Child Tax Credits

elisebutt65

Got my new annual declaration form this morning and there's a new bit on there - even the guy oin the phone didn't know what I was on about. We have to put Dependents grants on there as income now????

I get the childcare grant that pays 85% of my childcare and all the other government websites say that is not supposed to be taken into account for working out benefits??? Apparently ths childcare grant has to be included as part of the Dependents grant - surely this isn't right??

He said that there instructions specified that it has to be included as income - so they are now counting it as £2070 worht of income, when it goes stright into the nursery pocket - Have they got confused with the Dependents grant which IS classed as means testable???

I'm a single mum to 2 small kids and trying to study full time, so a !!!! up like this could really put a dent in the bank???

sarahlouise210

Mmmm not heard about this-will check tomorrow. However it would seem fair as £265 of my salary goes into the nursery pocket!!!

Fran

I got my notice for the new tax year this morning too. It said I was not responsible for any children, so I phoned IR. He said that thousands of these awards had been sent out with a mistake on them! But that the award was "right" and that if I wasn't responsible for kids it would have said nil on the form. He said it wouldn't matter for any other agencies that might want to look at how much Tax Credits I get (lets hope that's right).

stuwilky

elisebutt65 wrote:

Got my new annual declaration form this morning and there's a new bit on there - even the guy oin the phone didn't know what I was on about. We have to put Dependents grants on there as income now????

I get the childcare grant that pays 85% of my childcare and all the other government websites say that is not supposed to be taken into account for working out benefits??? Apparently ths childcare grant has to be included as part of the Dependents grant - surely this isn't right??

He said that there instructions specified that it has to be included as income - so they are now counting it as £2070 worht of income, when it goes stright into the nursery pocket - Have they got confused with the Dependents grant which IS classed as means testable???

I'm a single mum to 2 small kids and trying to study full time, so a !!!! up like this could really put a dent in the bank???

Elise just to clarify, you do not need to include the childcare part of the dependants grant.

The notes with the tax credit form arent particularly helpful, but one of the additional sections says something along the lines of "you do not need to declare the additional grant payable if you qualify for the childcare grant" - its very badly worded (typical of the Inland Revenue!)

elisebutt65

Thanks Guys
Just checked online and they've only included £200 as income anyway - phew!!!
Bit of a bummer that they class my carers allowance as income now as well though - Thought that was money I got for looking after my SN son, not income.

Ah well as long as they don't cut it right down, I should be ok and not have to go and apply for a hardship grant from the college - the paperwork is abominable for that - worse than claimimg DLA