EVIL Working tax credits advice please

geministar2008

Ok so no doubt i am not the only one on here going on about the ridiculous tax credit system and their constant !!!! ups!

Ok i have always told tax credits all my knowledge of my financial situation in the best way i can. There was only once when i think i didn't let them know that my partner was out of work for a short period. Which is fine i hold my hands up to that.

So i thought the overpayment for 2008-2009 due to me not being quick of the mark with one change of circumstance would result in an overpayment.

But where they get their figures from i do not know....

I have wrote a letter disputing the sum of £732, which i sent via recorded delivery, for the letter not to turn up, which has then resulted in me calling the overpayment section to now be told other figures which i have not had mentioned to be via writing? One for £1542 and another for just under £300 as well as the £732 i am disputing.

Finally got a correct address to send the dispute to, i have no idea why this address is not printed on the overpayment letter??

My other annoyance is, as these overpayments are for when i was with my partner, he is no where to be seen now! i have some contact information for them in order to at least attempt to track him down. However unfortunately we are jointly liable. I hate when they say that!!! Why should be left with all this grief?

So really i just want some advice. I have gathered all my paperwork and will re write the letter i wish to send disputing any overpayment amounts they have listed, not just the one i first knew about.

But where do they stand in being able to get this money back?
How do these overpayment occur if you tell them changes of circumstance etc? How can they give out the incorrect money in the first place?
I got quite annoyed with the chap on the phone, saying the reason people claim a benefit is because they earn below a certain income, how can people on these low incomes pay back these sums you are asking for?

I went bankrupt in Januray 2009, but unfortunately as my overpayment notice has been issued after my bankruptcy date, the overpayment is not covered. So i went bankrupt in order to have a clean slate to now be told i owe money to the HMRC!

Why do we bother? Makes me not want to ask for any help!

Thanks for the rant.:mad:

System

If you don't have a complete explanation of how the overpayments occured then there isn't much point in disputing them. You need to write to them asking for a clear explanation for each overpayment and what years they refer to because with several figures it sounds as though there is more than one year overpaid. The demand letters usually state what year the overpayment refers to. Only then can you formulate a dispute.

You have the option also to make a "Subject Access Request" whereby you ask for all information held on your record, copies of your phone calls and any previous correspondence.

Overpayments can arise when a claimant changes their estimated income or their hours worked several times in a year.

Example

April 2009 income £25000, 40 hours per week, couple of kids - entitlement total £3500

Call in September 2009 and say hours reduced to 30, estimated income down to £15000 - entitlement increase to £4500 and have already received £1500 but payments go up

Call in February 2010 hours back up to over 40, loads of overtime and you estimate your income will actually be closer to £26000 - entitlement recalculated and decreases to £3200 but by that stage you have already received £3900. TCO stop your payments

Annual Declaration made in May 2010 and your actual income 2009-2010 was £26000. Your entitlement was £3200 but you had received £3900 up to February when they stopped paying you so you have an overpayment of £700. That's how easy it is for an overpayment to arise.

geministar2008

I have only had one letter stating the sum of £732 for 2008-2009 payment period.

I am guessing it could be as you said, due to changes in circumstances over one payment year.

Just so worrying when they real off figures and you have no money to give them.

I am currently out of work due to anxiety and depression and have just been through a bereaverment, so all this does not help.

Thanks again

wishfulcomper

You may find this website helpful: taxcc.org (sorry won't let me put link)

I believe it is run by ordinary people for ordinary people, to help with tax credit overpayments.

System

geministar2008 wrote: »

I have only had one letter stating the sum of £732 for 2008-2009 payment period.

I am guessing it could be as you said, due to changes in circumstances over one payment year.

Just so worrying when they real off figures and you have no money to give them.

I am currently out of work due to anxiety and depression and have just been through a bereaverment, so all this does not help.

Thanks again

Sorry to hear of your loss.

If you are having a hard time at the present then can I recommend you use the services of the Citizen's Advice Bureau. They are very supportive and can help you draft your dispute or negotiate with TCO on your behalf.

But if you still have a live claim then TCO will try to recover your overpayment from it gradually. That doesn't mean you can't dispute it, it just means you don't have to worry about finding all the money right now. Also even if they were demanding it now CAB can help you come to an affordable arrangement with TCO.

HTH

sinstar

If your overpayments are from separate tax years, you will receive different letters for each overpayment. That is why some people think the amount of the overpayment is constantly changing but the letter will advise what year it is referring to.

jonty12

I would write to them asking them to clarify everything for you & how the figures they are giving you are worked out. I don't trust anything the tax office says over the telephone!

norfolknutter

from the day my little one was born tax credits have made mistake after mistake, i spend my life on the phone to them i started to feel like i worked there!

in the end i e-mailed my local MP and he wrote to them and the whole file got allocated to one person who straightened it all out.