Tax credits help please

Lancs-lady

I split with my partner two weeks ago, and work 18 hours a week to fit around him and childcare.

I've just been in touch with tax credits to update all my info and sort out working tax now we're no longer together.

We did get tax credits before, but what I didn't realise was that they still have me in receipt of income support, which I've not been receiving for a few years now. I did tell them at the time and ive not renewed them since but they kept paying us, so I just assumed this was right.

Question is, what the hell do I do now? I need both child tax and working tax as I only work 18 hours minimum wage. I just don't know what to do, I'm scared they will do me for fraud and fine me and I won't get any more help. Please me

FBaby

Does this mean they still have you as a single parent only receiving IS, or do they have you as getting IS and ex partner's income, or your income, his income and IS?

zagfles

This doesn't make sense - you can't get working tax credit plus income support. If they thought you were on IS they wouldn't have paid you WTC. But you would get CTC at the max rate.

So what are you getting now, just CTC?

zagfles

blondebubbles wrote: »

Actually this happens fairly often with joint claims. Same with JSA IB.

One person will show as working and the other in receipt of IS/JSA/ESA (IB only). Because the system updates for Applicant 1 or Applicant 2 it doesn't tell the adviser there is an issue.

The system will eventually pick it up but doesn't do much about it as its class as a low failure. It would be up to the claimant to check the award and confirm the change/error.

Blimey - it's such an easy discrepancy to check for I'd have thought it would highlight it straight away!

mel48rose

Find it hard to believe that someone is stupid enough to not check their annual award letter every year???