Confused. Circumstance change. Tax credits.

delain

I find the assumption that I don't want to work insulting. The children who have now gone to their dad are autistic and violent and I have really struggled since splitting from their controlling stepdad (who worked full time btw) last year. Work certainly wasn't an option for me then. Now it is, and yes I'm applying for jobs and looking for childcare providers since I have no family support.

Chaotic? How'd you work that one? I had a fairly major family change yes, couldn't be helped, it's not like the children were removed from my care by the authorities, they weren't, this was all amicably done. I do not have a 'chaotic lifestyle' whatever you meant by that.

nannytone_2

who said you weren't willing to work?

i only pointed it out as an option.

and yes, 3 changed of circumstances in 1 year is pretty chaotic.
you advise them of the change and they recalculate your benefit ( along with thousands of other claims)
thats why it doesn't happen overnight.... you just have to wait and let them do their job

tomtontom

If you genuinely cannot afford heating there are several options:

* Look at the DFW and Old Style boards for help with budgeting.
* Speak to the council about emergency funds (the new style crisis loans).
* Sell your iphone?

A small change in income should not be the difference between being able to heat your home or not.

delain

I have been selling things, admittedly not my phone, as i remain liable for that cost whether I have it it not. that's why the kids have (very modest) Christmas presents. The reason I have no gas is because I have no guarantee that there will be money next week. We can weaR coats indoors, there's no replacement for food. Though Google tells me I can apply for hardship payments But again I can do nothing until they've told me what they are doing. So it's been a stressful weekend.

Poppie68

As someone else pointed out your local authority should be able to help with electric/gas if your choice is heat or food.... You may also qualify for a food parcel or two.

delain

Poppie68 wrote: »

As someone else pointed out your local authority should be able to help with electric/gas if your choice is heat or food.... You may also qualify for a food parcel or two.

Thanks. I'm straight on to all that on Monday when people are about. Hopefully HMRC will be able to tell me more then also.

Poppie68

delain wrote: »

Thanks. I'm straight on to all that on Monday when people are about. Hopefully HMRC will be able to tell me more then also.

You will be fine, things look carp at the moment but life changes for the people that try, good luck with the job hunting.

jetplane

Due the annual calculation tax credits have never been reliable when dealing with changes in circumstances. Even if you notify HMRC on the very date of change it can be too late to stop the next payment and a couple of weeks to recalculate can create an overpayment.

Each time you make a change a new annual amount is calculated then the amount already paid is deducted and the balance is paid over the remainder of the year. Turn 2 Us can not reflect this.

For example a person receiving £600 every four weeks could notify HMRC on Monday and be paid on Tuesday. Their new entitlement may be £400 every four weeks so they have already been overpaid £200 which will be deducted from the remaining payments.

Any delay on notification can increase the overpayment and if you were receiving a disability premium for any of your children then an overpayment can be considerably more. Only someone who can see your awards and payments can tell you what you will actually receive.

You should check your other entitlements to benefits and schemes and grants from your utilities and local council.

FBaby

Good luck OP. It is no easy to adjust quickly to changes of circumstances that mean that you income suddenly drops. At least you're not one of those parents who fight until their last breath to keep their kids purely because they don't want to lose the benefits that comes with them.

However, I can understand that losing quite a large chunk of money means that you have to make changes to your life and that of your children remaining due to economy of scales and that will take a bit of time, hence your anxiety at this time.

It sounds like you do need a breath a fresh air with some stability. Good luck

emmsie123

So you'll be getting £226 a week. £117 tc £33 cb and £76 jsa. Sounds like a budgeting problem if you cant afford gas or Christmas presents.
I have my heating on all the time and only put a tenner a week in meter, but i do build it up all year round.
The post office do a savings card a tenner a week would give you £540 a year.
Have you applied for warm home discount. You get £140 of electric bill.
Why not post a budget up and see if we can save you some money.