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The Tax Credit Office can backdate your payments to the date the baby was born as long as you tell them within three months. For example if your baby was born on 1 January but you only tell them on 1 June, they can only give you the extra tax credits from 1 March.

If you're already claiming tax credits

To claim for the new baby you should call the Tax Credit Helpline. Once you've told them about your baby they'll send you a new award notice. This will have the full details of your new payments. Please check that your details are correct on the new award notice.

If you already have children

If you already get Child Tax Credit, you can claim for another child and you'll also get an extra payment because you have a baby under the age of one.

This applies unless you're already claiming for another child under the age of one. This is because each family can only get one extra payment for a child under one. If you do have more than one child under the age of one, you will get the extra money until the youngest child's first birthday.

If this is your first baby

If you're on a low income and you're already getting Working Tax Credit, you'll also be able to claim Child Tax Credit when you have a baby.

You can carry on claiming Working Tax Credit too when you take time off from work for maternity, paternity or adoption leave - if both of the following apply:

• you were working the minimum number of hours (16 or 30 hours depending on your circumstances) immediately before your maternity, paternity or adoption leave began
• you're going back to work afterwards

• Maternity, paternity and adoption leave and tax credits

If this is your first baby and you're not already claiming Working Tax Credit you may be eligible for tax credits for the first time.

If you're claiming tax credits for the first time

If you haven't claimed tax credits before, you'll need to fill in a claim form. You can get one by calling the Tax Credit Helpline. They'll also be able to give you an idea of how much you may be able to get.

If you've had twins you'll be able to claim tax credits for both of them. But you'll only be able to get the extra money for one of them.

It helps if you can give your Child Benefit number when you fill in your claim form. If you haven't got a number yet you should still make your claim then let the Tax Credit Office have the number later. This might mean that they take a bit longer to deal with your claim.

• How to claim tax credits

Keeping the Tax Credit Office up to date

You must let the Tax Credit Office know about any other changes that might affect your payments. For example if:

• a new partner moves in with you or you split up from your partner
• you're claiming Working Tax Credit and you don't go back to work after your maternity, paternity or adoption leave

If you don't report changes like this within a month the Tax Credit Office might pay you too much. They'll usually ask you to pay back any overpayments and they may also charge you a penalty.

• Tax credits: how and when to report changes

If your child has a baby

If you're claiming tax credits for a child under the age of 16 who becomes a parent, you can claim tax credits for your child and the new baby - as long as they both live with you. If your child is over 16 and has a baby, they can claim Child Tax Credit themselves.

• Your child has a child - who can claim tax credits?

Contact the Tax Credit Office

If you need more help you can call the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900, or textphone 0845 300 3909 if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment (open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day).

If you're calling from overseas you can also contact the Tax Credit Office on +44 289 053 8192.

More useful links

• When your tax credits claim can be backdated

• Help with childcare costs - do you qualify for extra tax credits?