Tax credits help please

Stuckinarut2

Hi I’m new here so please be gentle! This is going to be a bit long winded so I apologise but I’m desperate for some help please.

Ok I’m a single mum working on average 18 hours a week on minimum wage. From April to sept last year I had a higher paid job and even though I told tax credits, my payments didn’t alter. I was averaging about £200 per week and getting £140 per week working and child tax credits.

I returned to my previous job in sept last year and I now work on average 18 hours one week and 24 the next.

I’ve now had letters from tax credits saying I’ve earned too much so my payments went down to £100 a week, now this week and last week my working tax has been cut altogether and I’m now getting just £39 a week child tax!

I earn £130 a week from my job, child benefit of £20.70 and now just £39 child tax.

My rent is £72 per week (housing association) and my bills are £100 per week that’s without gas electric and food petrol etc and now I don’t know what to do!

I’ve put in a claim for housing and council tax help but when they’ve asked for wage slips it looks like I’ve earns more because it has holiday pay on it.

I’ve spoke to tax credits who basically couldn’t care less. I’ve put in a hardship form to them but they’re not interested.

I’ve tried ringing citizens advice but after holding for 25 minutes, I was still 19th in the queue to speak to someone! Please help, my cars mot is also due next week. Without a car I can’t get my daughter to school and I can’t get to work - I work miles from home and would cost me more in public transport, plus I wouldn’t be able to get my daughter to school before I started work. I start at 8 and feel like I’m in a no win situation!

Please any help would be appreciated I just don’t know what to do.

Darksparkle

First thing to do would be to check your tax credit awards notice to make sure it’s correct. Check the hours held, your income for last year and what estimate you have provided for this year’s income.