what will happen with my new tax credits claim?

kizzy2010

hi all, new here and hoping to get a bit of advice.
i have been claiming tax credits for some time now and have recently, stupidly, forgotten to report a change of circumstance (i have just reported it this morning). back in january my partner moved in with me and my 2 children. whilst i sorted everything else out, housing benefit, income support etc, tax credits for some reason have been overlooked til today.
i rang them this morning and they are sending me a new claims form out and have stopped my current claim.
the lady on the phone said there would be an over payment but that they could also back date my new claim by up to 3 months.
i was just wondering if they will take this back payment to clear off the over payment automatically or will they give me the back payment and ask me to pay off the over payment at a later date.
would be good to hear from someone that has been a simialr situation or anyone that really knows what they're talking about with regard to the tax credit system.
thanks for reading

cherryblossoms

I used to work for the Tax credits helpline and what used to happen was you would have been overpaid from the date your partner moved in so basically anything you had received since that date would be classed as an overpayment. The new claim can be backdated 3 months from the new application and any overpayment will be collected from future awards. If you are not entitled to anything on your new claim due to high income, not meeting criteria etc then you will need to arrange a payment plan to pay it back. A number of my friends still work for the tco so if you need any more info just let me know. The Tax credits website used to have a lot of guidance on it regarding overpayments (not sure if it still does)

kizzy2010

they have told me we will still be entitled to tax credits as my partner is on a low wage. so, the over payment will come out of my future weekly payments and not the 3 month back dated payment?

cherryblossoms

Sorry I've just re read what I had wrote and because you are now going into a joint claim you will need to arrange to pay back the overpayment in instalments to the TCO, they won't be able to take the money direct from the new claim. You should get a statement of account and a notice to pay. If you can't pay the money back straight away they can give you payment slips to pay it over 12 months, if you need longer you can call the Tax Credit Payments Helpline on 0845 302 1429 and they can arrange to spread it over a longer period.

Because the are going to back date your claim by 3 months I would suggest you hold on to that money and use it to pay off a lump sum of your overpayment to make the repayments less.

Telfordstar

kizzy2010 wrote: »

hi all, new here and hoping to get a bit of advice.
i have been claiming tax credits for some time now and have recently, stupidly, forgotten to report a change of circumstance (i have just reported it this morning). back in january my partner moved in with me and my 2 children. whilst i sorted everything else out, housing benefit, income support etc, tax credits for some reason have been overlooked til today.
i rang them this morning and they are sending me a new claims form out and have stopped my current claim.
the lady on the phone said there would be an over payment but that they could also back date my new claim by up to 3 months.
i was just wondering if they will take this back payment to clear off the over payment automatically or will they give me the back payment and ask me to pay off the over payment at a later date.
would be good to hear from someone that has been a simialr situation or anyone that really knows what they're talking about with regard to the tax credit system.
thanks for reading

Slightly off topic a wee bit here but good luck getting the new forns sent out, I rang on the 25th of may to inform them partner had moved in they stopped my single claim and arranged for new forms to be sent out, still waiting!

karenx

How did you get housing benefit sorted out with your new circumstances then as they ask for your new tax credits award letter?

kizzy2010

they accepted my old award as i was advised to do my housing benefit claim asap as thats the one you can get in trouble for. when i sorted that out they advised me to submit my new award letter as and when i got it so they can re adjust my housing benefit entitlement again

karenx

You could find you owe housing benefit money back also if that claim is based on the tax credits award from when you were single

dundeediva

Telfordstar wrote: »

Slightly off topic a wee bit here but good luck getting the new forns sent out, I rang on the 25th of may to inform them partner had moved in they stopped my single claim and arranged for new forms to be sent out, still waiting!

Maybe me being a bit simple but instead of moaning why don't you phone and tell them so it can be reissued? Honestly what is wrong with people these days!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

Telfordstar wrote: »

Slightly off topic a wee bit here but good luck getting the new forns sent out, I rang on the 25th of may to inform them partner had moved in they stopped my single claim and arranged for new forms to be sent out, still waiting!

They sent me 2 lots & I never got either of them.

I made an appointment to go to my local tax office to fill them in instead as I knew that they would get processed quicker & not get lost when I sent them back.