and you do not have to repay it.
To qualify, you need to be getting either of the following:
- Child Tax Credit - other than the family element - which is £545 a year
- Working Tax Credit that includes the disability or severe disability element
To find out which tax credit elements - or payments you get, check Part 2 of your award notice - How we work out your tax credits.
In addition, you may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if:
- you or a member of your family are expecting a baby within 11 weeks or have had a baby in the past three months
- you have adopted a baby who is under 12 months old
- you have, in certain circumstances, been granted a residence order in respect of a baby who is under 12 months old
- you have been granted a parental order by the courts in respect of a surrogate birth
You can claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant after the 11th week before your baby is due but no later than three months after the birth, adoption, residence order or parental order.
Do not delay making your claim for a Sure Start Maternity Grant even if you are still waiting to hear about your claim for tax credits, or if you have asked for your tax credits award to be reviewed.
If your claim for a Sure Start Maternity Grant is turned down because you are not getting tax credits, you can reclaim if you are later awarded tax credits for any day within three months of the birth. But you must claim within three months of being awarded tax credits. The same applies if you are awarded tax credits for any day within three months of adopting the child, or of a residence or parental order.
You can apply by filling in a form which you can get from the Jobcentre Plus website.
Download a Sure Start Maternity Grant claim form from the Jobcentre Plus website (PDF 213K)
Child Benefit
Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment available to anyone bringing up a child or young person. Your income or savings do not affect it, and you do not have to be receiving tax credits to get it.
You get £18.80 per week for the eldest child and £12.55 per week for each additional child.
Help with the cost of your children's schooling
If you get tax credits, your local authority education department may give you help towards the cost of school uniforms. If you are getting maximum Working Tax Credit, it may also provide free school transport for your child.
Your children could get free school meals if they attend a local authority maintained school in England and Wales, a local authority school in Scotland or a grant-aided school in Northern Ireland. To qualify, you must be getting Child Tax Credit only - not Working Tax Credit, and have a household income of £15,575 a year or less.
For further information contact your local authority.
Find your local council on the Directgov website
Find out more about help with school costs on the Directgov website
The Child Trust Fund
The Child Trust Fund is a tax-free savings account for children.
When you claim or start getting Child Benefit for your child you'll normally automatically get a voucher worth a certain amount of money to invest in your child's account.
The voucher is not dependent on your income, but you could get more if you're on a low income.
You do not have to be getting tax credits to qualify for the Child Trust Fund.
Go to the Child Trust Fund website
Help with funeral expenses
If you get tax credits, you may be able to get a Funeral Payment from the Social Fund. You might have to repay some or all of it from the estate of the person who died.
To qualify, you need to be getting either of the following:
- Child Tax Credit - other than the family element - which is £545 a year
- Working Tax Credit that includes the disability or severe disability element
To find out which tax credit elements - or payments you get, check Part 2 of your award notice - How we work out your tax credits.
A Funeral Payment includes necessary burial or cremation fees, certain other specified expenses and up to £700 for any other funeral expenses, such as the funeral director's fees, the coffin or flowers. Your entitlement may be affected by any other means of paying for the funeral.
You can apply by filling in a form which you can get from the Jobcentre Plus, or from the Department for Work and Pensions website.
Download the Funeral Payment claim form from the Department for Work and Pensions website (PDF 281K)
Other help
If you qualify for tax credits, you may be able to get help with other payments such as:
- court fees
- legal costs
- prison visits
- metered water charges in England and Wales
- essential house repairs or improvements
- home energy efficiency schemes
Download leaflet on other types of help you could get (PDF 269K)
More useful links
Get more information about money, tax and benefits on the Directgov website
