Care and support

Child tax credit

Child tax credit replaced the amounts paid for children in most benefits but does not replace child benefit.

Child tax credit is for families with children aged under 16 or aged under 20 and still in full-time non-advanced education or approved training. It is means-tested. The amount depends on the age of the children and whether any children are disabled. The maximum amount tapers off as income increases above a set threshold.

Child tax credit is made up of a family element and elements for each child. A higher family element (known as the baby element) is paid to families with a child under one. Extra amounts are paid for children with a disability.

Who can claim?

Child tax credit can be claimed by anyone aged 16 or over who is responsible for a child:

• under 16 years of age; or
• aged 16 (if they leave school at 16, CTC is paid until the beginning of September following their 16th birthday); or
• aged under 20 years of age and in full-time non-advanced education (still at school or college) or unwaged work-based training.

It will be paid direct to the main carer for the children in the family.

For more information select the link entitled families and benefits on the right hand side of the page.

Claim child tax credit by phoning the tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900.