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Child Tax Credit
[ch 4: pages 58-59]You could get Child Tax Credit for each child you are responsible for if they are:
• under 16; or
• under 20 and in approved education or training.
You don’t need to be working to claim Child Tax Credit. You get money for each child who qualifies and Child Tax Credit won’t affect your Child Benefit. Only one household can get Child Tax Credit for a child.
How much can you get?
You could get a basic amount and extra on top of this (known as elements). How much you get depends on income and other circumstances (e.g. if your child is disabled). The basic “family” amount is up to £545 a year (see boxes below). There is no single limit for income because it depends on your circumstances (and those of your partner).
Child Tax Credit rates 2014-15
| £ per year | |
|---|---|
| Family element (frozen) | £545 |
| Child or young person | £2,750 |
| Disabled child | £3,100 |
| Severely disabled child | £1,255 |
Childcare element of Working Tax Credit per week 2014-15
| April 2014 | |
|---|---|
| Maximum eligible cost for one child | £175 |
| Maximum eligible cost for two or more children | £300 |
| Percentage of eligible costs covered | 70% |
If your circumstances change
Your Tax Credits can go up or down if your family or work life change. You must report these changes to the Tax Credit Office. For example, if your child leaves home or your income changes.
Eligibility depends on:
• the child’s age;
• if you’re responsible for the child.
To qualify the child must be:
• under 16 — you can claim up until 31 August after their 16th birthday;
• under 20 — if they’re in approved education or training.
You are usually responsible for a child if they:
• live with you all the time;
• they normally live with you and you are the main carer;
• they live in Europe but are financially dependent on you.
If your child is disabled
You may get extra Child Tax Credits if:
• the child gets Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment;
• the child is registered blind (or was within 28 weeks of your Tax Credits claim).
You still qualify if Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment stops because the child goes into hospital.
How to claim
Contact the Tax Credit Helpline for a claim form (Telephone: 0345 300 3900; textphone: 0345 300 3909). It can take up to two weeks to arrive.
If you are already claiming tax credits you don’t need a claim form, you can call the helpline to update your claim. Claims have to be renewed once a year.