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This is a payment made to parents and carers of children or young people still in education. You don’t have to be working to claim it, but it’s means-tested and the person claiming must be at least 16.
To qualify for Child Tax Credit, you or your partner must be responsible for a child or young person who normally lives with you. A child is someone under 16. A young person is someone aged 16-19 who’s in full-time education.
The Child Tax Credit you can get is made up of several elements. These include a family element and a child element for each child in the family. There are extra amounts for children with disabilities.
Child Tax Credit will be replaced by Universal Credit in October 2013. If you’re already getting Child Tax Credit, you will continue to do so either until your circumstances change or until the Department for Work and Pensions decides to transfer your claim to Universal Credit. Contact a welfare rights adviser for more information.
For those who have reached the Pension Credit| qualifying age and have dependent children, there will also be an additional amount for children in Pension Credit. The date the additional amount will be introduced is yet to be decided, but it won’t be before October 2014.
Before October 2013, call the HMRC tax credits helpline on 0345 300 3900 or textphone 0345 300 3909. After October 2013 you should contact your local authority.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.