Over 60 claims 16 to 30 hours

geminimum_2

Hi All My first time on here, so please accept my apologies now or I will chicken out again. So here goes. Please Please can anybody help, I just need to know, if my husband who is aged 60, is eligible for tax credits he is now working 19 hours a week, following a reduction, by his employers from 30. He had been receiving credit up to the date of reduction. The Tax Credit Office say he is not entitled now? Thank you in anticipation of your assistance.

Icequeen99

He will still qualify. This is a new rule that was introduced in April 2011 for claimants who are aged 60 or over and work at least 16 hrs per week.

It is here on the HMRC website: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/workingtaxcredit/work.htm

He may lose the 30 hour element, but if his income falls that might be offset slightly.

IQ

Icequeen99

Fiver29 wrote: »

No he won't be. Only single parents or people with a disability are entitled to TC on hours less than 30 per week.

That is incorrect. The rules changed from April 2011, i have given a link above.

Those aged 60 or over have been added to the group of people who can claim at 16 hours instead of 30.

IQ

Icequeen99

Fiver29 wrote: »

Are you sure

The criteria you quote is for the 50+ element, that is something different and it will be finishing from April 2012.

If you follow the link I quoted it says:

If you are not responsible for children, you need to work the following hours to get Working Tax Credit:
if you are aged 25 or over, you need to do paid work of at least 30 hours a week
if you have a disability and are 16 or over, you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours a week
if you are aged 50 or over, and are going back to work immediately after being on out-of-work benefits, such as Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance, you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours a week
if you are aged 60 or over, you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours a week

See also this page explaining the changes: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcreditsbudget2010/index.htm
specifically the 60+ change: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcreditsbudget2010/index.htm#6

IQ

Fiver29

Icequeen99 wrote: »

The criteria you quote is for the 50+ element, that is something different and it will be finishing from April 2012.

If you follow the link I quoted it says:

If you are not responsible for children, you need to work the following hours to get Working Tax Credit:
if you are aged 25 or over, you need to do paid work of at least 30 hours a week
if you have a disability and are 16 or over, you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours a week
if you are aged 50 or over, and are going back to work immediately after being on out-of-work benefits, such as Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance, you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours a week
if you are aged 60 or over, you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours a week

See also this page explaining the changes: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcreditsbudget2010/index.htm
specifically the 60+ change: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcreditsbudget2010/index.htm#6

IQ

Apologises you are right.

ETA: deleted my posts so as not to confuse the OP.

Icequeen99

Fiver29 wrote: »

HMRC and Directgov seem to differ then.

From Directgov:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits/DG_194914

and

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits/Gettingstarted/whoqualifies/WorkingTaxCreditthebasics/DG_172728

It is Regulation 4(1)(d) Tax Credit Entitlement and Maximum Rate regulations introduced from 6 April 2011.

IQ

Icequeen99

Fiver29 wrote: »

Apologises you are right.

Thanks, i'll tell that to my husband!

geminimum_2

Thank you very much for the advice given will re contact tax credits and respond when their reply obtained

geminimum_2

Following up, my Husband telephoned, again, the helpline, last Friday 14th,and was told a letter was on its way, asking for more information but the gentleman was unable to tell him what was needed, and the letter had been sent two days previously, and should have it the following week. A week later, and getting more stressed by the day, Nothing received. I appreciate they appear to be in a mess, but surely what we are told should be the truth, and not what appears to be a fob off.Is anybody else getting this? Could any body advise how to proceed further as I am considering a formal complaint. Any help is much appreciated/

Icequeen99

You could try and get some help from an adviser who can speak to the atx credit office for you on a special line.

I suppose what you need to know is whether they have stopped the claim or not. They should be able to tell you that on the helpline, i agree it isn't acceptable to leave you in teh dark. I would try ringing again and asking what the status of the claim is.

Try Citizens advice or https://www.taxaid.org.uk or https://www.litrg.org.uk

IQ

LL30

I've just had a nightmare with both the DWP and HMRC - in the end I wrote a circular letter to all parties involved, and included my MP. My MP got back to me today and he has contacted them on my behalf. Lo and behold, I got a call about an hour ago and everything has been sorted - apparently (will believe it when I see it!) I advise that you follow everything up with a letter, so it's in black and white. I wonder how many hours of MPs time is being taken up by the tax credits rigmarole tbh, but if you need to, get them involved.