The Working Tax Credit (WTC) is a state benefit in the United Kingdom made to people who work on a low income. It is a part of the current system of refundable (or non-wastable) tax credits introduced in April 2003 and is a means-tested social security benefit. In addition, people may also be entitled to the Child Tax Credit (CTC) if they are responsible for any children.
Despite their name, tax credits are not linked to a person's tax bill. The WTC can be claimed by working individuals, childless couples and working families with dependent children. The WTC and CTC are assessed jointly and families remain eligible for CTC even if where no adult is working or they have too much income to receive the WTC.
In 2010 the coalition government announced that the Working tax credit will, by about 2016, be integrated into and replaced by the new Universal Credit.
Read more about Working Tax Credit: History, How It Works, Calculation of The Annual Award, Interaction of WTC and CTC, Awards and Disregards, Assessment of Income, Level of Take-up, Implementation Difficulties, Criticism
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