MSE News: Citizens Advice call for Tax Credit write offs

Former_MSE_Wendy · 22 September 2009 at 3:55PM

This is the thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Citizens Advice is pressing for the government to write off outstanding Tax Credit overpayments from the scheme’s first two years..."

Read the full story:
Citizens Advice call for Tax Credit write offs

The thread is in the Benefits & Tax Credits board so that Moneysavers looking for info on Tax Credits can read the full story or ask a related question.

scrounger_2 · 22 September 2009 at 9:25PM

I filled a dispute form in about a month ago. I still havent heard anything back from them, the whole situation is a total farce. But that has already been said numerous times.

gingerjasper · 23 September 2009 at 8:46AM

What if you have already agreed to start paying it back and the repayments have started? Can you still put a claim in to get it wiped?

starsailor123uk · 23 September 2009 at 3:02PM

I'm in a quandry

Last year (2007-08) I was overpaid around £50 however going back over the 3 years we received small amount I have noticed that I had an underpayment in the first year of £60 and it has never been paid over or added to the following years payments as a balance brought forward

I have already drafted a letter disputing any claim they make and waiting for a letter

Shaun

immoral_angeluk · 23 September 2009 at 4:15PM

I am a CAB advisor as well as a mother who's suffered tax credit overpayments myself. I have had 3 bouts of overpayments in all, 2 of which were written off after appeals. The 3rd I didn't challenge and am paying back.
Always, always challenge any overpayments so long as you have done your part by informing them of changes of circumstances etc. Keep a record of any correspondance to/from HMRC and seek advice from CAB if you have an overpayment or need help appealing. Don't forget there are time limits of 1 month from the date you recieve a letter about the overpayment otherwise you will be out of time unless you have exceptional circumstances for being late.

You can find your local CAB via https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Zara33 · 23 September 2009 at 6:15PM

Thankfully people at the CAB are doing a grand job, some people may not have the confidence to take on a government agency.l

AlisonCVS · 24 September 2009 at 8:45AM

I was overpaid with Child tax credits inthe first 2 years amounting to over £3000 For the years after that I have received no tax credit as they issue it to me then take it back so I have zero. I disputed it and was told that I had not sent them in the info required by a certain date - I can't possibly remember what date I posted letters 6 or 7 years ago! I always sent in the claim renewal form straight away, I always gave them accurate and truthful information.
I was told on the forms that you have to inform them of changes only. My son satyed on at school and as there was no change I did not stipulate this. I got a bill sent through to ask for the balance of the debt just under £2000. I wrote back sharply to tell them my son was still in full time school education and that they should not say to only inform them of CHANGES.

I know so many people who have fallen foul of this horrific deception (giving with one hand and taking away with the other) and like me are still paying for it. I do not think the appeal process is either fair or ethical.

Can anyone help on this - I went to this link posted on Moneysavingexpert news, to sign it but can't work out how

"It also wants people to ask their MP to sign Early Day Motion 1112 on the subject in Parliament, tabled earlier this year, which currently has 100 signatures."

Thanks

AlisonCVS · 24 September 2009 at 8:49AM

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

I am a CAB advisor as well as a mother who's suffered tax credit overpayments myself. I have had 3 bouts of overpayments in all, 2 of which were written off after appeals. The 3rd I didn't challenge and am paying back.
Always, always challenge any overpayments so long as you have done your part by informing them of changes of circumstances etc. Keep a record of any correspondance to/from HMRC and seek advice from CAB if you have an overpayment or need help appealing. Don't forget there are time limits of 1 month from the date you recieve a letter about the overpayment otherwise you will be out of time unless you have exceptional circumstances for being late.

You can find your local CAB via www.citizensadvice.org.uk

I did not Know I was being overpaid back then when it was all new. It was not until about 2 years later that they told me I had been overpaid. I appealed but was turned down as I was told I had not sent certain info in on time. I dont actually believe that as I am very meticulous but I cant prove it. I put the appeal in about 2-3 years ago when a form came through the post saying I could appeal. Up until then I had no idea that I could.

Former_MSE_Wendy · 24 September 2009 at 11:11AM

AlisonCVS wrote: »

Can anyone help on this - I went to this link posted on Moneysavingexpert news, to sign it but can't work out how

"It also wants people to ask their MP to sign Early Day Motion 1112 on the subject in Parliament, tabled earlier this year, which currently has 100 signatures."

Hi AlisonCVS

The Early Day Motion needs to be signed by your MP. You can email them to ask (if yours hasn't already singed it) via the writetothem website.

booboo1156 · 24 September 2009 at 2:23PM

I filled out a dispute form years ago, I had a letter back eventually, apologising for the mistake (they'd taken my daughter off my claim then said i wasn't entitled to anything because i didn't have responsibility for my child) still to this day on my award notices it still says "there's an overpayment of ex amount and that they're not asking for it back until they've made a decision", how wrong is that.

septemberblues · 24 September 2009 at 3:35PM

Well, I'm going to give it a go, I have been paying back an overpayment of £788 since 2007, and I don't actually know where it came from! (I know it came from HRMC but I don't actually know when I was overpaid, and how it came to this amount, it was for the period 2004-2005)) I pay £25 a month so have probably paid 2/3's of it, but I will stop my SO and write to them and see what happens!

Every little helps

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