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
Which state benefits to report when making a tax credits claim
The amount of tax credits you get depends on your income. Some state benefits such as Bereavement Allowance count as income when you make a tax credits claim - so if you're getting one of these benefits, you'll have to tell us when you fill in your claim form.
What to include
When you're making a claim for tax credits you'll need to enter on the claim form any state benefits you get that are taxable, such as:
- Bereavement Allowance.
- Carer's Allowance - this used to be called Invalid Care Allowance - including any Child Dependency increase.
- Incapacity Benefit - only include benefit paid after the first 28 weeks of incapacity together with any Child Dependency increase. Don't include benefit paid during the first 28 weeks of incapacity. If any tax was taken off your benefit, include on the claim form the amount that was due to you before the tax was taken off.
- Income Support - this is only taxable if you were in a couple and
the person receiving the Income Support was on strike. You don't need
to report it otherwise.
What not to include
Don't include on your claim any benefits you get which aren't taxable like:
- Child Benefit
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
For help working out which benefits to include, use the worksheet in the notes that came with your tax credits claim form, or renewal pack, or call the Helpline on Tel 0845 300 3900 or textphone 0845 300 3909.
Download notes on making a tax credits claim (PDF 667K)
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
If you're on Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, any tax credits you receive will be taken into account as income. This means that the amount you get will be reduced to take into account this additional income - but overall you'll still be better off.
It's very important to tell your local authority how much you're getting in tax credits. Otherwise you may get an overpayment of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit and then have to pay it back.
Other income
You might have money coming in from other sources, like:
- State Pensions - including the Retirement Pension
- Industrial Death Benefit
- Widowed Mother's Allowance
- Widowed Parent's Allowance
- Widow's Pension
Enter these types of income in the Other income box on your tax credits claim form or Annual Declaration form.
Find out how to work out your other income
More useful links
Tax credits information if you're coming off benefits
