Lost with WTC and IC

Sarah_1981

Hi there,

I stopped working after my maternity leave finished at the end of last year. I rang the tax credits and told them. I was basically told thanks for letting us know and we will deal with it.

Anyway, they still kept paying me each week. So I then sent in a letter explaining I had finished working. But I still didn't get a reply from them.

I know I should not be getting tax credits and was daft for leaving it as long as I have done, but I am confused as to what I should be getting. I have 2 kids under the age of 16 and am a lone parent.

Today I have received a letter from the Tax credits asking if I am still in employment and if not where have I been working since. I am going to ring them this afternoon when the little one is in bed.

I am just so lost in it all though. I know I should not be getting tax credits, so I will be paying that back. I have read up on income support and I think that is what I should of been on instead of the Tax credits?

Can someone please offer me advice as to who to speak to and where to go from here?

I have worked for 10 years so I haven't got a clue about benefits.

Thanks

edit: IC should be IS

[Deleted User]

Informing them that maternity leave had ended would have been assumed that you have gone back to work - not that you stopped working. If you did not make this clear this is why you have continued to receive WTC.
Cal the helpline and advise them of when you left work (ask them to send a WTC run on referral) you should be entitled to an extra 4 weeks of Tax Credits. You will obviously have been overpaid WTC but should continue to receive CTC. They will reduce the amount you have been overpaid from your future payments of CTC.
Yes, if you are not working, you should claim IS.
I am not sure about backdating of IS but I am sure someone else will come on to inform you if this is possible.

dmg24

Income Support can be backdated for up to three months for specified reasons. Not knowing that you were eligible is not a reason for backdating unfortunately.