Benefits and prison
Tax credits
Reporting changes
You must tell the Tax Credit Office about changes that affect your tax credits. They鈥檒l tell you what happens next.
Working Tax Credit
If you鈥檙e single
Your Working Tax Credit will stop if you鈥檙e single and:
- you鈥檙e on remand
- you鈥檙e sent to prison
- you鈥檙e sent to a young offenders鈥� institution
If you鈥檙e in a couple
You may be able to continue claiming Working Tax Credit if you鈥檙e in a couple and your partner goes to prison for a year or less.
You must work a certain number of hours a week to qualify.
Any work you do while you鈥檙e serving a sentence or on remand will not be counted.
Child Tax Credit
If you鈥檙e single and you go to prison
Your Child Tax Credit may stop if you鈥檙e single with children and go to prison. The Tax Credit Office will decide by looking at:
- whether you鈥檙e still responsible for your child
- how long you鈥檙e in prison for
- if you鈥檙e still in regular contact
- if your child鈥檚 with you in prison
The person looking after your child or children may be able to claim Child Tax Credit if you cannot.
If you鈥檙e in a couple and one of you goes to prison
Your Child Tax Credit will continue if you鈥檙e in a couple and one of you goes on remand or to prison.
If your child goes to prison
You鈥檒l still get Child Tax Credit if your child goes to prison for 4 months or less.
You will not get Child Tax Credit for your child鈥檚 sentence if it鈥檚 more than 4 months.