Tax credits if you leave or move to the UK

Your partner is outside the UK and you do not have children  

You may get Working Tax Credit as a single person if you have come to the UK, are working and your partner has stayed behind in their own country. 

You will need to let HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC (external link)) know within a month if your partner joins you in the UK. This is because your tax credits payments may change. 

You have a child who lives abroad  

You may also be able to get Child Tax Credit (external link) if you have a child and:  

You usually cannot claim for a child who lives outside the EEA or Switzerland. There is an exception if your partner is a Crown servant posted abroad. 

You will need to let HMRC know within a month if your partner and child join you in the UK. This is because your tax credits payments may change. 

Your partner gets benefits in another EEA country or Switzerland  

If you have got children and your partner gets benefits paid by another EEA country or Switzerland, this may affect your tax credits. 

Some benefits are counted as income, for example benefits paid because of unemployment. Others, like family benefits, are not. 

See also: