Have never claimed tax credits - can someone tell me if we are eligible now dh is out of work?

[wilbur]

Dh is out of work, officially so since 6th March. This is the 2nd time he's been made redundant in 18 months and last time he was off work for 7 months. He has just started claiming contributions-based JSA. I work part time, partly employed and partly freelance, but I am not a high earner. Do we qualify for Child Tax Credits now dh is unemployed and our income is so low? We do have savings and I tried to check on one of those benefits checker websites about whether or not it is means-tested, but I couldn't get a straight answer.

Does anyone know?

Google Tax Credits. It should give you a direct link (tax credits are administered through HMRC now) so you can determine if you are eligible.

As part of the jsa claim you go through all other income.

Didn't he do this?

Is he just getting £65 a week?

go to the hmrc website and check you are eligable.......bare in mind the amount they give will be just till 4th april

taxcredits.hmrc.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx

Awards are based on the family income. This includes interest from savings or income derived from assets (such as rental) but not the assets or savings themselves. If your total household income is below £55k (or £40k after April) then you may qualify. You can check if you qualify for the rest of 2010 (up to April) by going to the HMRC tax credit calculator here. If you do, then contact HMRC's tax credit helpline immediately and make an application. If, because of redundancy, your household income has been below £55k for a long period of time, see if you can make a backdated claim.

For information on other benefit entitlements try Turn2Us who have a very good benefit checker facility.

They should have told you as part of the Jsa claim

Thanks so much for these. I think dh just applied for the basic JSA based on contributions as he thought his savings would mean he didn't qualify for anything else. He's not very good at asking those kind of questions . We do have some other income, but not £55 or £40k worth. Will look at chil1234's link now. Thanks!