Tax Credits Question

sarahangel

Hi all,

I am a bit confused regarding tax credits and overpayment. I had a change of circumstances April 2009 and although I told them well within the month limit they still paid 3 weeks later on the old claim.

I renewed my tax credits as normal via the renewals pack in June/July

In August I had a letter stating that I hadn't sent back the renewal form and that my payments were going to stop and I had to repay just over £600 which included the overpayment from May. I spoke to someone and explained that I had sent the forms back and they renewed it over the phone and started to receive payments.

I then recieved a final tax credits award in September for the 9 day period in April 2009 but nothing for afterwards, even though I am still receiving payments.

I have rang them this morning because I haven't received my renewals pack, this was apparently posted at the wrong address!!

I am now worried that I am going to end up with a hefty overpayment request, not just for the overpayment made in April/May 09 but all the payments I have received since then.

My question is how long does it usually take them to ask for any overpayments back?
My circumstances are going to be changing again soon due to pregnancy and I really want to get all this sorted out before my salary reduces.

Thanks for your help

Sarah

tinkerbell28

sarahangel wrote: »

Hi all,

I am a bit confused regarding tax credits and overpayment. I had a change of circumstances April 2009 and although I told them well within the month limit they still paid 3 weeks later on the old claim.

I renewed my tax credits as normal via the renewals pack in June/July

In August I had a letter stating that I hadn't sent back the renewal form and that my payments were going to stop and I had to repay just over £600 which included the overpayment from May. I spoke to someone and explained that I had sent the forms back and they renewed it over the phone and started to receive payments.

I then recieved a final tax credits award in September for the 9 day period in April 2009 but nothing for afterwards, even though I am still receiving payments.

I have rang them this morning because I haven't received my renewals pack, this was apparently posted at the wrong address!!

I am now worried that I am going to end up with a hefty overpayment request, not just for the overpayment made in April/May 09 but all the payments I have received since then.

My question is how long does it usually take them to ask for any overpayments back?
My circumstances are going to be changing again soon due to pregnancy and I really want to get all this sorted out before my salary reduces.

Thanks for your help

Sarah

If you think you have been overpaid, you must have a rough idea of how much? Did you keep the overpayment aside knowing that and put it away ready to pay towards the forthcoming o/p?

sarahangel

Hi Tinkerbell

Yes, I kept the money to one side but on the last 3 letters I have it has risen from £616 to £666 to £698 and the last letter I received about any overpayment is from August 2009 which is now 10 months ago.

I just wondered how long it takes them to ask for it back, when I have looked at the HMRC website and a few other places it states that they would recover the overpayment from the new claim in which they have never done, they just paid me as if it was a new claim.

I was just wondering regarding timescales, I don't really want to be dealing with this down the line when I supposed to be enjoying my maternity leave!

tinkerbell28

If you have an overpayment from a old award you pretty much get a letter not long after you new award starts.

If it's a renwal fo the same award it tends to come off then. I'd imagine when you do your renewal.

sarahangel

Thanks

Its a bit clearer now, I just got a bit confused as thought they might have done that with the claim from last year instead of continuing to pay me the full amount.

They don't like to make it easy do they?

Sarah