Tax credit renewal - general questions (merged)

kerry87_2

zagfles wrote: »

2010/11?? Do you mean 2011/12?

Was it income based or contribution based JSA? The job centre should have sent you a P60 by now, if not can you work it out from your bank statements? There is an estimate box on the tax credits form but don't think it applies to social security income, it's meant for self employed and those who do tax returns.

It was income based and there is a box asking for the income of social security benefits in 2010-2011 which is the year i have claimed tax credits for, I have my employment figures but can I still send off my renewal and ring them up with the JSA figures at a later date?

zagfles

kerry87 wrote: »

It was income based and there is a box asking for the income of social security benefits in 2010-2011 which is the year i have claimed tax credits for, I have my employment figures but can I still send off my renewal and ring them up with the JSA figures at a later date?

Income based JSA is disregarded: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/tctmanual/TCTM04403.htm

zagfles

emsybaby wrote: »

1 and another on the way, but obviously that doesnt count until it's born. i think it's because i was on a full time wage last year so we were near enough £29000 (cant remember exactly) sounds a lot but having a baby takes it!
they have the estimate for this year and know im unemployed and on JSA, still £0. I am looking for a job but can only apply for temp/casual as they dont need to worry about maternity then. even then i doubt i'll get anything until after this one is born.

For a start your income is NOT £0 if you're getting contribution based JSA as that counts as income for tax credits (you can't be getting income based JSA if your partner's on £17k).

What is your joint estimate? If it's under £23200 you should get some tax credits now (this assumes your partner works 30+ hours), but if you do get a job later in the year you'll likely have to pay it back.

emsybaby

zagfles wrote: »

For a start your income is NOT £0 if you're getting contribution based JSA as that counts as income for tax credits (you can't be getting income based JSA if your partner's on £17k).

What is your joint estimate? If it's under £23200 you should get some tax credits now (this assumes your partner works 30+ hours), but if you do get a job later in the year you'll likely have to pay it back.

my tax credits for the year is £0, not my income. i am getting income based jsa and they know my partner gets 17k, but they put it through as a single applicant so i assume thats fine. i did inform them about his wage etc and they said they would put it through as a single claim so not sure about that, shall ask next time i'm in the jobcentre tho!
they've based it on last years figures as i expected so it was over 23k which means we don't qualify.
tax credits is sooooo confusing!! im guessing it'll be even worse when it goes to a single credit thing too.

zagfles

emsybaby wrote: »

my tax credits for the year is £0, not my income. i am getting income based jsa and they know my partner gets 17k, but they put it through as a single applicant so i assume thats fine. i did inform them about his wage etc and they said they would put it through as a single claim so not sure about that, shall ask next time i'm in the jobcentre tho!
they've based it on last years figures as i expected so it was over 23k which means we don't qualify.
tax credits is sooooo confusing!! im guessing it'll be even worse when it goes to a single credit thing too.

There's something very wrong here - I don't think you can ever be "single" for benefits but "a couple" for tax credits. They use the same definition as far as I'm aware - if your partner lives with you then you are a couple and the job centre shouldn't have given you income based JSA. Looks like they've screwed up big time!

Normally if you get income based JSA you automatically get max CTC. You really need to get this sorted or it'll cause you problems!

Maybe start a separate thread for advice about the JSA. But for tax credits if you've given them an estimate below £23k for THIS year you should get some now. But be warned you may have to pay it back if you get a job.

emsybaby

zagfles wrote: »

There's something very wrong here - I don't think you can ever be "single" for benefits but "a couple" for tax credits. They use the same definition as far as I'm aware - if your partner lives with you then you are a couple and the job centre shouldn't have given you income based JSA. Looks like they've screwed up big time!

Normally if you get income based JSA you automatically get max CTC. You really need to get this sorted or it'll cause you problems!

Maybe start a separate thread for advice about the JSA. But for tax credits if you've given them an estimate below £23k for THIS year you should get some now. But be warned you may have to pay it back if you get a job.

hi again!!
i rang them and apparently im on contribution based jsa which only lasts until oct, then it changes to income based which i probably wont get.
thanks again

mon1o

Does anyone know roughly how long its taking to process renewals? HMRC have had my renewal forms for around 4 weeks (i usually renew by phone but couldnt get through and kept getting cut off due to "high call volumes" so just posted the forms in) i managed to get through after 30 mins on hold on monday to be told they had received my forms and were processing them, but when i asked about the timescales for renewal i was told "it takes as long as it takes we are not quoting timescales this year" which doesnt help me when i have budgets to plan.

Any help would be great, thanks in advance.

jellyhead

Mine took around a month, if that helps. I got my letter yesterday saying we get £0 this year. I presume the thresholds changed in April, because they want 4 months overpayment back.

It says they will take it from future payments, so I'm confused about that seeing as we get nothing, but we'll see

I'm going to tell them that my eldest is staying in school, which probably won't make any difference this year as I'm earning as a one-off too, but you never know, maybe next year we'll be below the threshold.

Lalique_2

Just come back from being in hospital for 6 weeks and I haven't received my renewal form! I'm panicking and have no idea what to do. Can't get through to the helpline either. Does anyone know how else I can get hold of the tax credits people? I'm a single parent so unfortunately no one was checking my mail on my behalf for any time sensitive documents.

tincat

Hi,

I stopped all tax credit claims in August 2011. I haven't received anything and until last week hadn't thought anything of it. Do I need to do anything?

I received tax credits from April until August 2011, and am worried if I don't get hold of them they will reclaim them.

I have been trying to get hold of hmrc, but have gone through the whole messaging system so many times to hear ; we can't take your call.

Thanks (and will keep trying)