GRrrrrrr WTC & CTC.......!!!!!! !!

maisiemac_2

Dear All Fellow Sufferers,

Here's a copy of the email I've just sent...no idea if it will actually be read by a human, but I'm at the stage just beyond desperate.:eek: ...like loads of you I keep being fobbed off by telephone advisors (it's soooooo frustrating not being put through to a manager :mad: as you can see, since making the effort to join the workforce ( and I really enjoy my job) it's forced me into this farcical situation where, I'm expected to support my kids and pay all my bills from thin air!!!!!!!

I did get my maintenance bonus for returning to work ....but christmas and car tax consumed most of it.....cos I thought I could spend it on much needed clothing and the rest has been used to pay 4 weeks rent to date

Sorry for ranting...but feel a bit better for sharing..my head's spinning and I'm off to phone the Tax Credit Helpline yet again...advisor No.8.........I'll keep you posted.

This site is fantastic and has helped me keep my sanity just knowing I'm not alone:T


[EMAIL="adjudicators@gtnet.gov.uk"]adjudicators@gtnet.gov.uk[/EMAIL]
Subject: WTC & CTC


[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Mae/LOCALS~1/APPLIC~1/IM/Runtime/Skin/E2FEE5~1/content.gif[/IMG] Please Help - Constantly Phoning Tax Credits Helpline Regarding Non-Payments


My NI No....XXXXXXXXX




Can someone please look into my first ever claim for CTC & WTC ?

I started working part time on 5th Dec 06 (20 hours per week, paid monthly)

I had been on IS for approx 6 years prior to that.

My lone parent advisor at Jobcentre Plus filled in all the appropriate forms and sent them off after persuading me that my basic wage of £104 per week would be boosted with the addition of both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

Since starting work (5th December) I have not received any of the above.........and have been expected to provide for myself and 3 children on my wages alone.

I have explained to the helpline staff ( spoken to at least 7 different advisors) that my rent alone is £70 per week then there's council tax of £16. Since this leaves me with £18 a week to pay bills and buy food and everything else..I JUST CANNOT MANAGE (who could ?)

All I'm ever told is ' your claim is in the system. we're just waiting for it to be verified' ' You do know it will all be backdated when it comes through' NOT MUCH HELP though as I'm sinking now.

Please, please help me to get this sorted before I have to tell my employers that I can no longer afford to work and have to go back on Income Support.

Yours sincerely

socks_uk

Good Luck maisiemac.

I've spent all weekend re-finding all my tax credit 'stuff', wage slips, P60s etc. trying to sort out a supposidly sorted out problem from 2003/04. I've even said I'll make an appointment and go to wherever 'tax credit office' is and sort it out in person.

Hope we both get sorted out soon.

Jill

Scarlett1

maisie arent you getting any housing benefit, or is the £70 you have to pay on top of what they pay ?

also, did you not get the back to work voucher for clothes or the new back to work premium of £40 per week payable for 1 year ?

maisiemac_2

Scarlett1 wrote:

maisie arent you getting any housing benefit, or is the £70 you have to pay on top of what they pay ?

also, did you not get the back to work voucher for clothes or the new back to work premium of £40 per week payable for 1 year ?

Hi Scarlett,

Nope....my IS & HB/CT only ran on for 4weeks after I started work, so I've had to pay all of this myself now since Jan!!!! Of course I was thinking then, that my tax credits would be coming thru anyday now I've paid 4 weeks rent and council tax is due in 2 instalments due 15th of this month and same next month (both £90 odds)

They said I wasn't entitled to the back to work voucher (£250) as I'd started work before telling them at SS......this was because I got the job on the spot, interviewed Fri and started Mon lol....but as I actually hated it during the first 2 weeks ( and hadn't been paid anyway) I only went to see my lone parent advisor on week 2.....all above board and told her I was working, she had all my notes from previous interview anyway....even she thought that they'd 'allow' that payment, but no chance.

Not sure what the back to work payment is?? All I know is that the only money going into my bank account is my wages....grand total of £430.32 for all of Jan.
My maintenance via CSA is £29 p.w

I've just sat and read the booklet 'lone parent back to work scheme' and laffed:rotfl: they certainly haven't helped me or thousands of others who are left struggling when the 'system' holds onto our money.

I mentioned I got the maintenance bonus payment....which was earmarked for so many things....I've had to cancel buying a cooker and fridge/freezer to replace the decrepit models I have at the mo....but hey at least I've got them even if they are on their last legs....so glad I didn't arrange for them to be taken away last month as I'd intended:eek:

To everybody struggling and fighting this monster called 'tax credits helpline'
lets all stick together and hope that SOON there will be a big !!!!! kick for the idiot who is in charge of it all.:T

Maisie

fatblokexl

can i ask who you have emailed
as there is no route for applicants to email complaints?

normal route for your query is helpline "wheres my payments?"
then if not satisied with advisor response, escalate to team leader (if available they should take the call or offer call back.
if not happy with team leader response, they could escalate to TCO or send you a complaints form.

any email address you have contacted will probably not deal with the query or at the very most, it will be forwarded but will take time to respond.

most claims sent via DWP/JCP will have been picked up be computer as having possible income for 05-06 (if applicable), but as the electronic form used by DWP/JCP has no faciclity to record potential income for the current tax year (06-07) the claim will be delayed.
if this is the case with yours (helpline should spot it as it is bread and butter case in Dundee office at least)they will ask you for an estimate of earnings. if this is NIL, £100 or £10,000 it does not matter, the system will not process a claim without a fugure in that tax years box.

there could be other reasons but from what you have said, it seems to be the most likely in past experience

maisiemac_2

Hi Fatblokexl,

I emailed this [EMAIL="adjudicators@gtnet.gov.uk"]adjudicators@gtnet.gov.uk[/EMAIL] just because I was so frustrated at the inept and totally inadequate 'Helpline'.

Since posting this morning, I have been busy, using up my day off chasing this berluddy situation round and round :mad:

I've been back on the phone to the Tax Credits Helpline as they told me on Friday to give it another couple of days!!!!!! This time.....the 'advisor' (why do they call them that? cos they don't give any advice other than ring back and see what happens) tells me.....she can't help me....my case has been referred and Head Office are dealing with it, no she can't tell me a time scale, blah blah

I then phoned my Lone Parent Advisor at Jobcentre PLus....who has been aware of my problems, she said the same about Tax CRedits Helpline!!!! She admitted that even she can't get to speak to anyone 'higher' the one time she did speak to a line manager, the line went dead when she tried to argue her clients case!!!:eek: So even with her Social Security background and qualifications etc, her hands are tied also. She advised me to email my local MP as this sometimes gets the required action. I must say she was truly sympathetic and told me to try and hang in there.

I have now emailed my MP (Robert Keys) conservative and briefly outlined my situation.....so fingers crossed, I'll get a reply.

The reason for initial non payment was that, when I put in my claim, the system flagged up that my children were already being claimed for!!!!!!YEP MY EX HAS BEEN CLAIMING ILEGALLY. However, after about 4 calls explaining the situation and explaining that my children have always been in my care and stayed with me. I thought that it had been cleared. I was then told my PAYE number had been entered wrongly! Each time I was told, nothing is stopping me getting what is rightfully mine, it's just a case of waiting on the OK from Head Office.......So I wait and I wait, like so many others, helpless against a system that is more screwed up than the CSA..hey and that takes some doing dunnit.:rolleyes:

I've told my advisor at Jobcentre that I'll give it another week....then I will need to go back onto Income Support:eek: :eek: As any job I apply for, even if I give this one up will raise the same problems with the Tax Credits...I'm so grateful for your interest and pointers...I need all the help and advice I can get, so big thanks

Maisie

fatblokexl

it is always a big issue when someone is claiming for children when they appear on someone elses claim (rightly or wrongly).
TCO must write to both claimants witha set of questions, and await a reply. without a reply from both this will delay the "awaiting award" claim.
the other one will continue, as in theory, the money for the children is being paid out.

it used to be the case that whoever claimed child benefit was deemed the main carer, now it isn't so clear cut.

i feel for you on this one as it is a common problem.
all that can be done from the helpline seems to be done and it's not their fault no timescales can be given as there are none for this type of thing.
TCO appear to have been made aware of the problem and will be dealing with it. (as mentioned can take time).
best bet is to call helpline again!!
and get them to send a TCO ESCALATION WAM (team leaders only can send this).
this will alert TCO that there is an unsuitable delay in your claim causing financial hardship etc etc and they might prioritise your claim.