child tax credits

LauraLeah91104

hi, first post on here.,
My husband has recently been made redundant from a rather well paid job, he earnt approx 18k a year and was full time.
I work part time, 17 hours a week at my local supermarket and dont earn much, £100 per week.
I have just spoken to tax credits to try and claim working tax credits as my hubby is now claiming contribution based JSA (£64.30 a week).
I read on the citizens advice website that if a partner was claiming JSA and one was working more than 16 hours per week and in charge of a child we should qualify for the working tax credits as we are on a low income.....
So after 20 minutes on the phone to the tax credits helpline it turns out we are entitled to...NOTHING!! :mad:
Because he earnt LESS than £25k last year, the drop in his income isnt greater than £25k, so we cannot claim anything.
So with our £450 a month mortgage, we are living on less than £200 a week with all the bills linked with owning your own home, cars etc.
Can you believe that after my husband and i have always worked and both paid national insurance and tax we now qualify for nothing when we need it most.
Has anybody else suffered the same at the hands of the tax credits....if so what advice would you offer???
Oh! i failed to mention im 6 months pregnant with our second child and the citizens advice centre dont do appointments, you just turn up and have to sit and wait, sometimes up to 3 hours....this im not prepared to do.

Does anyone have any solid advice for me....should we sell our house and risk becoming homeless just to save ourselves from the risk of repossession...
we will not be able to make payments for our house from next month.....
please help.

Desperately seeking Laura!!

alwaysonthego_2

Hi Laura, tax credits work on the previous year but you should ring them with an estimate of this year's income (inc your dh's JSA), do not underestimate otherwise you will get an overpayment.

LauraLeah91104

thanks, however, ive already done this and it has made no difference im afraid.
I contacted them as soon as he heard which benefit he was getting so we could avoid any overpayment or be missing out on money we were not entitled to.
How annoying it is though to be penalised so heavily for been honest. I could have easily let them think he was still earning.:mad:

alwaysonthego_2

What was your joint income last year?

Poppy9

I think you should go to CAB. Yes it may involve a long wait but it's free advice. Alternatively you could send your OH.

clairewp

Hi,
Not sure this will help, but in july myself and my husband were both made redundant.I informed tax credits and although we didn't receive working tax credits our childrens tax credits did increase to £85 a week.
So maybe just wait and see if you get a renewal with different amounts.

LauraLeah91104

he earnt £18k and i earnt £5k

LauraLeah91104

ok. thanks, will have to, we both worked and my daughter went to a childminder whilst i was working my two days a week costing me £90 per week. i wold receive from tax credits £200 towards this...i just cant understand when we earning they giving it money to us on a plate and wen we need the money they wont offer a penny!!

alwaysonthego_2

I would ring tax credit office again and say that you want to give an estimated income amount for this tax year. If they refuse, book an appointment at your local tax office to discuss this matter further.

Pont

Go onto HMRC website and click on the tax credit calculator http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx
Enter all of your details and see what it throws up - on a joint income of £23,000 I would think you are entitled to a good amount. Perhaps get the results back and phone up the tax credit office again sayiing that 'your website states I can claim and am entitled to £XXX pounds per month'. As you've got a child I would think you would certainly get child tax credits, did you not get them last year?

[Deleted User]

The very least you would qualify for that on that income is £10 a week unless you have an overpayment which is being recovered.