Dependants
You may get an increase of CA for [Legislation (17)]:
- a husband, wife or civil partner (or someone who lives with you and looks after your dependent children).
Husband, wife or civil partner
You may get an increase of CA for your spouse or civil partner if they are:
- living with you
- and not earning more than the extra CA.
Earnings include money paid as an occupational pension by a former employer, money received from the Pension Protection Fund and money paid as a personal pension or self-employed pension.
If your spouse or civil partner is getting a National Insurance benefit in his or her own right, any increase of CA will generally be reduced by the amount of his or her benefit (DLA, AA, basic Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or War Disablement Pension do not count).
Children
If you have children, you may be able to get Child Tax Credit. To find out more about Child Tax Credit, phone the Tax Credits helpline on 0845 3003 900. If you use a textphone, the number is 0845 3003 909. For more HM Revenue & Customs contact details.
If you are claiming CA for a period starting before 6 April 2003 (when Child Tax Credit was introduced), you may be able to get an increase of CA for your children. For more information, contact the CA Unit.
Restrictions on benefit
Any increase of CA you are entitled to for a child or children, under rules which operated before 6 April 2003, will be affected if your partner lives with you and earns more than the weekly earnings limit shown in leaflet BRA5DWP Social Security Benefit Rates. You can get this leaflet from your Jobcentre Plus office.
Earnings include money paid as an occupational pension by a former employer, money reveived for the Pensions Protection Fund and money paid as a personal pension or self-employed pension.
Someone looking after your children
If you do not claim an increase of CA for a husband, wife or civil partner, you may get an increase of CA for someone who lives with you and who looks after, or helps to look after children for you.