Last year's income is not relevant

connikins

Hello,

I wonder if anyone can help me, apologies if someone else has already asked this...

At the beginning of this year both my husband and I were made redundant, me in Feb and him in May, up until that point our household income was about £30k.

As of beginning of Sept I work 30 hours a week for minimum wage (approx £750 a month) and my husband is unemployed. He is not on JSA because he doesn't qualify due to the hours I work and also is not seeking work due to mental health issues. (He does not want to go down the disability issue as he's never had a diagnosis and feels very confused about it).

Anyway, I am trying to fill out the form to apply for working tax credits and am confused because it only asks me about last year's income which would obviously mean we wouldn't qualify? How can I demonstrate on the form that we are now earning about £10k compared to last year's £30k?

If anyone can shed any light I'd be really grateful!

C
xxx

skater_kat

you can request they base the calculaton on this years income.

connikins

skater_kat wrote: »

you can request they base the calculaton on this years income.

Many thanks, How would I do that though? There's nowhere on the form for it and it specifies not to send anything other than the form in the envelope?

skater_kat

is there anywhere on the form where is says a miscellanous or 'anything else you need to tell us' type box?

if not - it would be a phonecall to them (horrible i know.)

connikins

skater_kat wrote: »

is there anywhere on the form where is says a miscellanous or 'anything else you need to tell us' type box?

if not - it would be a phonecall to them (horrible i know.)

alas no, I suspect I will have to phone. Gah! I hate phoning them, prefer to have all dealings with anything like this in writing so I know exactly what was said. I invariably end up speaking to someone who doesn't give a hoot!

skater_kat

ghastly.

maybe if you are not allowed to send anything with the form - send a covering letter but in a seperate envelope? that way you havent broken the rules but you have done it in writing. just an idea.

Horseunderwater

It is the way the system has been set up unfortunately. Fill in last years income as requested and then when you get the letter telling you that you will get the standard amount of £545 approx, ring them at that point to explain your full circumstances. Then anything will be back dated to the point they received the application, so submit the form as quick as you can.
You say that your OH is having mental problems. but is confused and does not want to claim. He might be able to get DLA if he needs someone to go with him when he is out and about or needs an eye keeping on him in the house for his safety. It's always worth trying. If you can get it, it will help with some other costs. You may get council tax reduction and if in rental house may get some help with housing costs. Go to entitled to on this site and play around with sums etc.
Frances

connikins

thanks folks, I think I'll send this form away tomorrow AND phone them AND write to them?

Wiley

connikins wrote: »

thanks folks, I think I'll send this form away tomorrow AND phone them AND write to them?

Fill in the form and send it in, wait until you get your award letter back from them (which will be based on the PY income), then at that point phone the TC helpline and explain your income for this year will be much different, give them the figures and they will recalculate it based on the new figures for this year