You may be eligible for tax credits while you are a student if you meet the qualifying criteria.
If you want to claim the working tax credit, you must work in addition to your apprenticeship. Work done as part of your apprenticeship will not be deemed remunerative employment.
GOV.UK provides further information on what constitutes qualified remunerative work.
To qualify for the working tax credit, if you do not have any children and do not have a disability, you must be at least 25 years old and work at least 30 hours a week. However, provided you have a disability and are qualified for the working tax credit’s disability component, you may start claiming it at 16 if you work at least 16 hours per week.
You may claim the child tax credit if you are unmarried and have at least one child under the age of 16, and you can claim the working tax credit if you work at least 16 hours per week. If you work with a partner, you must work 24 hours per week, with one of you working at least 16 hours per week. This 24-hour restriction is waived if your spouse is disabled, imprisoned, in a hospital, or receiving a carer’s allowance. You will be entitled to a working tax credit if you work at least 16 hours each week.