Tax credits single to joint claim

Katisere

Hi all, just looking for some advice with regards to a change to my tax credits.
My partner moved in so i called tax credits and they cancelled my single claim and sent out forms to fill in for a new joint claim. The forms took around 10 days to arrive and i filled them in and return recorded delivery the same day. They received the forms on the 7th of this month and i was advised its a 3 week processing time. I called late last week to see if it had been processed to be told its with the specialist team. Great!! Read total horror stories about this. Spoke to several different people for an update since then and each time i get told something different (their call centre staff are awful). Anyhow i eventually got a nice lady today who actually wanted to help and advised she will refer my claim and to wait until 6th Sep to call for an update. Does anyone have any experience with their claim being referred and if it made any difference? We are really struggling for money as im on unpaid mat leave so living off one wage is hard work and stressful. Thanks in advance :-)

Darksparkle

Previous staff would have had to wait on timescales expiring. At some stages of new claims they cannot help even if they want to. Once the timescale has passed and the claim still hasn't processed they can escalate it which sounds like has now been done. I've seen this speed most cases up but not always. It depends on why the specialist team are checking (ether it's a random check or a specific risk on your claim).

GothicStirling

Isn't there a 4 week roll on for tax credits?

Darksparkle

GothicStirling wrote: »

Isn't there a 4 week roll on for tax credits?

Not for household changes (going from single to joint or vice versa).

That's for when you stop working or change your hours so not longer eligible for WTC.

Katisere

Thanks for the reply. I think its because my partner is self employed, but i have provided his UTR number so i hope it doesnt take too much longer.

Katisere

Claim is still with the specialist team, no-one can tell me why, and they have not wrote to me or called to ask for any additional information. Its so bloody frustrating. Claim has been referred again today. Not holding my breath for anything to happen. I'm totally stuck to what to do.