Working Tax credit advice.

faerie_carousel

Hi I really need some advice. I'm 22 single and I work 20hours a week. At the end of March 2010 I decided I would try and go back to work, after two years of being off sick with depression and anxiety. The reason I felt this was possible was because somebody told me I would be eligible for the disability element of working tax credit. This meant I could ease myself back into work without having too much pressure on me.
Unfortunately in July I had to leave my job and go and look after a relative for a while. In September I managed to get my old job back still working 20 hours a week. Before I went away I sent the tax credits office a letter explaining the situation and asking for advice, no reply.They carried on paying me. I then sent them another letter when I returned explaining the situation and asking for advice, no reply. I then sent them another letter this time recorded delivery explaining the situation and asking for advice, this time they stopped my working tax credit but sent no explanation or any information or advice. So I rang up the tax credit helpline and explained the situation, they said I should make a new claim and took me through a questionnaire to see if I was eligible. They asked me if I had received any other benefit in the last 6 months to which I replied no, because I had been working and receiving disability element tax credits. They came to the conclusion that I was not eligible and would not send me a claim form, I spoke to several different advisers who also came to this conclusion. A few months later just by chance I found out I was eligible due to the fact I had been receiving the disability element of working tax credits within 8 weeks of speaking to them the first time. So I called up and explained this and was still told I wasn't eligible, at this point I got the adviser to turn to page 20 of the tax credit booklet. He then agreed I was right and was eligible, so sent me a claim form. I sent off the claim form which took about a month to be processed and they denied my claim on the grounds that it was just over three months ( by a couple of days) and they couldn't backdate it that far. My problem is that if I hadn't have been given the wrong advise by several of their advisers then I would have claimed far sooner. I have no proof of the advise they gave me. I rely on that money, I can't cope with full time work because of my illness and the stress of this is making it worse. If I can't sort this out I'm going to end up back on sickness benefit. I really don't want to.

Please has anyone got any advice.

DanE2010

Hiya, when you sent in the application form that was rejected because of the 3 months backdating you would of had the right to appeal that decision, when was it rejected? You have to the appeal the decision withing a certain time frame, I think its 30 days so if its still withing the timescale if you give them a call and ask for an appeal form and write everything down, try to include any dates and times you called and the fact you were given incorrect advice on several ocassions therefore causing the delay in you sending the form in. I dunno if that will work but its worth a shot!

faerie_carousel

I've just been in touch with the citizens advice bureau although I haven't had an appointment yet. I thought it would be better to see somebody before I make my appeal, but if I don't get an appointment before the thirty days I need some extra advice. This is why I posted on here.

I wondered if anybody else had had a similar experience of misinformation and whether appealing on those grounds without proof would actually get me anywhere. I am also going to put a complaint in, I think its appalling that people on the phone dealing with such important matters which affect peoples lives so drastically are not be properly trained in what they are advising.

Alik

I'm not really able to offer much help, but have you applied for Disability living allowence?
If you haven't yet, then I would say give it a try - if you get rejected at least you tried.