Working tax credit question

ghostbiker

I was unemployed for 5 years, most of that time i was on Incapacity benifit but the last few months were on JSA.
I now have a job that pays around 14k a year.
When i started work i called the job center and they sorted out everything for me in 1 call. so my benifits stopped and housing/council tax etc.

They also applied for working tax credits for me. (this was on the 28th june)
i have now recived a letter awarding me working tax credit but i belive i earn to much. 14k is over what they say a single person with no kids can earn and recive credits. i have been told its because they take what i earnt LAST year not what i will earn THIS year.
if so great but i wanted to check so called the help line. informed them what i am now earning and tried to explain my worrys. i was told they would look at my case again with the new information and i would have to pay pack the overpayment.

im now worried that i may have to make repayments and everytime i try to call the helpline again it takes 30-60 mins on hold only to be told to wait for the new letter before calling again. the last letter took 2 months before i heard from them though.

So do they base the credit on what i earned in the last tax year about £5500 (in this case great) or on what i NOW earn (basicly £7 pph 43 hpw)

Icequeen99

Providing you have a rise of no more than 10,000, then it will be based on last years income so you shouldn't have an overpayment. But you need to tell them your estimated 12/13 income so that you don't get overpaid from April 2013 (when you will see a drop in tax credits).

IQ

Icequeen99

And in your case, your income can go up to 16,420 before you see a change to your 12/13 claim (because there is a 10,000 disregard and maximum credits are paid under £6420 income).

IQ

ghostbiker

Thank you, this is all i have been trying to find out from thier help line for the last 2 days. they are so unhelpfull and just seem to want to get you off the phone asap.