tax creds taking forever, could miss surestart grant!

MichelleM

Aaarghh! Im so annoyed at the Tax credit system.

1. You cant get through to people when you ring the number provided and when you do, youre charged to be kept on hold and then cut off!

2. You finally get through to discover that they still havent processed your claim (I put it in middle of July).

3. You then find out that when they send you your reward, it will be incorrect as it doesnt take into consideration the fact that you are on maternity leave. Therefore, the reward will be wrong.

4. So then you have to contact them AFTER recieving the award to update your details - you cant do it before recieving the first one.

5. You are then told that it will take ANOTHER 30 days+ for the new details to be processed!

Because of this farce I cannot apply for the Surestart grant as you need to recieve a tax creds award. I have until september 10th before the deadline ends for my daughter.

I am unbelievably upset, angry and appalled at the [EMAIL="cra@ppy"]cra@ppy[/EMAIL] system we have in this country. Has anyone else had a similar problem, if so, what did you do about it?

billius_2

I have the same problem... Awaiting the new evalution now, but I have til 23rd september to get my forms from tax credit, and get my grant form in!!! Even told tax credits I had given up work, (Can't really be a long distance coach driver AND mum to a baby) yet they still took in last years wages in too account?!?!?!?! I'm going to fill out the form and send it off... tell them I'm awaiting the new reward. Worth a shot!!! Next time you call tax credits, try this number...01355 359007 Not only is it cheaper, for some reason they pick up quicker!! (Got it off another thread)... If you get the jobsworth, "call back on the 08 what ever number", hang up and try again, the woman we spoke too was fantastic!!!
Good luck with it all

GlasweJen

OP, you handed the form in over a month after the baby was born and you only have 12 weeks for it to go through knowing that your income for this year is different from last year and it's the system that's a farce? Other people manage to get their award before the surestart deadline so you need to take some responsibility for this.

MichelleM

GlasweJen wrote: »

OP, you handed the form in over a month after the baby was born and you only have 12 weeks for it to go through knowing that your income for this year is different from last year and it's the system that's a farce? Other people manage to get their award before the surestart deadline so you need to take some responsibility for this.

I knew someone would mention this...

It took about 4 weeks for the forms to arrive. You cant get them from my local tax office or the job centre- I asked and was told the only way to apply was to ring for a pack. After trying several days to get through I was told that because the renewal deadline was coming up things were taking longer than usual.

I had also applied for the Surestart grant as soon as LO was born but they got back to me saying that I wasnt eligible as I hadnt any tax creds- I had wrote on my application that I was applying but it seems that doesnt matter!

So not really my fault...

MichelleM

And just to add that I have never ever claimed for anything in my life- I have been working since I was 15! And this is my first year applying for the tax credits so I had/have no idea how this all works.

GlasweJen

You could have got the form before the baby came, especially if you knew you were going to really need the money when baby arrived?

MichelleM

GlasweJen wrote: »

You could have got the form before the baby came, especially if you knew you were going to really need the money when baby arrived?

I didnt even know about the form until my HV mentioned it. Up until then it wasnt in ANY literature I recieved, there were no posters, etc at my local hospitals/doctors and antenatal clinics. My midwife didnt mention it either.

Im normally very organised and actually very proud of myself for getting all my paperwork done (child benefit, Sure start grant, registering birth, registering at the docs, oh and this was after only moving home 4 weeks before so that paperwork needed doing too), after the birth of my first child- all on my own as my DH had to work at that time and didnt take his pat leave until later on.

So thanks for your supportive and helpful comments Glaswejen. I know who to PM when I need someone to tell me what I should have done in the future. I asked one question.

BeenieCat

Some people just can't help themselves.

I have no advice but wondered if the Surestart people would extend seeing as you've waited a ridiculous amount of time for the forms in the first place?

emlou2009

GlasweJen wrote: »

You could have got the form before the baby came, especially if you knew you were going to really need the money when baby arrived?

Actually, thats not the case. When I rang to apply for TC's the first time I was made to hang up and do some sums regarding our incomes as they said they needed to take a note of what we earned roughly so they wouldnt be sending out forms willy nilly if people definitely werent going to be eligible for TC's, and if Surestart wont send out the forms unless/until you receive TC's then she couldnt have got that in ready either.
Also my son was born in March so when I applied for TC's it took them so long to get their backsides in gear that the form they sent me was invalid and I had to fill in another because it was a new tax year!

tiamai_d

GlasweJen wrote: »

You could have got the form before the baby came, especially if you knew you were going to really need the money when baby arrived?

I notice all your posts are helpful in a 'well, it's your fault because you should have done this that and the next' smugness kinda way.

Wooooo, aren't you all superior!

3onitsway

GlasweJen wrote: »

OP, you handed the form in over a month after the baby was born and you only have 12 weeks for it to go through knowing that your income for this year is different from last year and it's the system that's a farce? Other people manage to get their award before the surestart deadline so you need to take some responsibility for this.

What a helpful post! :mad:

I imagine Surestart must be aware of the tax credits chaos that happens at this time every year - it might be worth asking them for an extension.