In this section:
- Entitlement tables for tax credits - getting started
- You work but have no children: entitlement tables
- You don't work but have children: entitlement tables
- You work and also have children
Entitlement tables for tax credits - getting started
The amount of tax credits you may qualify for is based on your family circumstances, how many hours you work and your income. There are some tables that you can use to get an idea of the amount of tax credits you might get over a year based on your approximate total income.
On this page:
- What are 'entitlement tables'?
- Which entitlement table is right for you?
- You (or your partner) work but you have no children
- You have children
- More useful links
What are 'entitlement tables'?
The entitlement tables are what you can use to find out at a glance the amount of tax credits you might qualify for. The tables include the following:
- different amounts of annual total income - this includes income from work, some state benefits (such as contributions-based Jobseeker's Allowance) and savings over £300
- different types of personal or family circumstances for example number of children or hours worked
- tax credits amounts that apply according to income and personal circumstances
You should use the information in the tables as a guide only. If you want to get a better idea of how much you might be entitled to you can use a more detailed online tax credits questionnaire. It should take about 10-15 minutes to fill in.
Tax credits questionnaire - find out how much you can get
How to work out income for your tax credits claim
Which entitlement table is right for you?
There are five different sets of entitlement tables:
- There's one if you work and don't have any children. This set of entitlement tables also applies if you work, have a disability or have a partner who works and has a disability.
- There's one if you - and your partner if you have one - work at least 16 hours a week and pay childcare costs.
- There's one if you work at least 16 hours a week, have children but don't have any childcare costs.
- There's one if you and your partner (if you have one) don't work and have children.
- There's one if you or your partner (if you have one) work less than 16 hours a week and have children.
You can find out which one to use by following the guidance below.
If your situation is not covered by any of the entitlement tables you can check how much you might get by filling in a more detailed online tax credits questionnaire.
Tax credits questionnaire - find out how much you can get
You (or your partner) work but you have no children
If you don't have any children, you can only get Working Tax Credit. There is an entitlement table where you can get examples of how much Working Tax Credit you might be able to get if you're:
- single or in a couple and one of you works 30 hours or more a week
- single or in a couple where one of you works at least 16 hours a week and that person has a disability
The table will give you an idea of how much you could get over a year based on the amount of your total income.
Go to the entitlement table if you work but don't have children
You have children
If you have children and you - or your partner if you have one - work, you may be able to get both Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. How much you can get depends on the hours you work, your income and whether you have childcare costs or not.
You work at least 16 hours a week and have childcare costs
You may be able to get back 80 per cent of your childcare costs, up to a maximum payment of £140 a week for one child and £240 for two or more children. You can use the entitlement tables to get examples of how much tax credits you might be able to get if you:
- pay for approved or registered childcare and have children who are one year old or more
- pay for approved or registered childcare and have a child who's under one year old
The table will give you an idea of how much you could get over a year based on the amount of your total income.
Go to the entitlement tables if you work 16 hours or more and pay for childcare
You work at least 16 hours a week and have no childcare costs
You may have children but don't pay out any childcare costs even though you work. You can use the entitlement table to find examples of how much tax credits you might be able to get if you have:
- children who are one year old or more
- a child who's under one year old
The table will give you an idea of how much you could get over a year based on the amount of your total income.
Go to the entitlement tables if you work, have children but no childcare costs
You work less than 16 hours a week and have children
You can use the entitlement table to find out how much tax credits you might get if:
- you are single and work less than 16 hours a week
- you have a partner and both of you work less than 16 hours a week
The table will give you an idea of how much you could get over a year based on the amount of your total income.
Go to the entitlement tables if you work less than 16 hours a week and have children
You don't work but have children
You can use the entitlement table to find out how much tax credits you might get if:
- you are single and don't work
- you have a partner and neither of you work
The table will give you an idea of how much you could get over a year based on the amount of your total income.
Go the entitlement tables if you don't work and have children
More useful links
When to make a joint or single tax credits claim
How to work out usual working hours for your tax credits claim
