Universal Credit will reduce my tax credit award next year?

tmsim

I just received my Tax Credits ward notice for 2017/8. As usual the weekly amount I receive has gone down a few pounds. However, when I looked at the estimate for the amount I will get each week in 2018/19, I have gone from over £60 a week for 2 kids, to £15 a week. I lose over £3100 a year from next April. I looked at the government's Universal Credit page and there's a notice saying "WARNING: Some people are better off when they receive tax credits rather than Universal Credit.
Make sure you claim by the date above if Universal Credit does pay you a lower amount.

If you claim in time, it could also mean you will get the extra money for years to come as the government has promised that no-one will be worse off under Universal Credit."


Does this mean that my tax credit amount (over £60 per week) will carry on in 2018/19, or does it mean I will have to go through some sort of process to claim again to ensure it stays the same, or does it mean I just lose out as it says on my award notice? I rang the Tax Credits office and all they will say is they can't comment on future payments as they don't know what my circumstances will be, and that they can't comment on Universal Credit.
I can't find any other info online.
I am a single parent on a fixed wage for a 37 hour week. I am going to find it very difficult - impossible- to earn an extra £3100 after tax every year to replace this lost amount. This is in 10 months time and I am panicked!
I can't be the only person this is affecting. Does anyone know anything?
Any help gratefully received.

Darksparkle

What was your 2016/17 income and what have you estimated for 2017/18?

What age are your children?

tmsim

My income will be exactly the same (no change) and my children will be 14 and 15 in April 2018

Darksparkle

Do you claim childcare costs? What is your income please so I can do my own calculation

tmsim

No childcare and income £23320 thanks

Darksparkle

Can you confirm what it shows as our annual award for this tax year?

konark

'no-one will be worse off under Universal Credit.'

If you believe that you'll believe anything!

JamesB73

Hi
I have recently had to change my circumstances as my wife and I have split
we were receiving around £360 a month WTC as a joint claim.

I had to make a single claim and was told it had to be Universal Credit as my post code was now covered by that.

After 2 interviews I was declared gainfully self employed
Self employed now have to report their businesses incomings and out goings and the difference is your "earnings"
My first payment was cocked up due to the HMRC guy putting my incomings down as my earnings and that took over a week to sort, and eventually received £116, which i was told was an under payment.

This month is the second payment and that now says it's £0.


My income floor is £1084, because of the building works around where I work footfall has dropped dramatically but we can see light at the end of the tunnel, my earnings were a lot less than MIF so the MIF was used to work out my payment.

The explanation is because my allowance is £317 and the MIF earnings were £600, that I was over my allowance.
Surely this means that anyone who is single and self employed won't get a penny in Universal Credit as the MIF is the lowest figure they will ever work out your payment on.

Have I got that right? and if so, how can that be fair?

Stop_Watch

But your tax allowance will go up.