Benefits and tax credits: overview

The following chart summarises the benefits and tax credits you may be able to claim depending on your circumstances. In each case, there are other tests you must pass to be entitled. The page number in the last column takes you to the relevant chapter, where you will find more details about the rules of entitlement. Part 3 explains which benefits are affected by any grant or loan you get. Terms such as ‘full time’, ‘part time’ and ‘student’ are explained in each benefit chapter. Note: new claims cannot usually be made for income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, housing benefit and tax credits.

 

Your circumstances		Page
Aged 16–18 (and some 19 year olds) in full-time further education
Have a child			here
		here
		here
		here
		here
Aged 16–20 (and some 21 year olds) in full-time further education
Orphan, estranged or separated from parents		here here here
Living away from parents		here
Full-time student
Single		here
Lone parent of child under five		hereherehereherehere
Student couple with a child, or lone parent	Long vacation	Jobseeker’s allowance Income support (if eligible)
	Housing benefit   Child tax credit Child benefit Universal credit	here  hereherehere
Couple, one student		here hereherehere  hereherehere
Part-time student		here  herep00  herep00
Working
Under 16 hours	Part-time student	Income support Jobseeker’s allowance
	Income support (if eligible)	here
At least 16 hours a week (24 for most couples) and have a child		here
At least 16 hours a week and have a disability		here
At least 30 hours a week and aged 25 or over		here
At least 16 hours a week and aged 60 or over		here
Any number of hours		here
Sick or disabled		hereherehereherehere
Recovered and waiting to return to studies		hereherehere
Having a baby
Under 18		herehere
Getting certain benefits/tax credits		here
Working or recently working		hereherep00herehere
When the child is born		hereherehere
Studying part time		here
Partner having a baby		herep00
Adopting a child		here
Caring for someone sick or disabled
Studying part time		here here here
Waiting to return to studies after taking time out to care		here here here
Need dental treatment or glasses		here
Reached pension age		p00