done it

chux_2

I have worked in welfare rights for 15 years now and I cannot understand how somebody receive tax credits to support them because the government has defined them as not having enough in relation to their circumstances can possibly have a disposable income of £700 per month its just not possible. I find it hard to comprehend you are even paying a IPA. My advise to you Samyc is go to your local CAB or if you receive Housing Benefit look at your letters to see what you applicable amount(minimum goverment states you and your family need to live every week) is and use that as a guide, it you are getting most of your rent paid via housing benefit there is no way you have such disposable income and there is no way you can afford a IPA. If your circumstatnce are such as what I described there is no way an OR can argue this in court and win IMO

roger196

chux wrote: »

I have worked in welfare rights for 15 years now and I cannot understand how somebody receive tax credits to support them because the government has defined them as not having enough in relation to their circumstances can possibly have a disposable income of £700 per month its just not possible.

You can still receive tax credits on an income of £50,000 per year, so the above is doubtful. If you don't believe my figures have a look at the DWP's "Tax Benefit Model Tables" ( on their website).
The OP needs to wait for the figs from the OR and then mount a challenge.

fiveyearplan

Good luck Samy and as Dalip says, no point in worrying until you get things in writing. Come back and tell us what is said and we'll see if we can help.

chux_2

I know you can get tax credits on 50k a year and we also know sam is not on 50k a year. The applicable amount for a single parent and 2 kids is within the region of £200 give or take a week. Childcare is totally disregarded. There is no way Sam has disposable income of £700 per month. Theres an error somewhere. I have a net income of £1800pcm, live alone, pay £300pcm maintenance and my rent is £430pcm. IPA recommended for me is less than £60pcm for 3 years, I dont drive either. If she has a disposable of £700 I must be the Pope or ORs are just using their discretion because it does not seem to be consistency here.

debtinfo

Hi chux, i agree that there maybe is a mistake in this case, we wont know until we see the figures. There have been many cases gone through the courts for IPO's including tax credits. The tax credits are not necessarily the minimum to live on because if you are on JSA you would have a lower income provided by the government, They are basically an insentive to get people into work meant to enhance a low income

dalip

I am wondering too if she has considered the lower childcare costs but not lowered you benefits in line with it...........will be interesting to see where she has got the surplus from.Dx

kerrypn

This is just a random thought-but could the OR reject the childcare costs because the child care costs far outnumber the earnings that the person makes as a result of paying for childcare ie it would be more financially viable for them to not work? As I say, this is a question, dont shoot me down in flames-just a thought

MicheH

Just thinking too Kerry, I don't know whether that's in an OR's remit to make that kind of judgement, Sam is just about holding her head above water thanks to the tax credit help but at least she's solvent (well without this disasterous IPA decision) A definate mistake I think

kerrypn

I just cant see how she will pay it Mich...Sam, I hope very much this is just a dreadful mistake with a calculator, will be thinking of you

confused76

hiya i hope you get this sorted out. sounds like a mistake and hopefully it will get overridden once they look into it. all the best