Tax credits taking the p*ss to renew.

MamaMoo_2

I did my renewal 2 weeks ago, and am expecting around £600 as a lump sum.
My income for last year was £0 despite being employed as I was on MA for 39 weeks, and then on unpaid maternity leave until I handed in my notice.
After 2 weeks, TC have now told me that they need written confirmation of my income for last year, as they are expecting income due to employment. When I renewed I made it perfectly clear why my income was zero. Now, I have to wait ages whilst the letter a) reaches me, b) gets sent back, and c) gets processed. This adds another 2+ weeks on to my renewal time, when I really need my lump sum :@

kirstle99

Hi i'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong, but the 39 weeks of Maternity Allowance, I thoought you were only allowed to deduct the first £100 per week you received it for tax credits purposes, like you do with Statuatory Maternity Pay? So, £3900 maximum? Which means you would have had a small income from when on your Maternity Allowance? (For example if Maternity Allowance was £125 per week, the extra £25 each week would need to be added together, so you would have had a small income of £975 = £25 x 39 weeks). Maybe this is what they are checking, as well as if you took any holiday pay etc from employment aswell?

Aarons_mummy

MA is not counted as income for tax credits, only SMP.

kirstle99

Oh sorry I didn't know the rules were different for MA.

Maybe they're just checking the holiday pay etc then?

[Deleted User]

Also you would not be entitled to working tax credits for the 13 weeks unpaid Maternity Leave, you are only classed as employed for 39 weeks.

MamaMoo_2

Deleted_User wrote: »

Also you would not be entitled to working tax credits for the 13 weeks unpaid Maternity Leave, you are only classed as employed for 39 weeks.

We are still entitled to WTC as my husband was still working full time.
I also didn't get any holiday pay etc, as my holiday was taken last February/March (2010), before I went on Maternity Leave at the end of March.

tinkerbell28

How are they taking the p*ss? They are expecting an income due to employment, you haven't had one. So they want written confirmation of why, what's the problem? They are giving you wads of cash after all, for merely writing a letter to say you didn't earn last year.

Not bad work at all. The self entitlement in your post is shocking. They need a written statement off you, before giving you lots of money.

MamaMoo_2

Because the reason I was £600 down last year anyway was because of incorrect information given to me by their staff, who told me that my MA was counted as income, and to put my income for the year as 39 weeks at £124, and now because they cocked up, I have to wait even longer. They knew when I renewed what the reason for the discrepancy in income was. I think I have every right to be annoyed

bunny999

You're such a big shot why don't you take your "custom" elsewhere.

tinkerbell28

If you actually read guidance notes, you seem like an intelligent woman, you'd see for yourself MA is non declarable. They are giving you lots of free money, and probably because of some system restrictions, they need a written statement as you were technically employed.

So suck it up and get your money, or don't, wallow in anger at the outrage, and don't claim the £600.

I just don't get some people, annoyed because they got something wrong, you could have checked for yourself and the audacity you have to write a letter before being given £600. See how petty that sounds written down?

Spring_Time

You are getting a "wedge" for doing zilch. We are not entitled to this money only a couple of generations ago mums and dads did not have this level of financial support from the government just for having children. There is NO entitlement. If you get free money then great! If you don't then "oh well.."

I don't mean to be non supportive but I hate seeing such a post where you sound so demanding when really the free money you are getting is a bonus and not a right.