tax credit delays

willis999

hi, is there a time limit on how long the tax credits can make you wait for payments.
basicaly, i am claiming tc for our 2 eldest children, recently had a 3rd, called tax credits within a week of partner giving birth, and was told we qualify for a higher payment.
that was 15 weeks ago!!!:mad:
i have called the tax credit office twice a week since!!
but it has always been excuses why they havent proccessed our claim.
after they spelt my daughter wrong mane (Caitlin) they had trouble getting the computer system to process, had the claim escalated twice, had a specail team work on the claim twice, now they have done something where i have to wait 5 clear days and if it dosent work, probally some other excuse.
i have asked them on several occasions, to send me payment for my youngest via giro, as this would end the hardship, then they can work on putting claim on system and i still recive payments, thought this was a good idea, but maybe not, as i keep being refussed this option.
sureley they cant make me wait for to long!
the other thing is i have been advised that i can only claim upto 3 months after a change in circumstances, so would i be entilted to the full backdated amount, from the birth of our youngest child???? as i did inform them within a week, the rest of the time is down to them delaying for the claim..
please ant insight into this problem, would be gratefully recived, thankyou

Gaz83

There is no timescale for cases like these unfortunately.

These changes are referred to as being "stuck in the system" - and the staff on the helpline have no way of knowing how long they take to process.

Be very wary of staff telling you things like "it will go through within a fortnight" as a lot of the staff are guilty of telling policyholders what they want to hear rather than the truth (understandable I suppose given the abuse they receive most of the time).

If it's any consolation, you will be entitled to claim for the full backdated amount for your child as you informed them within the three month timescale.

Watch out though - if you do receive off-system payments, when the award is finally calculated you may receive a lump sum backdated amount, and this will effectively include a double payment (when the off-system payments are taken into account) that you would have to pay back.

petercarots

It should automatically backdate in this situation once the problem has been resolved, alsmost all cases do, its the new cases that dont always backdate correctly.