Why does the benefits calculator say yes but the tax credit helpline say no?

Frazzle2010

I'm v confused and I don't know if any of you can help? I'm currently on maternity leave and I'm currently looking at whether it's worth me returning to work due to the huge cost of childcare. I checked the benefits calculator on the direct.gov website and with just my husband's salary of £25600 it said we would be entitled to £140 a week in tax credits as opposed to the £15 a week we currently received but when I rang the tax credit helpline they said even without my salary of £7000 our payments would not change. Why is there such a huge difference between what the benefits calculator said and the tax credit people said?I'm so confused!

hermum

Have you put all your details into the tax credits website? http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/quick-questionnaire.htm
Sorry I've just re-read your post & it looks as though you have, call them again, it could be that the person you spoke to keyed something in wrong & also check that what you put in yourself was correct.

Frazzle2010

No I just rang the helpline direct but I'll give it a go thanks!

Frazzle2010

I've done that questionnaire and we're definitely not entiteld to anymore so not sure what's going on with the benefits calculator but it's definitely way out! Thanks for your help!

Caz3121

the entitlement tables are here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-and-child/index.htm

If you don't work then it will just be the basic as you get no help with childcare unless you both work
If you are working then the amount of help will depend on the cost of the childcare...you can see that if 1 child over 1 in childcare for £90 per week there would be a little help but this stops at joint salary of £35k however if costs are £175 per week then there would be help up to a joint income of £45k

monkeybarry

Frazzle2010 wrote: »

No I just rang the helpline direct but I'll give it a go thanks!

hi, i have similar query around the "accuracy" of the calculator
what was the telephone no of the helpline you called?

Frazzle2010

Hi, I rang the tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900, they did say that the benefits calculator on the direct gov website is just an estimate but still it's a massive difference so goodness knows how the benefits calculator works things out! If I was you I'd find out what benefits the calculator says you're entitled to and then ring the relevant department directly as like me you'll probably find it's not the case at all!

monkeybarry

Frazzle2010 wrote: »

Hi, I rang the tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900, they did say that the benefits calculator on the direct gov website is just an estimate but still it's a massive difference so goodness knows how the benefits calculator works things out! If I was you I'd find out what benefits the calculator says you're entitled to and then ring the relevant department directly as like me you'll probably find it's not the case at all!

thanks - i think my case was a misunderstanding of the wording from the calculator (and slight disbelief that after 12 years of contributing i would only be entitled to £65 a week)