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If your circumstances change

 
You must tell HM Revenue and Customs within one month if:

  • you stop being responsible for a child (or if your child no longer qualifies for support)
  • you were claiming as a single person and become part of a couple, or if you stop being part of a couple
  • your hours of work change so that you are no longer working 16 or 30 hours
  • your childcare ends, or the average costs change by more than £10 a week for four weeks or more
  • you leave the UK permanently or for more than 8 weeks (or up to 12 weeks in some circumstances)
  • you claimed Child Tax Credit on or after 1 May 2004, and you lose the 'right to reside' in the UK.

Other changes in circumstances

Although you do not have to tell HM Revenue and Customs about other changes, failing to do so may mean that you miss out on extra tax credits or end up receiving too much in tax credits, which you later have to repay. It is best to tell HM Revenue and Customs if:

  • you make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance
  • your income changes.

Notifying HM Revenue and Customs

It is best to notify all changes in writing and keep copies of any letters or forms you send. If you inform them by phone, remember to keep a note of the date and time of your call and the worker's name.

Once you have notified HM Revenue and Customs about a change, you should receive a new award notice.  It is important to check your award notice/s and report any errors to them within one month.

In some cases you may need to make a fresh claim to ensure that you continue getting Tax Credits. See Child Tax Credits or Working Tax Credits for more details on doing this.

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