PhD full-time single parent - can I claim CTC?

[PhDmum22]

Hi,
Until this summer I've been working, earning £1500 per month, studying part-time and receiving about £200 Child tax credits per month. These help massively.

I pay a mortgage, live alone with my two sons aged 15 and 12. We have no other benefits, one child has ASD diagnosis but I haven't told the HMRC / CTC this as I don't think it's relevant (although it might be?)

In October I'm starting a PhD. Have been awarded a scholarship (stipend) to be paid monthly at £1300. It's called a full-time PhD and because I've been awarded the scholarship I've had to sign to say I won't work more than 6hrs a week. I've taken a sabbatical from work (NHS).

Does anyone know if I'll still be able to claim CTC? I've phoned and asked them, sometimes they say yes, sometimes no. Basically they don't know. I don't want to run up a debt with them.
Any idea?

Thank you.

Child tax credits depends on your income so I'm sure you'd be OK.

But you wouldn't be able to climb working tac credit presumably because it won't count as work?

Ty - that's what I'm not sure of - it's pay for the PhD, don't know if that counts?

It used to be the that tax credits didn’t even treat pud stipends as income. Not sure if that’s still the case, but you might be lucky.

Ha PhD.^ Don’t know what a pud stipend is but it sounds good.

I think the pud part should be offered alongside it, as standard 😊