Tax Credits Payments help PLEASE!

daftdad

You will see that over the last few weeks I have posted quite a few questions on this site and I am grateful to those who have taken the time to reply.

Like a lot of people, I have become unemployed and as a consequence the household finances have taken a battering.

For WTC and CTC purposes, the Household income for 2009/10 was assessed at £38,806. This equates to a weekly CTC payment (3 children) of £10.31 per week.

In accordance with advice on another website (Tax reform for low incomes?) on 6th April last I rang the Tax Credits Office and informed them of the projected joint income for 2010/11 - £11,751 (a drop of £27,000 or approx 70%). The person who I spoke to said I still needed to complete the 'Renewal Pack' when it arrived. The only question I asked was whether it would effect my payments and she answered in the affirmative (I now wish I had asked her more!)

I have been on various 'benefit calculators' and it seems that on the above income we qualify for a payment of around £170 per week.

From my other postings you will see that I am not now receiving contribution based JSA, in fact no state benefit at all.

Whilst I am lucky to have some savings to supplement my wifes earnings which helps us pay the household bills (no we don't go out, drink, holiday, run a car etc) that money will run out before I have to pay the household bills for July.

So my question is this (well done if you have made it this far!) When can I expect to receive the newly calculated WTC & CTC payment? Will it be a matter of weeks (4) like it was when I first applied or gave them amended figures at the latter part of last year or will it only be after I have completed the renewal pack - whenever that comes?

If it is the latter, is there any point in contacting the Office and pleading with them.

Once again, thank you for your anticipated assistance. Oh, and give yourself a pat on the back for getting to the end of this post:T

codwidow

Hi

Have you recieved your renewal pack in the post ? Once you have recieved it you can either renew by phone or by completing and sending the pack back.

I think up until a certain point at the end of March the TC office stop taking amendments in order to be able to handle the renewals so it may be you have a larger payment due to you shortly.

To err on the side of caution I would say you will get your new amount plus any backdated amounts when you renew, I got my renewal form this morning so if you dont have yours yet it shouldnt be long.

The amount you have quoted sounds sensible, we have two children and have an income above yours and get £115 per week.

I hope your situation improves soon, with your stated income you should be eligible for free school meals and possibly assistance with your council tax bill also and you should get free prescriptions/dental etc.

I was made redundant last year and like you my Cont based JSA has run out so I sympathise, I am almost certain you will be due the same if not more Tax credits than we recieve

daftdad

Thanks for your reply.

I almost 'mug' the Postman everyday in the hope he has a large white envelope for me!

Ive checked my entitlement to benefits and it seems that apart from Council Tax Benefit I am not entitled to anything else.

I have to say the CTC/WTC award notice is a little misleading it suggests that if you inform them that your incomes gone down they will pay you more (quickly)

It appears to me that there is something wrong with a system whereby you could be waiting 8 months suffering a 70% fall in income before the system takes note of your actual income.

It's a bit 'rich' that when I asked the Jobcentre people what happens after the end of my entitlement to income based JSA they told me thats what CTC and WTC was there for even though I could be without any payment for months!

flea72

sorry havent followed your other threads, but are you saying you renewed your tax credits in April 09, but didnt give them a projected income for tax year ie 09-10, you just gave them your figures from 08-09?

the renewal pack covers two areas. you have to confirm what you earnt over the previous tax year, and you also have to confirm if your cirumstances will change over the coming tax year

in April 09, you should have confirmed your income for 08-09 was £38k, and then contacted them giving a projected income for this current tax year 09-10. when did you become unemployed?

on the forms you receive in the coming weeks, you will have to confirm your income for tax year 09-10. this may mean you get a lump sum payment, but that will only happen if you have contacted hmrc and given them regular updates as to your income, as they only back date payments/amendments for 3m

again the forms you receive shortly will have a section asking if there are any changes to the circumstances detailed on the forms - you will then have to contact them and give them an update for the coming year

based on your current situation ie, you not working and your wifes income, you should be getting about £9k a year in ctc/wtc (for this coming tax year 10-11)

the ctc system can be confusing, but as long as you notify them with all changes, however minor you should always get what you are entitled to. the only time they dont amend your payments is when its drawing towards the end of the tax year, so from about feb onwards, they wont change payments, but the 3m backdating still means if you have updated them, you will get this back in a lump sum, once the new tax year begins

hth F

shazza71_2

They talk about children living in poverty, i think the Tax Credits system is putting people in poverty. We were recieving £36 a week when my husband was working(i have 2 children aged 15 and 17), hubby lost his job end of november and TC decided to drop my payments to £31 a week ???, in January they awarded us £50 per week !!!
Last Sunday i phoned to give them our est income for this year (about £45 x 52weeks).
last thursday and friday a total of £200 went into the bank so not sure how much our payments have gone up, they also owe me a potental payment of £1345 but we have to wait until hubby recieves P60 before we can have that money!!!
I think the system is all wrong for people who have lost there jobs, you would think they would do more for these people especially with the country in the state its in at the moment..

sharon

flea72

sorry just to note, alot of people get confused with the tax credits paperwork because at renewal time, they send you two lots of paperwork - you have to look at the front page of each letter and it states to which tax year it is referring. one should show income details and work situation for the tax year just ended, and the other one will detail information for the coming tax year

F

flea72

shazza71 wrote: »

They talk about children living in poverty, i think the Tax Credits system is putting people in poverty. We were recieving £36 a week when my husband was working(i have 2 children aged 15 and 17), hubby lost his job end of november and TC decided to drop my payments to £31 a week ???, in January they awarded us £50 per week !!!
Last Sunday i phoned to give them our est income for this year (about £45 x 52weeks).
last thursday and friday a total of £200 went into the bank so not sure how much our payments have gone up, they also owe me a potental payment of £1345 but we have to wait until hubby recieves P60 before we can have that money!!!
I think the system is all wrong for people who have lost there jobs, you would think they would do more for these people especially with the country in the state its in at the moment..

sharon

ok, first thing to check, do hmrc have both your children in the system? you quite often find payments go awol once you have a child that turns 16, 17, etc. due to them automatically assuming they are no longer in f/t education

if you dont work, and your OH loses their job, losing the 30hr additional payment, quite often makes quite a dent in peoples entitlement

i would say the £200 lump that has gone into your bank, is your new weekly payment, due to you updating your income

you shouldnt need to wait til you get OHs P60 to confirm income. if you have all his payslips from last year, and work out how many weeks you claimed JSA, you will know your income

hth F

shazza71_2

thanx Flea, i have his P45, and i have worked out his benefit payments, but i have been told to wait until my renewal pack arrives, which will be around the same time as his P60 so maybe another 6 weeks. eek!!!. They do know i have a child at school and one at college, i just feel so let down by the system.

sharon

daftdad

flea72 wrote: »

sorry havent followed your other threads, but are you saying you renewed your tax credits in April 09, but didnt give them a projected income for tax year ie 09-10, you just gave them your figures from 08-09?

the renewal pack covers two areas. you have to confirm what you earnt over the previous tax year, and you also have to confirm if your cirumstances will change over the coming tax year

in April 09, you should have confirmed your income for 08-09 was £38k, and then contacted them giving a projected income for this current tax year 09-10. when did you become unemployed?

on the forms you receive in the coming weeks, you will have to confirm your income for tax year 09-10. this may mean you get a lump sum payment, but that will only happen if you have contacted hmrc and given them regular updates as to your income, as they only back date payments/amendments for 3m

again the forms you receive shortly will have a section asking if there are any changes to the circumstances detailed on the forms - you will then have to contact them and give them an update for the coming year

based on your current situation ie, you not working and your wifes income, you should be getting about £9k a year in ctc/wtc (for this coming tax year 10-11)

the ctc system can be confusing, but as long as you notify them with all changes, however minor you should always get what you are entitled to. the only time they dont amend your payments is when its drawing towards the end of the tax year, so from about feb onwards, they wont change payments, but the 3m backdating still means if you have updated them, you will get this back in a lump sum, once the new tax year begins

hth F

Sorry about the delay in 'posting back'.

The chronology is this:

October 2009 - First apply.

Beginning of November 2009 - Give them up-dated income figures for 09/10

End November 2009 - Get an amended Award Notice

April 201o - Give them exact income figures for 2010/2011

I only applied when I became unemployed and I have missed out on years of the 'family element' of the award.

When do you think I will get the new payment?

shazza71_2

daft dad,
i gave them this yrs est income 11th April, and extra money went into the bank 15th and 16th April which i think was TC money as we dont have anything else that goes into the bank on theses days, hope this helps.

sharon

daftdad

Sharon,

Thanks for your reply.

Here's hoping there's a nice surprise when I check my bank balance on Thursday:)

Gav