Working Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit (WTC) may be available to certain people who work at least 16, 24 or 30 hours a week.  

You must work at least 16 hours a week if you are:

• a lone parent responsible for a child or young person
• a couple with children and your partner receives certain benefits or national insurance credits for sickness or disability
• a couple with children and your partner is entitled to Carer's Allowance
• a couple with children and your partner is in hospital or in prison
• someone with a disability which puts them at a disadvantage in getting a job
• over the age of 50 and you have been receiving certain benefits (this only applies until April 2012)
• aged 60 or over.

From April 2012, if you are part of a couple with children and your partner is not sick or disabled or entitled to Carer's Allowance, you will need to work 24 hours a week between you (unless your partner is in hospital or in prison).  One of you must work at least 16 hours a week. The other eight hours can be worked by either you or your partner, or be shared between you. Up to April 2012 couples with children could get WTC where one of them worked 16 hours or more a week only.

If you are 25 or over and work more than 30 hours a week, you may be eligible.

You can combine hours from different jobs and from employment and self-employment. There are certain periods when you are treated as working even though you are not at work.

Whether or not you receive any WTC will also depend on your income. You can use the questionnaire on the HMRC website or look at Turn2Us.org.uk