And so it begins...

Elle00

Why can no-one ever get these benefits calculations correct?

I rang the council last week and asked them to freeze my HB claim while I was sorting out my HB amendment having returned to work but in need of TC figures to declare my true income. Today there is a full week's HB in my account. I could cry. Plus, they sent out the amendment form well in advance of my return to work and dated it 7 June when I asked them NOT to. This meant that in waiting for my TC figures before completing and returning the form, I was a day late in the form being received (you're supposed to only get 28dys from date of issue or you lose the whole month's entitlement). So at the latest they should have shut the claim on 5 July anyway if playing by the rules. But no, they haven't processed my form and neither have they frozen my claim as asked or shut it down as they should have done under HB regulations. I wonder why I bother calling them sometimes, I'd be better off telling the cat.

I rang TCs last week to explain that I thought my entitlement was too high. So today's award notice comes through and is still wrong. It says I'll earn 14500 between 6 April 07 and 5 April 08. No it won't, I said my salary is 14500 and my start date 25 June. Therefore my income will be 11242 in this tax year.

I also am still not convinced that IS does not count towards income. What do other people think on this score? I have asked two different advisors and twice been told it is discounted and that TCs are based only on earned income. So does that mean you could claim IS for fifty weeks in the previous tax year, work for two and then cash in on the TCs the following tax year? I had a previous award notice WITH IS on it which is why this continues to bother me.

When I rang last week regarding the incorrect award notice I was told it was correct bar the salary details missing off it completely and that nothing would change on the amendment except the bit about next year's projected entitlement. But oh no, this is just not true. No, today's new amendment shows my entitlement at £12pw less than the one from the week before plus I've been given an extra payment today just to horrify me further. They paid me on Friday and now again today.

I've only just returned to work having been off sick for three months and already I'm back at the doctor's on Wednesday to discuss my chronic fatigue. No bloody wonder I'm so tired all the time.

I guess this is more of a rant than a post asking for constructive advice but of course I welcome anyone who has an idea of how to get these people to listen to me and get things right the first time (hell the second time would do).

As usual, I could not get through to speak to anyone tonight so that option's out. I'm bloody fed up. You try to help yourself and no-one gives a toss do they? I should have stayed put on IS again and not bothered going to work again. Future? Pft, what future. AM FED UP.

CIS

social security benefits and whether they count as income for TC can be found on the HMRC site - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/tctmanual/TCTM04400.htm (IS can sometimes be counted as income)

Elle00

CIS wrote: »

social security benefits and whether they count as income for TC can be found on the HMRC site - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/tctmanual/TCTM04400.htm (IS can sometimes be counted as income)

Thanks for that. Am attempting to work out what section 665 of the ITEPA 2003 is now via google...

Not sure if it'll actually make a jot of difference knowing what my entitlement should actually be though, they will probably still enter my details into the system incorrectly.

Now I'm starting to realise how so many people racked up these huge TC overpayments.

EDIT: Hmm, "Exempt unless payable to member of couple involved in trade dispute". Well this is a start at least!

To be absolutely honest with people, I just wanted to moan because I'm stressed and my head is about to burst. I'm going to have an early night and come back to this tomorrow. I'm really and truly get fed up with this happening over and over again. If I could get off benefits completely I would do so in a second even if it meant living in a bedsit. What's better really? A life living just above the poverty line where stress reigns free and your head constantly feels fit to burst or one where you have a lesser standard of living but time to enjoy your life? BRING BACK MUD HUTS!!!

Morglin

If you can get to a local office, the CAB are usually pretty good at working out what you should be getting.

Lin

petercarots

Income Support is definitely not included in TC calculations, they need to know you're on it, and the award notice will show this but it will not affect your payments. As a rule of thumb, with TC if its not taxable income then its not included, there a couple of exceptions, but they affect a minority of people.</p>As for your payments going down and the two payments in one week, this is quite normal and usually happens when a claim is reprocessed. You've probably had two payments in one week and the payments across the rest of the year have lowered to cover the double payment. The best way to check is to check the total entitlement for the whole year, then you'll know if your entitlement has changed.

Finally, DONT go to the CAB for advice on TC, they do their best but they dont understand the system and they tend to give advice on payments that is too simple, they dont take into account enough information. The TC helpline are the only people who know, I know they're busy at the moment but give it till mid-august, once the annual reviews are out of the way and there shouldnt be a problem getting through!

Elle00

petercarots wrote: »

Income Support is definitely not included in TC calculations, they need to know you're on it, and the award notice will show this but it will not affect your payments. As a rule of thumb, with TC if its not taxable income then its not included, there a couple of exceptions, but they affect a minority of people.</p>As for your payments going down and the two payments in one week, this is quite normal and usually happens when a claim is reprocessed. You've probably had two payments in one week and the payments across the rest of the year have lowered to cover the double payment. The best way to check is to check the total entitlement for the whole year, then you'll know if your entitlement has changed.

Finally, DONT go to the CAB for advice on TC, they do their best but they dont understand the system and they tend to give advice on payments that is too simple, they dont take into account enough information. The TC helpline are the only people who know, I know they're busy at the moment but give it till mid-august, once the annual reviews are out of the way and there shouldnt be a problem getting through!

Thanks Peter, you're spot on actually. I used my lunch break (who needs to eat huh?!) to make my phone calls and what you're saying is the same as they told me. They also told me that after reprocessing my award again today to correct the mistake of last week (salary details) I may well get yet another payment this week!!!

I rang HB as well and have a list of things to do for that.

I'd write a more detailed reply but to be honest I need to use my time to write the four or five letters I need to get done tonight (plus the one David Cameron best watch out for regarding his unfounded claims that kids from single parent families usually grow up to be scum).

Thanks for letting me rant guys. And of course for the advice.