tax credits, self employed and hours

[mafog]

If you are self employed, how do you work your hours out for tax credit purposes. Especially if they vary week to week. Just discovered that there is quite a differentce between 0-15 hours and 16+ with regards to what we would receive.

If your hours are around 16, then say 16. My other half has similar in that when he's busy he might be working all hours, then sometimes he's only really doing a few hours of work each week. You can count time researching, networking, preparing, marketing yourself etc as work hours too apparently.

Do tax credits apply only to people with children?

Sorry to ask something so basic but I am s/e and work around 16 hours a week,but kids are adults now. Am I missing out on something?

If you have no children you have to be working full time (over 30 hours) I think.