Is it possible to claim working families tax credits whilst doing a fully funded full time PhD?

Working Families Tax Credit has now been split into 2 separate Tax Credits with the intention of being more inclusive. They are now called Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit and claims are made through the Inland Revenue. Some part-time students on a low income may find they are eligible for Working Tax Credit. Lone-parent students and parent students with a low family income should be eligible for Child Tax Credit.

We have had great dificulty finding a clear answer on the web. As your grant income is tax free this will probably not be taken into account. The best we can do is reccommend that you visit www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk and fill out their 'Do I Qualify' forms

You can not claim tax credit purley on your stipend/grant as this is classed as non taxable income (working families tax credit is based on taxable income). However - if you do some paid work e.g teaching you can claim working families tax credit based on this (your stipend/grant is not taken into account as income)