Underpaid tax credit help?

wozer

I am on maternity leave and recieving maternity allowance and minimum child tax credits. My 39 weeks are nearly up so i contacted inland revenue to tell them this and the advisor informed me i had not been recieving the correct amount of child tax credits and that as a family we were entitled to working tax credits as of the start of this tax year. I contacted them to see when my new payments would start and if i would getting back payment due now they said not until april next year is this right?if not how do i go about them now has i need this money for xmas etc?please help?

wozer

Any ideas? anyone?

delboysmith

They should increase you payments straight away based on on lower estimate e.g. your on going payments.

The payments you missed out on from April til now will be called a potential payment only given out once you confirm that the lower estimate is correct. This is done to prevent people being overpaid because if you give too low estimate will lead to you being overpaid.

You can request for this potential payment to be given out now by phoning. They are unlikely to pay this unless you can confirm this is going to be your actual income at the end of year. You did not mention whether you had a partner? If its a single claim likely to get this paid as your income not going to change as your not going to get bonuses, overtime pay rise etc but if you have partner you may not 100% sure this in the case

wozer

i do have a partner whos self employed but his income has been low with the way things are in the uk and working in the building trade,so his earnings are an estimate but are pretty accurate.will i have to wait until his earnings for the year are 100% confirmed from the accountant?

p.s thanx for your help so far

delboysmith

If his income been consistently low for last few years they may take this account. If its just this year you are probably not going to be successful. Look at if from TCO point of view he could get big contract in next 5months and his income a lot higher therefore you get overpaid (you then come of here moaning you've been overpaid )

You can always ask tco. They take two weeks to make a decision worse they can say is no.

wozer

Thanx for your advise, i will explore all of the options u mentioned