How To Claim Working Tax Credit In 2026?

Last Updated: 28.09.2026

You cannot make a new claim for the Working Tax Credit in 2026. Working Tax Credit officially ended on 5 April 2025, along with Child Tax Credit.

People looking for financial support that would previously have been provided through Working Tax Credit will generally need to check whether they qualify for Universal Credit instead.

Pension Credit may apply to some people of State Pension age.

This is an important change for anyone searching for how to claim Working Tax Credit.

Older guides may still contain application instructions, working-hour requirements and HMRC claim procedures, but these should now be treated as historical information.

Universal Credit can support people who are employed, self-employed, working part-time or out of work. Eligibility depends on factors including income, savings, age and household circumstances.

When Was The Working Tax Credit Introduced, And How Did It Change Over Time?

Working Tax Credit was introduced as part of a major reform of UK financial support for working households.

The Tax Credits Act 2002 established the framework, while the main Working Tax Credit regulations took effect for the tax year beginning 6 April 2003.

Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit replaced earlier schemes including Working Families’ Tax Credit and Disabled Person’s Tax Credit.

Eligibility was based on factors such as income, age, working hours, disability and household circumstances.

The system changed repeatedly during its lifetime.

• 2003: Working Tax Credit became part of the UK tax-credit system.
• 2005 To 2006: Payments through employers were phased out. Working Tax Credit was instead paid directly by HMRC.
• Following Years: Rates, income thresholds and individual elements were regularly updated. Eligibility could also depend on working hours, family circumstances and disability.
• 2013 Onwards: Universal Credit began its gradual rollout as the government started replacing six existing means-tested benefits.
• 2018 Onwards: Universal Credit became available throughout the UK and access to new claims for legacy benefits became increasingly restricted.
• 2023 And 2024: The government expanded the process of moving existing tax-credit claimants to Universal Credit through Migration Notices.
• 5 April 2025: Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit ended completely. No new tax-credit payments are available after this date.

Working Tax Credit rules therefore did change over the years, particularly the payment rates and income thresholds.

However, there are no Working Tax Credit rules or payment rates to apply to new claims in 2026, because the benefit has ended. HMRC now publishes previous rates only for reference.

Why Was Working Tax Credit Replaced By Universal Credit?

Working Tax Credit was only one part of a much larger benefits system. Someone could potentially receive different forms of support through different schemes, each with its own rules and administration.

Universal Credit was introduced as a single means-tested benefit designed to replace several separate working-age benefits.

It replaced:

• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-Related Employment And Support Allowance

The government described Universal Credit as a simplified system intended to combine support that had previously been delivered through several different benefits.

It was also designed to provide support both for people in work and those who were not working.

This is particularly important for former Working Tax Credit users. Moving to Universal Credit does not necessarily mean a person must be unemployed.

Someone who is working, working part-time or self-employed can still potentially qualify if their income and circumstances meet the relevant rules.

The transition took considerably longer than the initial introduction of Universal Credit.

Rollout began with pilots in 2013 before expanding nationwide and gradually moving people from legacy benefits onto Universal Credit.

What Support Is Available Now That Working Tax Credit Has Ended?

For most working-age people who would previously have looked at Working Tax Credit, Universal Credit is now the main benefit to check.

Universal Credit can provide financial help with living costs for people on a low income.

Depending on the claimant’s circumstances, the award can also include additional amounts connected with children, childcare, housing costs, disability or caring responsibilities.

Being employed does not automatically prevent a claim.

A person may potentially qualify while:

• Working Full-Time On A Low Income
• Working Part-Time
• Self-Employed
• Looking For Work
• Unable To Work Because Of A Health Condition

People who have reached State Pension age will generally need to consider different benefits. In some circumstances, Pension Credit may be the relevant replacement rather than Universal Credit.

GOV.UK specifically directs former tax-credit claimants towards Universal Credit or Pension Credit depending on their situation.

Because entitlement depends on individual circumstances, someone who previously qualified for Working Tax Credit should not assume they will automatically receive the same amount under Universal Credit.

Who Can Claim Universal Credit Instead Of Working Tax Credit?

Universal Credit is available to eligible people who are on a low income or need help with living costs.

Under the current basic eligibility rules, a claimant will normally need to:

• Live In The UK
• Be Aged 18 Or Over, although limited exceptions exist for some 16 and 17-year-olds
• Be Under State Pension Age
• Have £16,000 Or Less In Money, Savings And Investments

A person can qualify whether they are working or not.

Savings can have a significant effect on entitlement. Savings below £6,000 will normally not reduce Universal Credit.

If a claimant or couple has between £6,000 and £16,000, their Universal Credit award may be reduced.

Having more than £16,000 will normally prevent a new Universal Credit claim, although special transitional rules can apply in some migration cases.

Couples are assessed together.

If a claimant lives with a partner, both partners normally need to create Universal Credit accounts and make a joint household claim.

Their combined income, savings and circumstances are taken into account when calculating entitlement.

This differs from thinking of Working Tax Credit as support attached only to the individual person’s job. Universal Credit looks more broadly at household circumstances.

How Do You Claim Universal Credit After Working Tax Credit Ended?

Universal Credit is normally claimed online.

Applicants first create a Universal Credit account and complete the application through that account.

The claim must normally be submitted within 28 days of creating the account. The official start date of the claim is the date on which the completed application is submitted.

Before starting, it is useful to have the required information available.

You may need:

• Bank, Building Society Or Credit Union Details
• Email Address
• Access To A Phone
• Proof Of Identity
• National Insurance Number
• Recent Earnings Information
• Payslips
• Rent And Housing Information
• Details Of Existing Benefits
• Savings And Investment Information
• Childcare Costs
• Information About Relevant Health Conditions Or Disabilities

Identity may be confirmed using documents such as a passport, driving licence, payslip or P60.

People who cannot make an online application can contact the Universal Credit service for assistance. Support is also available for people who have difficulty accessing or completing the digital application.

Couples must normally create separate accounts and then link them as part of a joint claim.

After the claim is submitted, the claimant may need to attend an appointment with Jobcentre Plus.

Depending on their circumstances, they may also receive a claimant commitment setting out responsibilities associated with receiving Universal Credit.

How Long Does A Universal Credit Claim Take And What Happens Next?

The first Universal Credit payment will normally arrive around five weeks after the claim is submitted.

This differs from the old Working Tax Credit system, where payments and annual calculations operated differently.

Universal Credit normally works through monthly assessment periods. The amount received can change as earnings and household circumstances change.

Once a claim has been accepted and processed, the claimant will generally receive access to features through their online account, including:

• Payment Statements
• Payment Dates
• A To-Do List
• Claimant Commitment Information
• Messages From A Case Manager Or Work Coach
• Options For Reporting Changes In Circumstances

Claimants should regularly check their online journal because DWP may request evidence or additional information.

People who cannot manage financially while waiting for their first payment may be able to request a Universal Credit advance.

The maximum advance can be up to the estimated amount of the first Universal Credit payment, depending on circumstances.

However, an advance is not an additional benefit payment. It normally has to be repaid through deductions from future Universal Credit payments.

Universal Credit is generally paid monthly, although different arrangements can apply in some circumstances and parts of the UK.

Working Tax Credit Vs Universal Credit: What Are The Main Differences And Which Can Provide More Support?

Working Tax Credit and Universal Credit both provided financial support to people with limited incomes, but they operate very differently.

There is no single answer to whether Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit is financially “better”.

Some former claimants may have received more under the old tax-credit rules, while other households may receive additional support through Universal Credit because it can incorporate several types of help within one award.

The comparison is also now largely historical because a person making a new claim in 2026 cannot choose between the two systems.

Universal Credit is the available system for eligible working-age claimants.

The amount received depends on factors such as:

• Household Income
• Savings
• Housing Costs
• Number Of Children
• Childcare Costs
• Disability Or Health Conditions
• Caring Responsibilities
• Monthly Earnings

The most useful question for someone searching for Working Tax Credit today is therefore not which benefit to select.

It is whether they meet the current Universal Credit eligibility requirements and how much they could receive under those rules.

What Happens If You Previously Received Working Tax Credit?

Working Tax Credit ending does not mean every historical tax-credit matter has disappeared.

Former recipients may still have issues relating to their final award, previous payments, overpayments or information held by HMRC.

When tax credits ended, former claimants were sent an Annual Review showing how much they had been paid up to 5 April 2025.

Claimants were expected to check the information and contact HMRC if anything was incorrect.

HMRC can therefore still deal with historical tax-credit matters even though it is no longer accepting new Working Tax Credit claims.

For example, someone may still need to contact HMRC if:

• Their Final Award Appears Incorrect
• HMRC Says They Were Overpaid
• They Believe An Overpayment Calculation Is Wrong
• Their Historical Personal Information Is Incorrect
• They Want To Challenge A Tax Credit Decision

Tax-credit overpayments can also continue to affect former claimants.

If someone receiving Universal Credit owes money from a previous tax-credit overpayment, repayments may be recovered through deductions from their Universal Credit award.

Former claimants can also continue to dispute certain tax-credit decisions and overpayments through the applicable HMRC procedures.

This is different from making a new claim. HMRC may still resolve historical Working Tax Credit matters, but it cannot start a new Working Tax Credit award.

What Is The Future Of Working Tax Credit And Universal Credit?

Working Tax Credit has reached the end of its role in the UK benefits system. It ended on 5 April 2025, and there are no Working Tax Credit rates for 2026/27 because no current awards exist.

HMRC’s published tax-credit figures are now maintained for historical reference.

Universal Credit has taken over the role previously performed by Working Tax Credit alongside several other legacy benefits.

The change has taken more than a decade because Universal Credit was introduced gradually rather than replacing every previous benefit at once.

Its rollout included pilot schemes, restrictions on new legacy benefit claims, natural migration and managed migration.

For claimants, this means future changes to financial support for low-income workers will generally be made through the Universal Credit system rather than through a revival or annual update of Working Tax Credit.

People should therefore check current Universal Credit rules rather than relying on old Working Tax Credit thresholds, working-hour requirements or payment rates.

Conclusion

Anyone searching for how to claim Working Tax Credit in 2026 should know that a new claim can no longer be made.

Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit ended on 5 April 2025, completing the move away from the old tax-credit system.

For most eligible working-age people on a low income, Universal Credit is now the relevant form of support.

It can be available to people who are employed, self-employed, working part-time or out of work, with entitlement determined by household income, savings and other circumstances.

People who previously received Working Tax Credit may still need to deal with HMRC over final awards, historical decisions or overpayments.

However, anyone looking for new financial support in 2026 should check their eligibility under the current Universal Credit or, where appropriate, Pension Credit rules rather than attempting to submit a new Working Tax Credit claim.

FAQs

Can I Still Claim Working Tax Credit In 2026?

No. Working Tax Credit ended on 5 April 2025, so new claims cannot be made in 2026.

What Has Replaced Working Tax Credit?

Universal Credit has replaced Working Tax Credit for most eligible working-age claimants who need help with living costs.

Can I Claim Universal Credit If I Am Working?

Yes. You may still qualify for Universal Credit while working if your income and household circumstances meet the eligibility rules.

Does Working Tax Credit Still Get Updated Every Year?

No. Working Tax Credit no longer has current annual rates or claim rules because the benefit has ended.

Can I Still Contact HMRC About An Old Working Tax Credit Claim?

Yes. HMRC can still deal with issues such as previous awards, overpayments, underpayments and disputes relating to old tax-credit claims.

How Long Does It Take To Get Universal Credit?

The first Universal Credit payment is normally made around five weeks after a completed claim is submitted.

Is Universal Credit Better Than Working Tax Credit?

It depends on individual circumstances. Universal Credit uses different rules and can include support for housing, children and other needs, but the amount varies by household.