Working tax credits - how much you can get
Universal Credit has replaced working tax credits for most people. Before you make a claim, you should check if you can get working tax credits. You might need to claim Universal Credit instead.
The amount you'll get depends on your circumstances.
If you're 18 or over, you can use the Turn2us benefits calculator to work out how much you can get. You’ll need to provide details of your income, working hours and childcare.
You won’t know exactly how much you’ll get in tax credits until HMRC processes your claim. This can take up to 5 weeks from when you make your claim.
How much you’ll get depends on your income and savings or investments. It also depends on whether you’re:
-
in a couple applying together
-
a single parent
-
working at least 30 hours a week
-
disabled
-
severely disabled
-
paying for childcare
Make sure HMRC know about any of these that apply to you as you might get more money.
Check when you’ll get cost of living payments
In September 2022, the government made a cost of living payment to people getting working tax credits.
The government will give everyone claiming working tax credits a second cost of living payment of £324. You’ll get this between 23 November 2022 and 30 November 2022.
To get this payment you must get working tax credits covering any time between 26 August 2022 and 25 September 2022.
You’ll only get the second cost of living payment once - even if you get more than 1 benefit.
If you haven’t had your first cost of living payment, and you think you should contact HMRC.
If you’re disabled
You might be able to get extra tax credits payments - called the ‘disability element’ - if you’re claiming (or have recently claimed) a sickness or disability benefit, for example:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance (AA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
You’ll qualify for extra payments if your disability means you’re disadvantaged in getting a job. The tax credits disability helpsheet on GOV.UK explains which benefits are included, and what counts as ‘disadvantaged’.
Your extra payments will increase further - known as the ‘severe disability element’ - if you get the ‘higher’ or ‘enhanced’ rate of DLA, PIP or AA.
If you're 18 or over, you can use the Turn2us benefits calculator to check if you can get extra disability payments.
If you claim as a couple and you’re both disabled, you’ll get an extra payment each.
Help with childcare costs
You'll need to be working at least 16 hours a week to get help with childcare costs.
To qualify, your childcare provider needs to be:
- a registered childminder, nursery or other registered provider
- an out-of-hours club on school premises run by a school or local authority
- a childcare scheme run by an approved provider
You can check if your childcare is approved on the Ofsted website.
If your childcare provider’s related to your child, they only qualify if they look after your child away from your home, and they are registered or approved. To be registered or approved, they usually also have to look after children they’re not related to. This applies to the child’s:
-
parents
-
grandparents
-
aunts and uncles
-
brothers and sisters
This applies even if they aren’t blood relations (for example step parents).
If you're part of a couple
You'll both usually need to work at least 16 hours a week. In some cases, you'll qualify if one of you can't work - for example due to illness.
Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you or your partner can't work - an adviser can help you work out if you can get help with childcare.