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When your child can make a claim

As long as your child is 16 or over, and is responsible for the baby, they can make a Child Tax Credit claim for themselves.

Your child’s claim can be backdated to the date the baby was born, as long as they make the claim within one month. If they delay they could lose money. For example, if the baby was born on 1 January but your child's claim is only received on 1 June, they'll only be paid from 1 May.

If you're already getting Child Tax Credit for your child and they decide to make their own claim, you can't claim for them as well. So tell the Tax Credit Office about the new baby as soon as possible by calling the Tax Credit Helpline. You need to do this within one month - or you could be paid too much tax credits that you'll have to pay back.

• Contact details for the Tax Credit Helpline

Can you claim tax credits for both children?

You may still get Child Tax Credit for your child if either of the following applies:

• they are under the age of 16
• they are over 16 but under 20, and doing education or training that qualifies for Child Tax Credit

If you look after your child's child as well, you can get Child Tax Credit for both children.

• Find out if you can claim Child Tax Credit for your 16-20 year old

More useful links

• How to claim tax credits

• Find out who qualifies for Child Benefit

• You have children - can you get tax credits for them?

Useful contacts

• Tax Credit Helpline - contact details