In this section:
- What counts as work for tax credit claims?
- Working out usual working hours for your tax credits claim
- Maternity, paternity and adoption leave and tax credits
- Tax credits when you can't work due to illness
- Temporary gaps in work when claiming tax credits
Temporary gaps in work when claiming tax credits
If you're not in work for a short while - perhaps because you have a gap before starting your next job, you may still be treated as working and be able to get Working Tax Credit depending on the hours you usually work.
What were your usual working hours before being off work?
Your usual working hours were the hours you worked every week before you went on leave. To get Working Tax Credit, 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 6 months
You should expect your paid work to continue for at least four weeks.
Working out usual working hours for your tax credits claim
If you're on strike
For the first ten days that you're on strike you're still treated as being in work and will get tax credits.
If you're on strike for more than ten days, you must let us know within a month as you won't be able to get tax credits. You can't make a new claim for tax credits until you have gone back to work.
Find out which other changes you need to tell us about within a month
If you're suspended from work
If you're suspended from work while complaints or claims against you are looked into, you can get tax credits provided you worked at least 16 or 30 hours a week immediately before the suspension.
Gaps between jobs
If you're between jobs for six days or less, your tax credit payments will continue as long as you work for 16 hours or more a week.
If you reduce your weekly working hours to less than 16 or you stop work altogether, you will only be paid tax credits for a further four weeks from the date of the change.
Other types of leave
Sick leave
If you can't work due to sickness or incapacity, you may still be able to get tax credits.
Tax credits when you can't work due to illness
Maternity, paternity and adoption leave
If you're on maternity leave, you may get tax credits for the first 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave and the first 13 weeks of any additional maternity leave - a total of 39 weeks.
If you're on paternity leave, you may get tax credits for the two weeks of paid leave.
If you're on adoption leave, you may get tax credits for the first 26 weeks of ordinary adoption leave and the first 13 weeks of any additional adoption leave - a total of 39 weeks.
Maternity, paternity and adoption leave and tax credits
Contact us
You can contact our Tax Credit Helpline on Tel 0845 300 3900 or textphone 0845 300 3909 open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm seven days a week except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
