Tax Credits 'Overpayment'

supermum75

I have received a Tax credits award notifying me that I have been overpaid by £920 in 2011-2012.

Our joint income (as a family of four-two kids under 16, two adults) was approx. £25,000 in 2011-2012.

My husband struggled in Sept/Oct 2011 with his self employed income and I was just doing some part-time work and so our income dropped dramatically. I informed the tax credits office and they duly increased (a minimum but much needed) our payments.

The in Nov 2011 my husband got an employed position and I called to inform the tax credits of our change in circumstances and gave them an estimate of £25,000 income for the tax year.

However they appear to have ignored this and say we owe them the £920 from when I called in the Sept/Oct...I cant understand why this is so as I have kept them fully informed of our changes (and I have the paperwork to prove it)

When I call they say it is because of the Sept/Oct info I gave them but it changed 3 times after this and I have the awards to prove this!!

I am thinking of appealing as I believe that I have kept them fully informed of all changes and I am being asked to pay back what they have given to us.

Help!!!

tillieflop

I had a similar letter today, only I had been overpayed by £1660. I panicked a little

I, also, informed them of a change of circumstance at the end of September. When I sat and read the final award notice, I saw that the working tax element was only until the date in September that I had made the phone call. So do double check that all the information on each part is correct, as I had been working without a break for all of the last tax year, yet the working tax element only ran til 24th September.

It took 2 phonecalls today to sort it out. The first one said that I would have to appeal and that they would send the appeal forms out.

I then checked the HMRC website, which states that if any information is wrong to call them and it could be sorted it. So I called again and spoke to a different person, and explained what I felt the mistake was, it took a couple of explanations for her to understand. (But that probably says more about me than her ) And she was able to correct the mistake there and then (note HMRC mistake - not mine). I will get a new final award notice, and I feel more than hopeful that I haven't received an overpayment at all.

hazelbunny

What was you 2010/2011 income? was your 2011/2012 award initially based on this or did you supply and estimate when you renewed?