Really need some tax credits advice

hs122

I live with my partner and we are expecting our first baby in 2 weeks. I am going on maternity leave on Friday and will only receive SMP.
My midwife told me to use the turn2us benefit checker and it asked for our income for last year.
I was at sixth form and working part time and my partner was on a lower wage so it said we were entitled to £173 a week!
However in reality this tax year we will have earnt between us just over 26 grand.
However next tax year (14/15) our income will be significantly reduced again as in September I am going to university.
My partner earns £17500 a year before tax.
I'm so confused about what (if anything) we are entitled to.
I've rang the tax credit helpline twice but they were useless and just sent me out application forms which only ask for last years income!

notanewuser

hs122 wrote: »

I live with my partner and we are expecting our first baby in 2 weeks. I am going on maternity leave on Friday and will only receive SMP.
My midwife told me to use the turn2us benefit checker and it asked for our income for last year.
I was at sixth form and working part time and my partner was on a lower wage so it said we were entitled to £173 a week!
However in reality this tax year we will have earnt between us just over 26 grand.
However next tax year (14/15) our income will be significantly reduced again as in September I am going to university.
My partner earns £17500 a year before tax.
I'm so confused about what (if anything) we are entitled to.
I've rang the tax credit helpline twice but they were useless and just sent me out application forms which only ask for last years income!

Tax credits are based on the previous year's income.

hs122

So if when baby's born i make a claim based on last year they're not going to tell me I've been overpaid and suddenly demand it all back am I?