WTC & Part-time work

BlueMeany

Have posted this in one of the other threads, but it appears that it is probably posted where nobody looks... my apologies, I will go in there and see if I can remove it somehow.

Anyway...

Really quite stumped here, with WTC

I work part-time (22.5hrs week) and have sole responsibility for a 13yo daughter, so I'm getting WTC... no problem I understand that.
Just after Xmas 2009, my work colleague took a lengthy spell off work, and I was asked to cover whilst he was off. I said I would check with the situation with tax credits.. and then after doing so, said 'Yes'. This took me over the 30hours a week, which obviously I notified them about.
I was told nothing would be affected, and my WTC went up by about £25/£30 a week.
I have just very recently gone back to working 22.5hrs & intend to tell them along with my renewal claim. However, in April my WTC reduced by about £15 a week for no apparent reason (I was still doing the 30hrs then). I can only assume it has something to do with the new financial year???
When I telephoned them to mention the change to 30hrs, I was told nothing would change for the worse as even though I was earning more money, I was still a long way off the amount (I think they said £14k a year) where they take into account of earnings and reduce WTC accordingly.
My basic gross salary for last year (before the overtime & any standard deductions) was £8152 and after all my overtime for the year went upto £9384 (from this I paid £332 NI, £476 Tax, £461 company pension) leaving I think, a taxable income of £8923.

Firstly, which figure do they want for the renewal... the Taxable Pay from my P60 (£8923), or my Gross before any deductions (£9384)?
Secondly, am I correct in the reason why my WTC reduced by around £15 a week back in April?
Thirdly, am I going to be penalised for earning/doing overtime last year (depending on which figure, between £8923-£9384) this financial year once I do the renewal?
Fourtly, and this is a strange one... if I'm asked to cover for my colleague for his holidays etc (he gets 30+ days a year), I often find weeks in the year where I actually do over 30hrs (probably about 15weeks of the year)... is there any way to claim for this, or am I scuppered??
Thanks for any advice, in advance!!

dundeediva

Hi

1. You need to give the total pay on your p60 (the higher one)
2. I'm just guessing here but the reason I think your payments decreased is due to your income for 09/10 will be higher than 08/09, which is now what your award is based on
3. You won't be penalised for having more income/hours, pretty much for the same reason as above, because you told then what your increased income was
4. If you do the increased hours for a period of 4 weeks or more (eg. School hols) the tell them, you'll get the extra 30hr element again.

Also just a point, if you look at the award notice you would have got after the original change, it would have said your payments will go down in April.


Hope this helps x