Working Tax Credit

ashymark

Hi all,

Basically what I am posting for is because I have just gone 25 in November just gone. I am working full time and have been for a number of years. What I am wanting to know is, is it possible to back date a claim for WTC back to 29 November purely on the basis that I didn't realise that I could be claiming for it.

I have done plenty of reading up on here and on the DWP website and it says I need a copy of my P60, P11D etc which isn't an issue.

Just to muddy the waters a little, my missus is currently 8 months pregnant and was made redundant from her previous job in May. Started working for a new company in July but doesn't qualify for SMP through her company so is having to claim maternity allowance instead. Where I have read on the DWP website, it asks if you are claiming as a couple or a single person. Would my missus being off work now until next September on MA mean that she wouldn't be eligible and so I would be better off putting a claim in for a single person or would that be classed as fraud? We are living together and have a mortgage together.

Thanks in advance

Caz3121

You need to claim as a couple. Working tax credits will be based on the household income so they will initially look at the income for both you and your wife's total April 10-11 so you are likely to get a nil award and then you can give them the estimate for Apr 11 - 12 which will, again, include both your incomes for the year although I believe they discount the first £100 per week of SMP

LL30

MA isn't counted at all - doesn't seem fair really, but will help in your situation

Murgatroyd21

You can request backdating for a maximum (at the moment) of 93 days from when you claim, as long as you meet the criteria during that period. Yes, you need to make a joint claim. MA doesn't get taken in to account so no impact on your claim. If it had been SMP, up to £100pw is discounted.