Huge difference, what's more accurate ?

jazzypinkpuppet

Hi, now my children are older I am considering changing my job from 12 hrs p/w to one with 30 hrs p/w, my husband works full time.
I wanted to check how this would affect my Tax credits.

I put all of our details into the Benefits adviser on directgov which said we should be entitled to nearly £186 p/w working and child tax credits.

I put exactly the same information in the HMRC Tax credits calculator and it said yearly award £311 so about £5 p/w/

I have triple checked and the information is identical.

Just wondered if anyone had used these calculators before and how accurate they tend to be.

Many thanks

Caz3121

£186 per week seems pretty high, it would indicate 3 children and a household income last year of under £15k...does that sound right?

kingfisherblue

I'm on income support, two children, and get £181 a week CTC, which includes the disability element and the severe disability element for my son who has severe disabilities. So £186 a week sounds high, especially if your husband works full time as well.

The Job Centre will usually do a 'better off' calculation for you if you ask them.