Benefits and prison
Tax credits
Reporting changes
You must tell the Tax Credit Office about changes that affect your tax credits. They’ll tell you what happens next.
Working Tax Credit
If you’re single
Your Working Tax Credit will stop if you’re single and:
- you’re on remand
- you’re sent to prison
- you’re sent to a young offenders’ institution
If you’re in a couple
You may be able to continue claiming Working Tax Credit if you’re 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’re serving a sentence or on remand will not be counted.
Child Tax Credit
If you’re single and you go to prison
Your Child Tax Credit may stop if you’re single with children and go to prison. The Tax Credit Office will decide by looking at:
- whether you’re still responsible for your child
- how long you’re in prison for
- if you’re still in regular contact
- if your child’s 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’re in a couple and one of you goes to prison
Your Child Tax Credit will continue if you’re in a couple and one of you goes on remand or to prison.
If your child goes to prison
You’ll 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’s sentence if it’s more than 4 months.