WTC - didn't imagine we might qualify..GRRRR

DFWJane

I'm feeling a bit sick and stupid as I didn't ever imagine we might qualify for WTC and have come across it by accident.

I did a DirectGov benefits check as I may lose my job at the end of August or at best have the hours cut. I have been self employed for over 2 years as a childminder and have had concurrent employment for 6 months. My childminding contracts have now finished so I could potentially be unemployed @ 1/9/13.

I input our total earnings from all employments based on 2012/13 tax year and nearly fell off my chair when it said we may be entitled to WTC. Trouble is, I fear we may have missed out on a lot of money and understand this can't be backdated more than 1 month (yes, I've ordered the forms now and info is ready). We used to get the approx. £10 per week CTC after the children were born (now 4 & 6 yo) but they stopped this in 2012 as DH earned more than 26k.

I feel very cross with myself that it never even occurred to me we might be entitled to any other benefits. We only get child benefit. I got JSA for a while in 2009 and thought I was claiming for everything possible then but that DH must've been earning too much which is why we didn't qualify.

I find tax credits very hard to get my head around and am presuming anything we get now is based on the figures correct @ 5/4/13 so am I right we may only miss out on a few weeks' benefit after that date? Both our incomes for this tax year will be less and I won't qualify for JSA.

Any enlightenment to stop me feeling so stupid appreciated!

princessdon

Your not entilted to WTC - if that helps as its about £13,000 pa without childcare or disabilities.


However, based on 2 children and 26k you should get a small amount of CTC once your employment ends.

DFWJane

Thank you for your reply. I fear the DirectGov calculation is very misleading, it gives WTC amount, nil for CTC!

princessdon

Strange calculator - but yes if your OH is on £26k, with no childcare you'd not get WTC.

Use turn 2 us (it gives annual figures you need to pro rata from September).

McKneff

So hopefully you feel better now lol

DFWJane

Strangely relieved but deflated at the same time!

princessdon

DFWJane wrote: »

Strangely relieved but deflated at the same time!

The amount could be right, just wording wrong, ie tax credits but child element.

Below is the table to give a rough idea (includes WTC and CTC).

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-and-child/work-no-childcosts.htm

DFWJane

Yes, I found that too afterwards. Anyway, might as well fill the forms in - nothing to lose!

Valli

DFWJane wrote: »

Yes, I found that too afterwards. Anyway, might as well fill the forms in - nothing to lose!

Always worth claiming just-in-case.

compoff

It may be the JSA which has caused a miscalculation. Whether someone gets Income Based JSA or Contribution Based JSA can have a massive impact on tax credits entitlement. If income based is marked on the system it wipes out all other income, so important to differentiate between the 2.