HMRC inaccurate letter

zagfles

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"About a million letters with wrong information on child tax credits have been sent, which could put off claimants ..."

Read the full story:
HMRC sends wrong benefits warning to 1m families

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No not inaccurate, completely wrong!!

Friend of mine just showed me a letter she's received from HMRC telling her her tax credits claim will end in April unless she contacts them. The letter states:

For child tax credit the income limit is £26,000 for both single and joint households.

Err, no it isn't - she has 2 children, which they know about (who are nowhere near 16). So the income limit for her is about £32200 as HMRC's own website confirms:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/keep-up-to-date/renew-claim/leaving.htm

With more than 2 children it's way higher eg for 4 children it's over £45,000

Has anyone else with more than 1 child had a similar letter telling them the income limit is £26,000?

[Deleted User]

No my neighbour had that exact same letter today but they only have 1 child so hers is correct! They are obviously having a letter sending frenzy, as they do! She was a bit miffed though! Lol! X

jaxjax123

We got the same letter today.

Supermum44

Hi yes i got the same letter on saturday. We have 2 children and joint income is over £32,000. So i guess this means that it will be stopping. My son is nearly 16 and starts full time collage in september so i was hoping we could still get it. But thanks to someone really helpful on the forum they have said we won't. It may not seem a lot to some but to us it is so now got to try and cut back again

zagfles

Just to bump this.

Please could anyone who has received this letter, who has more than one child and is currently getting more than the family element of tax credits (£10pw), please post your circumstances here (income, number of children, childcare, any disability elements).

I think the brown stuff is going to hit the fan over this - this could be headline news within a week.

motherkitty

Yes, we got the same letter today saying exactly the same.
We have two kids and have been claiming for a few years without any major change in income.
We don't get that much but it is a help.

lizalloareds

Yes got the same letter and have 2 kids

anxious_mum

But, hasn't this been communicated already? I knew it was coming, so it wasn't a shock to me. I have one 'child' (he is 16, in full time education), my other son is 19 this year, and also in full time education, and I knew my tax credits would stop in April as I earn over £26,000. There are other threads around where people are saying they never knew about this, but I did, and believe me, I am always the last to hear anything.

Wonderful100

anxious_mum wrote: »

But, hasn't this been communicated already? I knew it was coming, so it wasn't a shock to me. I have one 'child' (he is 16, in full time education), my other son is 19 this year, and also in full time education, and I knew my tax credits would stop in April as I earn over £26,000. There are other threads around where people are saying they never knew about this, but I did, and believe me, I am always the last to hear anything.

I think what the OP means is people are getting this letter regardless of their income, personal circumstance or number of children.

I got this letter this morning and it does not apply to me.

thrifteemee

We had the same letter this morning stating that our claim will end in April because the income limit is £26k.

We have 2 children, I work 26hrs & earn about £9k, DH works 37hrs & earns about £32k. DH's job is at risk and he may be out of work before the end of March, so I need to keep our claim open to be able update our change of circumstances as soon as it happens.

zagfles

Can I suggest anyone with more than 1 child who's had this letter emails their MP about it.

Contact details for all MPs are here http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

I have also PM'ed Martin.