Tax Credit Help

bex4adz

Hi am after a bit of advice, my partner and I get Tax Credits, and have been getting them for around 2 years now. In March 2009 my partner was taken on permanetly by his employer(previously he was on a temp to perm contract with an agency) As soon as this changed I rang up Tax credits to inform them and the changes were made. However now after all this time the payments have now stopped as they say my partner has not been working since March. I have explained that he just went from temp to perm and I updated the details, but they are saying they have no record of this. They say they wrote to me and phoned me but that I didn't bother to reply. This is not true I have not received a single letter. I have made an official complaint and have been told by numberous people that the claim should not have been cancelled and it should be reinstated but The problem is the department it has been passed to have not even acknowledged the complaint. What I want to know is if this has happened to anyone before, how long did it take to get it sorted out?

I am not very good at explaining things so if anything doesn't make sense please ask.
Thanks

maturelearner

Firstly, I know it is difficult to get addresses for tax credit. However if you are making a complaint a letter by recorded post is the best option. Then you can get a signature proof or at least online printed proof of receipt from someone.

Secondly if there's any chance of getting to a citizens advice bureau adviser or speaking to one I try that as sometimes the can act on your behalf.

krisskross

What sort of tax credits were you getting? Any children? do you both work?

bex4adz

Thanks for the replies, yes we both work and we have no children

victoriaplum1

I would also recommend Citizens Advice as they can often have more persuasive powers if you are eintitled to claim money back and they do all the advising etc for free and its confidential....they sorted a claim out for me years ago re Carers Allowance. As for WTC I know what you mean, I have always kept them up to date with any job changes etc by phone and then last year I get a letter saying they had overpayed me, not sure how it can be as I had kept them fully informed but now I an having to pay back an overpayment...makes me mad when it is their error. I rang them today to see if me taking on a pt job for 6 month fixed term would be beneficial (lots to consider as 2 young kids to look after and partner works ft on rotating shifts so childcare probs) and they said I would lose £5 a week, but obviously gain the wage, BUT that if my partner was working for less hours and less salary than he is now we would get WTC as well as CTC, we are just over the threshold not to get WTC though did get it in past.......wonder where the incentive is to work really...seems all wrong that by working less we could be better off!!!!

bex4adz

Well I have just had a response from them, they are saying my partner has not worked for almost a year and we owe them over £4000. This is crazy we have all the proof that he was working but they are just not listening. I have tried my Citizens Advice but I just can't get through. Do I really have to repay this "overpayment" even though he was and still is working?

DX2

You both work 30 hours per week?

bex4adz

Yes I work 37.5, he works 35. I only started my job on the 4th Jan

Caz3121

I found this
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-no-child.htm

It looks like if you have no disabilities there is no WTCs once the household income reaches £18k...are your combined incomes more than this?

bex4adz

I am disabled and I have been told that we are entitled to WTC that is not the issue, they are telling me to reclaim as we will get around £135 a week. The issue is they have said my partner has not been working full stop since March so they are saying every payment they have paid us since March needs to be paid back. They said if my partner had been working since March we wouldn't owe anything back. My partner has been working and still is working but they are not listening to that.

wobin

When did your partner switch from agency to employer? When did you inform the tax credits? I have heard of technical errors if there is some sort of gap.

Best thing to do in the mean time is to re-apply and dispute the OP giving as much info as you can as to why you don not believe you were overpaid and as PP said recorded delivery is the best way to go.