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Tax credits information if you're coming off benefits

If you're going back to work after a period on benefits, 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.

On this page:

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.

Check if you qualify for tax credits - quick questionnaire

Find out how work can help you qualify for tax credits

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. Usually you and your partner (if you have one) have to work for at least 16 hours a week to qualify.
  • If you have children, you may also qualify for Child Tax Credit. You do not have to be working to claim.

You have children - can you get tax credits for them?

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

You have a disability - can you get extra tax credits?

How much will you get?

You could get:

  • up to £2,530 a year, that is around £48 a week, if you are disabled
  • up to £3,605 a year, that is around £69 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.

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

Tax credits information for the over 50s

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 £1,300 a year, that is around £25 a week, if you work 16 to 29 hours a week
  • up to £1,935 a year, that is around £37 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.

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.

How to claim tax credits

Contact the Tax Credit Office

If you need more help you can call the Tax Credit 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

Which state benefits to report when making a tax credits claim

Other help you might qualify for if you get tax credits

Working out usual working hours for your tax credits claim

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