How to claim tax credits

Joint claims

You can apply for tax credits as a single person, or as a couple (known as a ‘joint claim’) if you’re both 16 or over and living in the UK.

Usually, you must make a joint claim if:

you’re married or in a civil partnership (and not permanently or legally separated)
you live with your partner as though you’re married or in a civil partnership
you’re temporarily living away from one another, for example looking after a relative or working away from home
your partner is working abroad for the government

You might also need to make a joint claim if you and your partner are not married or in a civil partnership, but:

You do not always make a joint claim because you have a partner. For example, make a single claim if:

you live in the UK but your partner lives abroad (unless your partner works for the government)
you both live abroad, you’re from the EEA or Switzerland and you work in the UK but your partner does not

Call HM Revenue and Customs to find out if you should make a joint claim.

You must pay back any tax credits you’re not entitled to if you do not make the right sort of application.