When your tax credits claim can be backdated

Depending on your circumstances the Tax Credit Office may pay tax credits for up to three months before the date on which they got your claim form. This is known as backdating your claim. Sometimes your claim for an extra amount of tax credits because you have a disability can be backdated for more than three months.

On this page:

When your claim is backdated automatically
When your claim can be backdated for more than three months
How to check if the Tax Credit Office has backdated your claim
More useful links

When your claim is backdated automatically

The Tax Credit Office can usually only backdate your claim for a period of up to three months before the date you make the claim, so it's important to fill in your claim form and send it back to them as soon as you think you qualify. You could lose money if you wait.

In certain circumstances, backdating happens automatically when the Tax Credit Office deals with your claim, using the dates you've given them on your claim form.

If you're responsible for children

If you're claiming for a new baby, the Tax Credit Office will automatically backdate your claim to their date of birth if you make the claim within three months. For example, if you have a baby on 12 June and we don't receive your claim form until 12 October, they will only backdate your payments to 12 July.

Likewise, if you become responsible for a child, they will automatically backdate your claim to the date you started looking after the child as long you make the claim within three months.

If you've come off benefits

If you've stopped claiming benefits because you've started a new job, or because you now work more than 16 hours a week, the Tax Credit Office may backdate your tax credits payments to the date your benefits stopped, if you claim within three months.

When your claim can be backdated for more than three months

In certain circumstances, your tax credits claim can be backdated for more than three months.

If you, or your partner have a disability

If you’re making a new claim for Working Tax Credit the Tax Credit Office may be able to backdate any payments you’re entitled to (including any extra tax credits for being disabled) for more than three months. For this to happen both of the following need to apply:

you have claimed one of the sickness or disability benefits that can help you qualify for extra tax credits
you tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as you know that the benefit is definitely going to be paid to you - and within three months if you want them to backdate your claim as far as possible

If you’re already getting Working Tax Credit and are now claiming extra tax credits for having a disability tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as you know that you’re entitled to a qualifying sickness or disability related benefit, for example Disability Living Allowance. You should tell them within three months if you want them to backdate your extra tax credits - if you’re entitled to them - to the earliest possible date.

If your child has a disability

If you’re not already getting Child Tax Credit for your child, you should claim as soon as possible as the Tax Credit Office can only backdate your claim for up to three months.

You may already be getting Child Tax Credit for your child but now want to claim extra tax credits because your child has a disability. If so, tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as you’re entitled to Disability Living Allowance (or the Highest Rate Care Component) for your child. They may be able to backdate your extra tax credits to the date you became entitled to the Allowance.

It’s important to tell them no later than three months after you find out that you’re going to get the Allowance. Otherwise they may only be able to backdate your extra tax credits for up to three months.

If you're claiming asylum in the UK

If you make a claim for tax credits within three months of being recorded as a refugee, the Tax Credit Office may backdate your tax credits to the date you made your asylum claim.

New arrivals to the UK and tax credits

How to check if the Tax Credit Office has backdated your claim

The Tax Credit Office will send you an award notice following your first claim for tax credits, and then every time you report a change in circumstance. The award notice will show you which tax credits elements you are receiving and from which date you are being paid.

It is important that you check your award notice carefully when you receive it, and tell the Tax Credit Office if something is wrong, missing or incomplete.

Checking your tax credits award notice