In a huge mess!

Sarah69

Hi, I don't know if anyone can advise me on what I can do. My youngest son (17) went to college from September 2013 - September 2014. I also started work then so got child tax credits and working tax credit. Everything was fine until last week I had a letter asking me to ring HMRC regarding my tax credits so I rung and they asked a few questions and the outcome was that my child tax credits should have ended in September 2014. So this week I had to check my bank account for another reason and noticed that I hadn't received any working tax credits, I called them and explained and they told me I'm not working enough hours to get working tax credits, I'm still doing the same as when I claimed in the first place which is somewhere between 16 - 18 a week. I'm so totally confused by this! So now it seems I'm going to have to pay several thousand back. Now my problem is my monthly wage for February was £717 after working out all my outgoings it leaves me with £7.50 for food for the month. So I'm extremely worried as how I'm meant to live like this. I work as a community carer in my village where I live. I'm doing all the hours there are available. I cannot work in other hours because I don't drive. Is there anything I can claim cos I cannot live like this. I'm so so worried.

pmlindyloo

Sarah69 wrote: »

Hi, I don't know if anyone can advise me on what I can do. My youngest son (17) went to college from September 2013 - September 2014. I also started work then so got child tax credits and working tax credit. Everything was fine until last week I had a letter asking me to ring HMRC regarding my tax credits so I rung and they asked a few questions and the outcome was that my child tax credits should have ended in September 2014. So this week I had to check my bank account for another reason and noticed that I hadn't received any working tax credits, I called them and explained and they told me I'm not working enough hours to get working tax credits, I'm still doing the same as when I claimed in the first place which is somewhere between 16 - 18 a week. I'm so totally confused by this! So now it seems I'm going to have to pay several thousand back. Now my problem is my monthly wage for February was £717 after working out all my outgoings it leaves me with £7.50 for food for the month. So I'm extremely worried as how I'm meant to live like this. I work as a community carer in my village where I live. I'm doing all the hours there are available. I cannot work in other hours because I don't drive. Is there anything I can claim cos I cannot live like this. I'm so so worried.

How many hrs is your contract for?

Are you a single mum?

Do you claim HB and CT reduction?

Is your son now working?

pmlindyloo

You only need to work 16 hrs if you are single and have dependant children.

If you no longer have dependant children then you need to work 30 hrs a week to receive working tax children.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/366913/wtc2_1_.pdf

Caz3121

If you receive housing benefit you should advise them of the change of circumstances also

Sarah69

The council already knew before I did!

My son hasn't found any work yet.

Oh I see I didn't know about the 30 hours work but still I don't work anywhere near that and the extra hours are not there to have. I may have to advertise for private clients but I don't know how long that will take. What can I do in the meantime?

pmlindyloo

If you have a tax credits overpayment then you need to do a couple of things:

Check that the overpayment is correct
Speak to tax credits to say that you are in financial hardship and ask for a repayment plan. You will probably need to produce a financial statement detailing your income and expenditure.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/343807/cop26.pdf

You may want to seek help from CAB to help you check the overpayment and completing your Income and Expenditure statement.

When your dependant becomes a non dependant you should have informed all benefit departments so you need to inform the council quickly as you may have an overpayment with them too.

There are only two ways of addressing any debts - increasing your income and/or decreasing your expenditure.

If your son is working then he needs to contribute to the household.

You will probably have to consider moving to a different area to seek full time work especially if you don't drive.

Sorry if this seems a bit harsh but I'm afraid it's just the reality of the situation.

There is lots of information on this site about reducing expenditure so have a read. You could also post on the debt free wannabe board for some support and ideas.

If you have a good CAB near you they can be a great support with talking you through it all.

Sarah69

I certainly will be going to the CAB to see what help I can get. I informed both tax credits and child benefit the date my son finished the course he was on, child benefits stopped and I still got tax credits so I thought this was until my son reached 18 and could claim jobseekers allowance or have found a job.

My son has not found a job yet.

The council know of my situation.

I need a short term solution to this, I'm not moving! I will be advertising to try to find private clients. I will also be ringing agency's but they mainly need car drivers.

After working out my expenses I'm left with £7.50 a month for food!

I don't understand why you can get working tax credits if you work 30 hours or more and I'm working 16-18 hours and I get no help! The government expect people to work and then when you do you get no help!

I would have been better off claiming esa and dla than to be out to work trying to better myself!

Caz3121

Sarah69 wrote: »

I don't understand why you can get working tax credits if you work 30 hours or more and I'm working 16-18 hours and I get no help! The government expect people to work and then when you do you get no help!

this is to encourage people that are able to work more hours do so. The reduction to only have to work 16 hours was due to having a dependent child

midnight_express

You don't seem to realise that you have committed benefit fraud, owe a large sum of money and could be prosecuted.

SnooksNJ

Sarah69 wrote: »

The government expect people to work

Yes,the Government is kind of funny that way.

helping_hand2014

midnight_express wrote: »

You don't seem to realise that you have committed benefit fraud, owe a large sum of money and could be prosecuted.

i dont think the OP committed benefit fraud on purpose if this would be the case then its down to HMRC to decide that not really anyone else so WORRYING THE OP eve more is just adding more worry and stress