Child Tax Credit Saga

OK. Forgive me for a sec. I am just briefly online and cant find my glasses so I couldnt read all the posts.
Are we talking about Child Benefit or tax credit? Everyone gets Child Benefit right? Tax credit is income based?
When I first moved here and of course didnt have my NIN yet, my husband was able to claim my two sons (his stepsons) for child benefit. It was just in his name and was directly deposited into our bank account.
We couldnt qualify for any child tax credit however we do get working family tax credit. Is this the same thing as what you are all talking about?
Sorry to sound so ignorant. Just couldnt read all the posts.
Ricki

Good luck to all getting your tax credits sorted!

For those who may be confused as to who is eligible to claim tax credits, here's a good link and some information from the IR's web page:

https://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx

Jnited Kingdom (UK) national

This is:

• someone born in the UK or whose parents were born in the UK

• a British citizen or holder of a British passport.

If you are not a UK National you may still be eligible for tax credits. The following people are entitled to tax credits on the same basis as UK Nationals

• Nationals of other countries in the European Economic Area

• People who have been granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom indefinitely (including those with exceptional leave to remain)

• People who have been granted asylum in the United Kingdom


I have heard of American students in the UK stritctly to study (no other ties to Britain) who have been applying for and claiming Tax Credits for their children.  This is a violation of their student visa, no matter if the people processing the claim are ignorant of the visa restrictions on an American in the UK to study.  

As to those waiting for NIN numbers, speedy vibes!

OK. Forgive me for a sec. I am just briefly online and cant find my glasses so I couldnt read all the posts.
Are we talking about Child Benefit or tax credit? Everyone gets Child Benefit right? Tax credit is income based?
When I first moved here and of course didnt have my NIN yet, my husband was able to claim my two sons (his stepsons) for child benefit. It was just in his name and was directly deposited into our bank account.
We couldnt qualify for any child tax credit however we do get working family tax credit. Is this the same thing as what you are all talking about?
Sorry to sound so ignorant. Just couldnt read all the posts.
Ricki

Child Tax Credit is income based, yes.  Therefore, if a person is married to another (or in a domestic partnership with another), his/her tax credit reward is based on the entire couple's income.  If the mother, for example, is in the UK on Limited Leave to Remain, but the father (her spouse) is British, then he claims the Child Tax Credit, which is determined off BOTH their incomes. 

Working Tax Credit is also income based.  As is Disabled Persons Tax Credit. 

All of these are designed for persons who are working 16+ hours/week and meet the eligibility requirements. 

How did you qualify for child tax credit when you are American and your wife is not a British citizen?

You don't need to be a British citizen to qualify for child tax credit.  You are eligable if you are a EU citizen or if you have ILR.