Telling CTC about changes

razzie

Hi have just sorted out my CTC after finally being awarded DLA for my son... and have just noticed that they still have it down on award form that i have childcare costs of £30. They dont pay it as I earn above the threshold (by £100) and havent done for a year. I have not had child care costs for a year since son started Secondary school . I did phone them a year ago and inform them that no more child care but clearly the advisor did not bother to change it. I havent got anything to worry about have I? I always feel paranoid about things like this with them after they tried to to say there was an overpayment some years ago which was quashed in the end..

Horseunderwater

If they haven't paid it and you have not needed it since he began secondary school then nothing to worry about. However TCO does need to take childcare off the award notice, just in case your income does go down and it triggers it off again.
Similar happened with our claim - OH was down as working 39+ hours and WTC was there to begin in following year due to income changes. However, he lost his job and therefore did not qualify. So I rang and told them when he lost his job and they changed it right away and told me that I would then get an extra 4 weeks WTC run on from when he left. He did. 204 days worth in total. Very strange system. But due to lower income, we then got some WTC paid for this year. Which is correct as we are due some. More to come once renewal goes in next year as my gross income is going down due to me being off work.

razzie

Thanks a lot for the reassurance.... will ring them today.

wayne0

Horseunderwater wrote: »

Which is correct as we are due some. More to come once renewal goes in next year as my gross income is going down due to me being off work.

i believed the TC assesment was based on this years earnings ASWELL as last years? last year was a guide, but the actual figure is based for this year...

razzie

Well apparantly IT does matter. Sent new award which is reduced by £200 month!! Rang them and they say that even though they were not paying for my childcare, the fact that I was is included in their workings out of what I am entitled to?? I am confused I thought it was just based on your earnings not what you spent it on??! But they say NO! So now I'm £200 worse off....

dundeediva

although your income may be above the threshold for getting childcare costs paid, having childacre on your claim increases the income threshold (the amount you are able to earn). So if you didnt tell them the childcare had stopped then thats why your payments have gone down and you might be overpaid.

Sorry sorry! Didnt see you did actually tell them but it wasnt updated. downlaod dispute form from hmrc website. Good luck getting it quashed though, they may say you should have checked your award notice (i don't know obviously just guessing)

Icequeen99

As the previous poster has said, it does make a difference because it changes the calculation. You can get more CTC by including childcare costs even though you don't qualify for any of the childcare element.

You can try and dispute it, but in the last year you will have received other award notices with it on and unless you told HMRC they were wrong then it is unlikely you will get it written off.

IQ

georgiasdragons

Have you only just had your award notice since you made the change December?

Its ok i made an ammendment and not heard anything yet.

razzie

No I didnt speak to them until 2 weeks ago. Was putting it off! got award notice few days ago... I still think its confusing. They are either paying towards your childcare or not?It seems they are either way... so they were paying towards it even though they clearly stated on letters they were not . And they have deducted more than what I was paying for CC?! Thanks for replies.