Tax credits Child tax credits: the basics
You don't have to be working to claim child tax credit
You can claim child tax credits if you are responsible for at least one child or young person. You don't have to be working to claim.
Child tax credits will be paid for:
- a child until 1 September following their 16th birthday
- a young person aged from 16 but under 20 in full-time education up to and including ‘A’ levels, NVQ level 3 or Scottish Highers or who is in approved, unwaged training
- a young person aged 16 or 17 who has left full-time non-advanced education or training but who:
– does not have a job or a training place and has registered with the Careers Service or Connexions Service (Training and Employment Agency in Northern Ireland)
– is not claiming income support, incapacity benefit, employment support allowance or tax credits in his or her own right
– is not in full-time work of 24 hours or more a week
How much child tax credit will you get?
Tax credits are made up of a number of different 'elements' or payments. You may be eligible for just one element or for a few different elements, depending on your family circumstances.
When you put in your tax credits claim the tax credit office will first work out the maximum amount of tax credits you are eligible for based on your family circumstances and then whether any amount of your tax credits award needs to be reduced because of your income.
The higher your income, the less tax credits you are likely to get.
Elements of child tax credit
Below are the different child tax credit elements and how much each element is worth in 2010-2011:
| Child tax credit | |
|---|---|
| Child Tax Credit elements | Maximum amount paid for 2010 - 2011 |
| Family element – the basic element for families responsible for one or more children | £545 |
| Extra Family element paid to families with one or more children under the age of one. Only one payment is made even if you have more than one child under one | £545 |
| Child element - one for each child or young person you are responsible for | £2,300 |
| Disability element - one for each child you are responsible for if you are receiving Disability Living Allowance for the child, or the child is registered blind or has been taken off the blind register in the 28 weeks before the date of claim | £5,015 |
| Severe disability element - one for each child you are responsible for if you receive the Highest Rate Care Component of Disability Living Allowance for the child | £6,110 |
What you might get
The table below shows how much child tax credit you might receive for the tax year 2010-2011 if you cannot get working tax credit.
| Child tax credit 2010-11 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income | One Child | Two Children | Three Children |
| Less than £5,000 | £2,850 | £5,150 | £7,455 |
| £5,000 | £2,850 | £5,150 | £7,455 |
| £8,000 | £2,850 | £5,150 | £7,455 |
| £10,000 | £2,850 | £5,150 | £7,455 |
| £15,000 | £2,850 | £5,150 | £7,455 |
| £20,000 | £1,360 | £3,665 | £5,970 |
| £25,000 | £545 | £1,715 | £4,020 |
| £30,000 | £545 | £545 | £2,070 |
| £35,000 | £545 | £545 | £545 |
| £40,000 | £545 | £545 | £545 |
| £45,000 | £545 | £545 | £545 |
| £50,000 | £545 | £545 | £545 |
| £55,000 | £210 | £210 | £210 |
| £60,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
If you have a child under one or with a disability or you are entitled to working tax credit as well, then you may receive more.
- For any tax query, call our experts on the Which? Money Helpline
- Try the Which? Tax Calculator
- Bringing up baby? Take a look at our guide getting free stuff
