Tax Credit Overpayment advice need please

SuziQ

I have been in dispute for about 3 years now about the same thing. I sent my form back,had proof,heard nothing and payments continued. I spoke to CTC several times through the same period as they kept changing my payments even though my circumstances hadn't changed-they kept going back to income from 18 months before when I was employed full time,so my paymenst were incorrect. Right through the summer and even through Sept,I was never told they hadn't got my form. Then in late October I was told I had an overpayment as my form hadn't been received. I provided proof of postage,my MP got involved and the letter I got back from CTC stated 'we aren't saying that Mrs x didn't send the form,we are saying we didn't receive it.' I had had no second letter that I am aware of and would have replied immediately if I had-I was on the phone to them almost every week so obviously I am cooperative. I was told that those phone calls would never have flagged a form not returned as the operators only deal with the reason you are phoning. I asked for a transcript of calls and have been in dispute ever since. They seem to have just stuck me on the back burner for the last couple of years,as my letters elicit no responce. I never actually received a final decision about my dispute.I think it's because I am on Income support and they know it would be diffucult to get £3,500 back. I am sure that as soon as I get back to work ( I have been treated for Cancer this last year) that they will immediately start demanding the money again.I hate being in limbo but don't feel up to the fight at the moment

AnxiousMum

When you sent your forms back, didn't you receive a new calculation of what you were entitled to? I normally receive that within a couple of weeks of sending the renewal forms in, but would be phoning looking for it if it wasn't received.
Is it that with the new annual income for the year, after moving in with your partner, that has produced the overpayment? IE, with the new household annual income, you're not entitled to any of the money for the year that you had already been paid? It is worked out on annual incomes I believe, and not monthly.

chez68_2

I am having the same problem at the moment, I sent my forms back and they are saying that they did not receive them and are now demanding an 'overpayment' of £1,500, which I dont have. I did not hear anything until October when I received a bill.

My payments stopped in July, which was what I was expecting as I informed them (with the 'missing' form) that I was starting employment in July.

I really dont see how they can demand this when I know I sent the forms back.

I have asked, in my last letter, for the critera and on what authority they use to decide whether they 'disbelieve' someone but from reading these comments its obvious that this does happen often which leads me to think that there should be some kind of investigation as to why these forms are being lost!

I am waiting for reply to me last letter. Does anyone have any advice?