Over Paid Working Tax Credits!! But I Dont I Was!!

RL62010

About 2 years ago my partner and I had temp xmas jobs. We received working tax credits. When our jobs ended we phoned to let them know we were no longer working and that we had started claiming JSA. They carried on paying working tax credits without us knowing, but because we were still receiving this, the job centre were onll giving us a certain amount extra that would bring us up to the minimum the goverment stated we could live on. When I noticed this on a bank statement, I phoned the tax credits help line and was told we would have to pay back all the working tax credit we received for the period we were not working!! I dont understand this as we were not getting any extra!! We were getting the amount we should but from JSA AND WTC!! Any help would be wounderfull!!

Oldernotwiser

I don't understand how you could have been WTC without your knowledge, particularly as JCP were obviously aware of it. Can you clarify?

RL62010

The jobcentre told us that we were entitled to a certain amount every 2 weeks. The amount going into the bank was the amount the jobcentre told us we would get for JSA so i didnt notice as there was no extra money going in. It was only when I read a statement that i realised the payment was made up from JSA and WTC.
e.g. should have got £180 JSA only, but we were getting payments from WTC of £40 a week plus a fortnightly payment from JSA for £100. So every 2 weeks its was totalling the £180 we were entitled to. So we did not get any extra money.
I dont know why the jobcentre or WTC didnt notice this, it was only when i contacted WTC that the realised!