Working Family Tax Credit

Scoobii

I'm venting ... I'm angry!!

Claimed 4 weeks ago. Left it 2 weeks and phoned up asking what was happening with my claim. They said not received it. Sent in another claim form, and rang every day last week. Got told 4 different things. By Friday, I was getting panicky! They told me to get help from a crisis loan - which I did and it was sorted out within 3 hours! Anyway, phoned again yesterday, and was told they did not have my claim form, it had now been passed to an investigation department to see where the claim for had gone, and that could take a further 2 weeks to do. They told me to go to my local tax office, and ask for a payment!! I did this, the tax office refused because no payment schedule had been set up. Rang back again and was told I'd either have to wait for the investigation to be completed or fill in another claim form!!

I'm married, 3 kids, and just my husband's wage of £1100 per month coming in. Rent is £500 per month. Kids bus fares etc is £50 per week, then paying my bills. (Good news is - I start a new job next week!) I have cried buckets over this in the last 4 weeks. It's making me physically ill. I can't sleep, eat - and having the trots all day!! My family is suffering!! Tried CAB - can't get an answer, and yesterday went to the CAB drop in centre to be told it was too busy, and I should come back another day! Thank god for the crisis loan!! (Have to admit - crisis loan people were excellent!!) Just don't know who to turn to anymore.

Sorry - rant over .... !!

Conor_3

If the rent is £500 a month and you can't manage on £1100, I think you need to get yourself over to the Debt Free Wannabee board for financial advice regarding outgoings and the Moneysaving Old School board to find ways to cut back on expenses. Whilst there's no miracle solutions, they'll help reduce costs which will reduce the stress a bit. Chances are, they'll find you're paying too much for some things and some stuff you think is essential, they'll tell you isn't when times are tight. It involves effort, putting yourself out and doing without stuff though which a lot of people aren't willing to do or accept but you sound like you're well and truly past that point so I think you'll do well. Sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees when you're stressing about something and it needs someone to show you the way.

£50 a week for bus fare plus "etcs" (whatever they are - school dinners?) seems high for the kids. Don't they qualify for free bus travel to school? I'd have said so if you're forking out £50 a week incl school dinners.

Chin up. They will eventually sort it and you'll get a whacking payment which with the current date, should be here before Xmas which will make that easier.

SuziQ

Are they not taking claims over the phone anymore? i did everything over the phone back in April and it was sorted pretty quickly once I had been into the jobcentre to show my statements etc and sign the form created after my phone contact.

Verianna

I agree with Conor, with what you have said you should be able to budget a couple of weeks on that income. It means no luxuries but it is do able.

On the plus side once it is sorted you should get a nice big lump sum which is a bonus in the run up to christmas :j :j

Good luck, hope it isn't too much longer for you