Tax Credits Eligibility help

Danielle198714

I am looking for some help/ advice on claiming for tax credits. Me and my husband are both employed on a full time basis. His annual salary is £19000 and mine is £25000 so around £44000 joint income. In September I had twin boys, my first two children and I'm currently on maternity leave. Come January my pay will drop down to statutory maternity pay therefore our income will be much less and we are going to seriously struggle financially. When I looked into tax credits I understood it that we wouldn't qualify due to previous earnings but this doesn't help our situation in 2014 at all. Can anyone help or give me some advice, I don't understand any of the policies when it comes to claiming for money/ benefits. I've always just worked hard to earn money but now it seems when we genuinely need some help there's none to be had. Thank you in advice and advice will be greatly appreciated, money is tight with twins!

zagfles

Tax credits work on an annual (tax year) basis so you may not get anything till April. Work out what your joint gross income is likely to be this tax year, disregard the first £100pw of SMP. If it's over about £30k you probably won't get any tax credits till April (I'm assuming you earned £44k last year, and have no disabilities or childcare costs).

BUT apply anyway - as your circumstances may change allowing you to claim some, and you're likely to be eligible in April anyway. You'll just get a nil award initially.