Help me please - Desperate

Allalone_2

I am a widow in my late forties, I live alone in my own home and I am absolutely desperate for advice please.

I have a small business but since starting it I have not been making any income from it, considering the initial outlay from my own savings that I have put into starting it up. For over two years since I became a widow I have been supporting myself financially (because I was told I was not entitled to any benefits) but now my savings are gone and I have even got a sizeable overdraft in continuing to support myself. The only other means I have to live on is a very small pension of £25 per week.

Just recently I had been advised by someone that I was entitled to Working Tax Credits, this was confirmed by the Inland Revenue Helpline that I phoned for advice after giving them all the facts and figures. They sent out a claim form which I filled and sent back to them, five weeks on from them which is today I decided to phone them and ask the status of my claim and I was told that my claim for tax credits has been rejected -WHY! I am absolutely devastated with nowhere to turn now except to send an appeal in.

I was counting on this small lifeline as I'm sinking very fast!

TheWaltons_3

Have you tried:

https://www.entitledto.co.uk


This will give you a rough idea... why have they been refused? If you aren't working, I don't think you are entitled to Tax Credits though.. unless you have children...

Allalone_2

Yes I am working, over the thirty hours per week as it is a seven day a week 365 days a year job.
I registered as self employed from 28th February this year.
The person from the WTC Helpline that I spoke to today told me he didn't know the reason why I had been refused it, just that I had the right to appeal against the decision-which I obviously will-if that will do me any good.

I just cant live on £25 a week otherwise and that is currently being taxed monthly too.

I was initially told by them over the phone that I would be entitled to about £46 per week and I have caculated on the link above and that states £2500 a year.

mummytofour

Whats your business? How does it make money? Is there anyway you can your bring in more money? Build up the business? Try you local business link for help and advice. I KNOW this is no help with your tax credit claim, just trying to help.

hotblu

Hello,

If you are over 25 years old and work 30 hours per week and have income of less than 12k (approx) then you are entitled to Working Tax credits. It sounds like you haven't been helped by the tax credits advisor, what I suggest you do is phone them up again and request the reason your claim has been rejected (if a claim is rejected it will clearly state on the system/claim form the reason it has been rejected). How can you be expected to appeal if you dont know the reason. Also, I know their have always been on going issues were the tax credits office write to you and request further information regarding your claim and give you thirty days to reply, and if you don't they reject the claim (only problem with this is if you dont recieve the letter, how can you reply). Hope this helps.

Morglin

These people give free advice about Tax Credits:

http://www.taxaid.org.uk/

Lin

Scarlett1

your could try and claim Income Support, are you getting your 25% rebate of your council tax, might be worth putting in a claim for council tax benefit aswell, contact your local jobcentreplus for an IS form and your local council for a council tax form, do you own your home or privately rent ?

zoezoe_3

Allalone wrote: »

Yes I am working, over the thirty hours per week as it is a seven day a week 365 days a year job.
I registered as self employed from 28th February this year.
The person from the WTC Helpline that I spoke to today told me he didn't know the reason why I had been refused it, just that I had the right to appeal against the decision-which I obviously will-if that will do me any good.

I just cant live on £25 a week otherwise and that is currently being taxed monthly too.

I was initially told by them over the phone that I would be entitled to about £46 per week and I have caculated on the link above and that states £2500 a year.

Why are you working all these hours for two years for no money ? If you are not making money do you have a plan to actually make some money ? COuld you get anotehr job ?

Gaz83

You mention that you have been making next to no money from it "considering the initial outlay" of your savings. Do you mean that you ARE making money from the business, but perhaps don't consider it as 'profit' due to your initial outlay? If so, how much are you making?

Gaz83

hotblu wrote: »

Hello,

If you are over 25 years old and work 30 hours per week and have income of less than 12k (approx) then you are entitled to Working Tax credits. It sounds like you haven't been helped by the tax credits advisor, what I suggest you do is phone them up again and request the reason your claim has been rejected (if a claim is rejected it will clearly state on the system/claim form the reason it has been rejected). How can you be expected to appeal if you dont know the reason. Also, I know their have always been on going issues were the tax credits office write to you and request further information regarding your claim and give you thirty days to reply, and if you don't they reject the claim (only problem with this is if you dont recieve the letter, how can you reply). Hope this helps.

Not quite correct. All the helpline advisor will be able to see are the words "REJECTED" on the system, with no other reason. When a person appeals, then TCO will notify them WHY it has been rejected, but the helpline advisor won't have access to that and won't be able to say.