Tax Credits Will they ask for it back ?

Crisp_£_note

Hi

I am worried as hubby is self employed and receives Working Tax Credits however for several reasons in succession he has had little and more recently no work since October 2009.

I am worried incase at the next review due they will notice a huge drop in his income and be demanding we pay it back when they review later this year.

Problem is we rely on it as I am on longterm incapacity benefits and dont look like I will return to work very soon. So my benefit combined with the Working Tax Credits is all we have to live on. We are managing with help from family but have had our benefits for housing and council tax removed by the council as we havent supplied the info they requested last August, rason being we are still waiting for hubbys accountant to supply his accounts to us! So we are also supposed to find full council tax and rent but we are simply unable to.

Can anyone tell us if we would have to pay it back? Hubby isnt happy to give up his self employment and 'sign on' and im concerned we would get less entitlement if we did making us struggle even further into debt.

Can anyone help please?

Thanks

fresian_cow

I don't think you would be entitled to WTC if he is not working. When you end a claim you get a 4 week run on but this would have ended in November so you possibly have been overpaid which would have to be paid back. Your partner is better off putting in a claim for JSA than living off nothing, he can always return to his self employment when work picks up.

Working Tax Credit is for people who are employed or self-employed (either on their own or in a partnership), who

• usually work 16 hours or more a week
• are paid for that work, and
• expect to work for at least 4 weeks

and who are

• aged 16 or over and responsible for at least one child, or
• aged 16 or over and [URL="javascript:DoGlossary('disableddisability');"]disabled[/URL], or
• aged 25 or over and usually work at least 30 hours a week

fresian_cow

I would inform the TC office as soon as you can of any changes as the longer it goes on the longer you could be getting overpaid.

lorelai34

You shouldn't be waiting until they review your claim at renewal time. Your husband must be doing 30hrs of work per week to qualify for working tax credit. If he hasn't been doing the 30hrs then you shouldn't be claiming working tax credit.