ANDY Burnham got together with Chancellor Gordon Brown to encourage tax credit claims.

The Leigh MP highlighted how from next April, the current tax credits for families and disabled people will be replaced with Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit schemes.

The Child Tax Credit, together with child benefit, will guarantee: £54.25 a week for the first child for the 25 per cent of families with an income of less than £13,000 a year and £26.50 a week for the first child for the 85 per cent of families with an income of less than £50,000 a year.

Together, the new tax credits mean a minimum income of:

£237 a week for a family with one child and one earner working full time on the minimum wage

£179 a week for a family with one child and one earner working part-time on the minimum wage

£183 a week for a single earner couple without children, aged 25 or over working full-time on the minimum wage

£154 a week for a single person without children, aged 25 or over working full time on the minimum wage

Mr Burnham said: "I am delighted to be joined by Gordon Brown in promoting the extra help families and lower income working people in the Leigh area could get from Labour's new tax credits.

"Since 1997 Labour has supported families and made work pay through record increases in child benefit, the national minimum wage, Working Families Tax Credit and Children's Tax Credit.

"The new tax credits will reach further. So for the first time, people on lower incomes without children will get help through the Working Tax Credit. And families, not currently eligible for the WFTC will get help.

"For example student nurses will, for the first time, get around £38 a week Child Tax Credit.

Applicants can call the helpline on 0800 500 222 or apply on-line at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits