Tax Credits - Backdated?

darkblue_2

Hi,

I receive Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits. I called them a month ago to let them know that my brother (who I am guardian of) was staying on to full time education past 16. He turned 16 in August.

I kept receiving payments up until the end of August, so I assumed all was well. I sent a change of address form and confirmed my brother staying on further education when I moved at the end of the month.

Suddenly my credits were stopped. I rang and after 30 minutes, was told they hadn't received either the change of address or notice of the child remaining in full time education.

After moving house, I am obviously strapped for cash and this has really affected me. I was relying on the WTC for food and groceries, which have had to go on the already squeezed credit cards.

I was told that they would be reinstated and I would receive a new notice. Today, I received a normal payment, but not backdated to the past 2 weeks when they haven't come through.

Should I call and query this? Will it be backdated? What's the norm?

I don't want to spend another 30 minutes on the phone at work (having to make the time up later) only to be told I can't get it backdated. If I can't, I'll be starting a spiral into debt, as I've had to use an overdraft facility too, hoping it would be repaid with the backdated cash.

Any help gratefully appreciated.

justmel

Hi darkblue
I have just been through the school to college transition with my son,tax credits stopped on 31st August and were reinstated from 1st September but it took a week for the system to pay so last week i was down some money.

It was all fine by this week but when they say 'backdated' they don't pay what you lost in one lump sum,it's a recalculation and they work out the entire claim again usually meaning you are a couple of pounds a week better off to make up for the week that was lost.

However when i called last time the figure they told me meaning i would be this couple of pounds better off was different to what i recieved,i seem to be about £5 worse off but i am waiting for the notification to arrive,hopefully that will make sense as i am tired of calling them and being put on hold for 20 minutes if i can get through at all.

It does get a bit confusing to say the least.

darkblue_2

Thanks for the reply. Well that's me stuffed to the tune of £150 that they will 'make up' I suppose.

hermadge

I am in the same boat, son started 6th form (told them about it months ago) down £50 last friday, wondering if it will be there tomorrow, been trying to get through for days, gave up trying now :mad:

darkblue_2

It is rather frustrating hermadge, but don't give up.

Use SayNo's site to find a non-geo number, which should be cheaper. It was for me, as I've got free calls from my landline to local numbers.

http://www.saynoto0870.com/

hermadge

Payemt for CTC was in today with an extra £10, thank god !

darkblue_2

Hmm. Now I'm perplexed at how Hermadge seemed to get the backpayment and I didn't... Any thoughts?

emmliss

justmel wrote: »

Hi darkblue
I have just been through the school to college transition with my son,tax credits stopped on 31st August and were reinstated from 1st September but it took a week for the system to pay so last week i was down some money.

It was all fine by this week but when they say 'backdated' they don't pay what you lost in one lump sum,it's a recalculation and they work out the entire claim again usually meaning you are a couple of pounds a week better off to make up for the week that was lost.

However when i called last time the figure they told me meaning i would be this couple of pounds better off was different to what i recieved,i seem to be about £5 worse off but i am waiting for the notification to arrive,hopefully that will make sense as i am tired of calling them and being put on hold for 20 minutes if i can get through at all.

It does get a bit confusing to say the least.

im in the same situation down £50 last week and i was £5 worse of this week when it was reinstated it happend when my daughter started college last year i never got the week i lost and i was still £5 down from then too still waiting a year on so gave up guess it will be the same this year too never got the week i lost last year and havent this year so far.

justmel

I got my award notice today,£6 worse off per week until April,if my son is still in college then which there is no reason not to be they expect it to go up by £2 but that is still £4 less than we were getting.

I don't really understand it properly and to be honest i am tired of calling them but at least it's somewhere close to being back to normal.

hermadge

Hi darkblue, I didn't get a backpayment as such, just what I normally get with £10 extra on top which is because instead of giving the £50 they owe me for last week they divide it up and give it back in instalments , god knows why, I would much rather they just give me the lump son cos £10 extra is no use really. Looking at other threads on the same subject this is what is happening to other people too, however your situation is obviously different to mine so you do really need to speak to them which is hard I know !

joanne_d_3

justmel wrote: »

I got my award notice today,£6 worse off per week until April,if my son is still in college then which there is no reason not to be they expect it to go up by £2 but that is still £4 less than we were getting.

I don't really understand it properly and to be honest i am tired of calling them but at least it's somewhere close to being back to normal.

Justmel - im flipping £17 a week worse off for some reason !

Considering i was £120 short last week i have no idea how they have worked out my payment !