Backdated benefits - why not if this is my money?

cb77

Help,

Re - Backdated Working Family Tax Credit

Just heard - on the grapevine - that as my child has attended private nursery since July 2006 that I could have had some extra help from the government with the child care costs.

I phoned Inland Revenue who say yes but they will only back date this 3 months. I would have been entitled to an extra £200 per month since July 2006 but now it is March 2008 and they say that because I did not know about any extra help it is my own fault.

How can they not give the money to me that should have been my entitlement and then complain in the media that x amount of benefits go unclaimed every year and what a tradgedy this is - so when I ask for the money they won't even give me what should be mine.

Help - I do not understand this system I want to complain to my MP - surely this is not right.

I know I am having a bit of a rant but that money would have saved me so much hardship. I did phone up twice since July 06 to say that my working hours had increased and that I was to inform them of any changes but they didn't want to hear from me unless I was earning over £60k per year - they literally would not let me finish my sentance and said I did not need to fill in any annual information update pack.

My original letter from when my child was in his 1st year explains that we are not entitled to any child care help - I presumed that was because our household income was more than £16k so we didn't get anything.

I am very upset to find out this money could have been paid to me if only I had recieved correct information from Inland Revenue telephone Operators when I called to advise my changes in situation - I did the right thing but was fobbed off.

Please help me.

Caroline

bestpud

Did they actually tell you you were not entitled though?

It looks as though you didn't actually give them details about your nursery costs? If that is the case, then they did not give you the wrong information.

When the IR 'whinge' in the media, it is meant to prompt people to check they are getting all they are entitled to!

I can understand why you are upset about this but you are ultimately responsible for not claiming.

[Deleted User]

There is a budget every year - you may have heard of it.

In your scenario someone could effectively try to claim back a number of years - the current system came in to effect in 2003, you cannot expect the Tax Credit Office to pay back 5 years worth of Tax Credits due to the blissful ignorance of claimants!

The information pack that came with your claim pack would have given you advice about claiming for childcare costs.

There are adverts every few months about Tax Credits encouraging you to inform of changes. This is obviously a change!

[Deleted User]

And to add, the award notice would have said "No qualifying children in childcare" not "You do not qualify for help with childcare".

cb77

thanks for your help and support guys - I can see why you reply to these things - I do realise that I have to phone up to change any details of circumstances which I tried to do TWICE - I was told - "as long as your household income is now not over £60k - nothing changes for you Mrs Backhurst" - I'm sorry if I believed them.

Again thanks for such support.

mitchaa

Dont understand really why you're whinging about the past really, you should be greatful now that you are going to receive additional money. Were you really expecting them to say, here you go Mrs Backhurst, here's a cheque for £4000 and apologies for the hardship you received over the last 2yrs?

Unlike you, i will have to fork out childcare at 100% of the cost, there will be no help from the government and yes my income is less than £60k. How is that fair? Well it's not IMO and it makes my blood boil but im not whinging about it either. Its just a fact of life that the poor get everything, the middle bunch get financially raped and the high earning bunch usually tax evade.

Its the hard working middle bunch that lose out all the time.

But that's another argument, my original point still stands be GREATFUL that you will receive help as it is not a right. I.e i do not get any financial help, so why should you sort of idea.

cb77

In September I start teacher training college to do my PGCE and all help will stop when I need it the most - I am grateful for the help I get now - I never said I wasn't grateful.

However, why should the time you claim your entitlement change the amount of money you are paid out - you still had to pay out that money which is why the Government try to help you, I presume - that is my argument - if in Aug 2006 I would have received this money without a problem then why not just back date it. My child is in an OFSTED registered nursey (registered by the government), My IR payments are also paid by the government as I am on their register as a tax and National Insurance paying citizen. The letter re "No qualifying children in childcare" - is very confusing. Oh I forgot - The IR have just lost everyone's details - so I should keep checking my bank statements every month to make sure my bank details have not been stolen from the government register. Peachy!

bestpud

You would have received the money in 2006 IF you claimed it - that is the crucial point here.

There is no point us telling you it will all be fine and if you do this, this and this, you may/will get your money back, because it would be incorrect and giving you false hope.

You say they told you only to inform them if your income rose above £60000. BUT, did you actually TELL them that your childcare payments had risen and ASK them to check if you were entitled to help with that? You haven't answered that question but it is crucial to your point, I think.

If you did ring and give them figures for your childcare payments, and they checked and said no, you were not entitled, then you may have a very weak argument (weak given the time that has passed).

If you didn't actually give them any figures over the phone, or fill in a form, then there is not a lot you can do. They aren't mind readers and it is the claimants responsibility to TELL them AND GIVE THEM the information they need to check your entitlement.

If you find the award notices confusing then it is again up to you, the claimant, to check you have understood it correctly.

I'm really not sure what else you want us to say?? I can see it is frustrating for you (I'd be very cheesed off with myself too) but there really isn't a lot you can do.

Have you tried the CAB?

[Deleted User]

cb77 wrote: »

In September I start teacher training college to do my PGCE and all help will stop when I need it the most - I am grateful for the help I get now - I never said I wasn't grateful.

However, why should the time you claim your entitlement change the amount of money you are paid out - you still had to pay out that money which is why the Government try to help you, I presume - that is my argument - if in Aug 2006 I would have received this money without a problem then why not just back date it. My child is in an OFSTED registered nursey (registered by the government), My IR payments are also paid by the government as I am on their register as a tax and National Insurance paying citizen. The letter re "No qualifying children in childcare" - is very confusing. Oh I forgot - The IR have just lost everyone's details - so I should keep checking my bank statements every month to make sure my bank details have not been stolen from the government register. Peachy!

What has this point got to do with you not getting backdated benefits?

victoriav

Hi cb77, I can definitely see where you are coming from, because if the boot were on the other foot, say for example you'd falsely claimed for say 3 years, then they'd expect you to pay them back, plus there'd be a write up in the local press no doubt, painting you black, however, if they owe you its hard to get it out of them! It seems to be a 'grey' area...I sometimes think the whole benefit system is meant to be complicated to deter people.

I would definitely persue it further because if you were entitled to it,then why exactly can't it be backpaid.? We hear of benefits claimants having to appeal many times to get money to which they are entitled, so why is this any different.? It doesn't seem fair. I would ask your MP for support too. Good luck with it.

victoriav

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

What has this point got to do with you not getting backdated benefits?

She's highlighting the incompetency of the system perhaps......