You choose when and how you get paid.

Choose when and how you get paid

You get ready to apply.

Get ready to apply

You apply and:

• submit your application online, or
• post it to us.

Apply now

We receive your application.

We send you a:

• letter to let you know that we received your application, and
• brochure with information about Working for Families Tax Credits.

About the payment process

If you've chosen weekly or fortnightly payments

• We calculate your payments based on your estimate of your family income for the year.
• At the end of the tax year we check your estimate against our records of your actual income. If your estimated income is higher than your actual income, we pay you the difference. If it is lower, you must pay back the difference to us.
• You will receive a notice of entitlement (NOE - formerly certificate of entitlement).

If you've chosen annual payment as a lump sum after the end of the tax year (31 March)

We calculate your payment based on your actual income for that tax year.

About the payment process

If you've missed out on a payment while you collected all the necessary information

If you've missed out on a payment while you collected all the information needed to apply for Working for Families Tax Credits, you can still receive the payment you've missed out on.

If you've come off an income-tested benefit

If you've recently come off an income-tested benefit and you were transferred to us, you can apply for an urgent payment of the missed entitlement. This usually covers up to six weeks from the date your benefit stopped. Call us on 0800 227 773. You can call us:

• Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, and
• Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

If you're applying for the first time

If you're applying because this is the first time you can get Working for Families Tax Credits, you will receive a payment of all missed entitlements after the end of the tax year (31 March).

About the payment process