Working Tax Credit query- I'm flummoxed!

pennyfrog

Hi-firstly apologies if this is in the wrong place! I've had a look through the benefits calculating threads and haven't spotted an answer to this (probably missed it!) so thought I'd ask for some help.

Does anyone understand how WTC 'works'? For the last few years we've been told we're not entitled to WTC. Some of that time hubby wasn't employed- so we put it down to that. This year we felt pretty confident that as well as CTC, we'd receive WTC too. Hubby works an average 40 week- and his pay as printed on his P60 for '07- '08 was £12,531.29.
Our awards notices arrived today- and it says that we're not entitled to WTC.

I've had a go on two online benefits calculators and both say we're entitled to WTC. One of those was the HMRC site.

I was intending to ring tomorrow and ask about it- but now I'm worried, which leads me to the second part of my question (bear with me- I will get there!!!!)

I know these calculators are a guide only- but they're so completely different that I'm confused.

The entitledto site calculates us as being entitled to:
WTC: £4,310.65
CTC: £4, 723.10
A total of: £9, 033.75- or £175.25 per week

The HMRC site tells me we're entitled to:
WTC: £1, 314.76
CTC: £3,222.06
Total: £4, 536.86

The awards notice we received tells us we're entitled to:
WTC: nothing
CTC: £4, 723.10

As you can see- the entitled to site was spot on to the penny about the CTC- and the HMRC site wrong. But how can it all be such a huge difference.

If I ring and query it- are we likely to get our payments dropped right down, as the HMRC site seems to suggest. Both credits there come to less than what we've been awarded now!
We can't afford to lose the money.
Should I query it or leave alone?
Vey confused!

emsywoo123

Hi I have no idea about your particular circumstance, someone will come along who knows alot more than me in a minute, I am sure:D but I had 3 notifications telling me I was not entitled to wTC, I kept chasing until they said yes I was!
Mistakes do happen I suppose!;)

kurjam

i would also like to know how wtc is worked out, i went online and was told i was entitled to it, my award notice says i am not !!
hope someone can explain it to us both !!

Jo_R_2

OP, you don't mention that you work. Both of you have to be working over 16 hours to be entitled to WTC. Are you working over 16 hours as well?

mitchaa

pennyfrog wrote: »

Hi-firstly apologies if this is in the wrong place! I've had a look through the benefits calculating threads and haven't spotted an answer to this (probably missed it!) so thought I'd ask for some help.

Does anyone understand how WTC 'works'? For the last few years we've been told we're not entitled to WTC. Some of that time hubby wasn't employed- so we put it down to that. This year we felt pretty confident that as well as CTC, we'd receive WTC too. Hubby works an average 40 week- and his pay as printed on his P60 for '07- '08 was £12,531.29.
Our awards notices arrived today- and it says that we're not entitled to WTC.

I've had a go on two online benefits calculators and both say we're entitled to WTC. One of those was the HMRC site.

I was intending to ring tomorrow and ask about it- but now I'm worried, which leads me to the second part of my question (bear with me- I will get there!!!!)

I know these calculators are a guide only- but they're so completely different that I'm confused.

The entitledto site calculates us as being entitled to:
WTC: £4,310.65
CTC: £4, 723.10
A total of: £9, 033.75- or £175.25 per week

The HMRC site tells me we're entitled to:
WTC: £1, 314.76
CTC: £3,222.06
Total: £4, 536.86

The awards notice we received tells us we're entitled to:
WTC: nothing
CTC: £4, 723.10

As you can see- the entitled to site was spot on to the penny about the CTC- and the HMRC site wrong. But how can it all be such a huge difference.

I'll give you a clue
The HMRC website is not wrong, they are both the same, work it out. Financial year and where we are in that year is a big clue;)

The HMRC calculation is more relevant to you than the entitled to.

[Deleted User]

Have you made sure to give TCO your partner's new work details?

Does the award state that you do not qualify for WTC or that the award has been reduced to £0 based on a household income of £xxxx?

Do not qualify sounds as though they don't have his up to date work details.

Looking at the outcome of the entitledto calculator and the amount of your award it looks as though you have not told TCO when your partner started his new job. Let them know ASAP as the WTC will only be backdated for 3 months.

Mitchaa is correct regarding the calculators. HMRC calculator calculates your entitlement from the date you use the calculator until the end of the financial year. The entitledto calculator calculates your income from the start until the end of the current financial year.

[Deleted User]

Jo_R wrote: »

OP, you don't mention that you work. Both of you have to be working over 16 hours to be entitled to WTC. Are you working over 16 hours as well?

This isn't correct.

At least one of you needs to work 16+ hours p/w to claim WTC.
Both normally need to work 16+ hours p/w to claim help towards childcare costs.

pennyfrog

Does the award state that you do not qualify for WTC or that the award has been reduced to £0 based on a household income of £xxxx?


It states that we do not qualify. We've never received it.

Do not qualify sounds as though they don't have his up to date work details.

They definitely have the details. We've entered them on the last 2 years renewal forms. They did contact us a couple of weeks ago to ask for further details about hubby's '06 - '07 year details and I gave them to them over the phone. They have his PAYE code and everything else. Our award notice shows all the correct details of his employment.

Looking at the outcome of the entitledto calculator and the amount of your award it looks as though you have not told TCO when your partner started his new job. Let them know ASAP as the WTC will only be backdated for 3 months.

As above, they've known since December '06.

pennyfrog

mitchaa wrote: »

I'll give you a clue
The HMRC website is not wrong, they are both the same, work it out. Financial year and where we are in that year is a big clue;)

The HMRC calculation is more relevant to you than the entitled to.

Sorry to be so dense- but the 'clue' thing is just confusing me. I'd rather have straight forward advice than clues- that's why I posted!!!

I know that the HMRC calculator is on the 'official' Tax Credit website- that's why I used it- but I'm still puzzled. Why is it saying we're entitled to WTC (and I did enter on there that hubby works but I don't) but the award notice says we're not. It's not just this year, either. I entered our details at the beginning of this year (about March) and the same thing came up- only then it said we were entitled to WTC at a higher rate than it does now. We never got any, though, as our award for last year said we weren't entitled.

I'm still baffled.

[Deleted User]

pennyfrog wrote: »

Does the award state that you do not qualify for WTC or that the award has been reduced to £0 based on a household income of £xxxx?


It states that we do not qualify. We've never received it.

Do not qualify sounds as though they don't have his up to date work details.

They definitely have the details. We've entered them on the last 2 years renewal forms. They did contact us a couple of weeks ago to ask for further details about hubby's '06 - '07 year details and I gave them to them over the phone. They have his PAYE code and everything else. Our award notice shows all the correct details of his employment.

Looking at the outcome of the entitledto calculator and the amount of your award it looks as though you have not told TCO when your partner started his new job. Let them know ASAP as the WTC will only be backdated for 3 months.

As above, they've known since December '06.

Call TCO to make sure they have the work details correct.

To qualify for WTC you need to work 30 hrs p/w or 16+ hrs p/w if you have children or a disability.

Declaring his earnings doesnt mean they have his work details I'm afraid.

[Deleted User]

I know that the HMRC calculator is on the 'official' Tax Credit website- that's why I used it- but I'm still puzzled. Why is it saying we're entitled to WTC (and I did enter on there that hubby works but I don't) but the award notice says we're not. It's not just this year, either. I entered our details at the beginning of this year (about March) and the same thing came up-

I have already stated above that it looks like they do not hold his current work details.

only then it said we were entitled to WTC at a higher rate than it does now.

That is because it is earlier in the tax year, again as stated above, the HMRC calculator calculates your entitlement from the actual date you do the calculation until the end of the tax year. eg If you did it from now it would calculate from 2nd August until 5th April.
If you use the entitled to calculator it will calculate your entitlement from 6th April this year until 5th April next year.