Does anyone know anything about this. I work differnt shifts each week, sometimes slightly less than 30 and sometimes more, but would even out to 30 hours a week over a fortnight. I'm over 25 and earn less than £8000 a year. (i'm a part time student as well.) I would really like to claim as i 'm struggling as it is and can't change jobs as they are paying for my uni course. My biggest worry is that i still live at home as i can't afford to move out, (pay a small amount of rent), would this affect my entitlement? I can't find it written anywhere about home circumstances just that you have to be over 25, earning under a certain amount and 30 + hours a week. I would like to move out with my boyfriend soon, but he's in a similar predicament to me in that he only gets about £800 a month and is 23 so he can't even even get tax credit if we move in together, but any extra would be desperately needed. I don't want to go to all the trouble filling out the forms if they are just going to say no you live at home. My parents are retired as my dad has has a liver transplant and will never be fully well, and my mum looks after my down's sister, so its not like they have an income and can afford to keep me.

I believe they work each case out individually on their merits. Don't know about the living at home bit though..maybe someone else does. But I think you will just have to 'chew it and see' as they say
My daughter and her hubby get it as they are on a limited budget with three children.

You could try this site
http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/WhatAreTaxCredits.aspx
they have a 'do I qualify' link which you can fill in online, might save you a bit of time if you have a few minutes?

he lionk Missie gave you is a good one. As you can fill out the form as if you are now.
And fill it out if you move in with your BF,
However many times and combinatioons you like without suibmitting so you are able to get a jist of what you can or cant accpect :D
Lea :) :)

Yes Lea :-) I filled it in just 'to see' different earnings etc but it wouldn't let me complete unless I put in a partners earnings? It doesn't say anything about living arrangements either but I'm sure that doesn't matter cos I don't ever remember having to give any rent/mortgage details on the actual forms, its just the income and hours worked that count for working tax.

I think

Hi Lucyandmeg,

If you want to see if you qualify only using your own earnings as a single person, on the very first page of the "Do I Qualify" eligiblity form it asks you if you have a partner.  If you click on no, it should then let you fill in the rest on the basis of just you and tell you whether you'd be entitled.  Also, it doesn't matter about your living arrangements, it's just hours and earnings.

My neice worked shifts and it averaged out at 30 hours per week but some weeks where less she got her benifits on 30 hours but she did speak to them over the phone to explain. another good site to check if your entitled to anything is www.entitledto.co.uk