Tax Credits-Help??

petetidball

The lovely people at the tax credits office have stopped our tax credits payments because they overpaid us this year based on last years income. :j (thats sarcastic smilie, BTW)

Anyways, last years income was higher than expected because I worked my danglies off doing 50+ hours overtime a month which has since stopped being available. The wife has also been on SMP for the last three months, cutting her wage in half. I'm in the process of writing a letter asking for the award to be reconsidered and appealing on the grounds that withdrawing our tax credits will put us in serious financial hardship. The question is, has anyone appealed against a decision and got it changed? If yes, what did you say that swung it? Any help greatly appreciated!!

Pschyrembel

Hello petetidball

I have been in a similiar position last year and this year again.
I found the easiest way is to phone them and explain the situation to them. I hate phoning them myself, but they are really nice.

In my case they agreed to recalculate TC award. So the initially horrendus amount they wanted back became reasonalby smaller. Then they calculated my new award based on the new figures with low(er) income which would increase my new entitlement. Then they offered to deduct from the new payments every month (or week) a small amount to pay off the outstanding balance. Long story, short point : I still received Tax credits and paid the overpaid amount back without feeling it painfully.

Hope ity makes sense and helps.

Good Luck;)

petetidball

Thanks. I don't really want to phone them because I hate using the phone!! I'll put the wife onto it though.

elliethecat

Those of you who pursuaded the Tax Credits people to reconsider are very lucky. My own experience is that, despite providing adequate information about my circumstances- which they now cann't find, I was overpaid by £800.00. Apparently I was expected to realise that I was being overpaid - not quite sure sure how exactly. Despite going through their full appeals process I have to repay this money at the rate of £20.00 per month, which will take a very long time!! However, good luck to anyone else trying to negotiate with them - may you be more successful than I was.

craftingqueen_2

I wasen't so lucky either,we are family of 5.Ours was cut by half we appealed got it even reduced even more.Hubby won't appeal again incase they reduce it even more.We have had none stop problems with tax credits from day 1.

cq