Friend feeling suicidal over money

[DukeOfSmellington]

Can she demand tax credits look again at how much they're paying her? How can she go about asking for proper review?

She's a single mother currently receiving ESA and gets only £85 a month Tax credits.

I get £330 and I earn £30k a year 🤔

Surely that isn't right. I'm helping her with food and some extras but really she needs the security of better money.

Does that figure sound off to anyone else? £85 a month for a single mum on ESA, with 1 child?

Thank you

What did your friend earn last year? I think tax credits are based on the previous years earnings.

What else is she getting? Housings benefit/council tax?

It doesn't seem quite right, perhaps citizens advice would be able to help?

If she is getting child tax credit and a single mum on esa, she should get roughly £64/ week tax credit. It could be reduced if she's paying off a previous overpayment but shouldn't be reduced so significantly. Tell them she's in hardship and ask to reduce overpayment amount, it definitely doesn't sound right if that's the only income she has.

Check on the site entitled to.com enter all details and will tell you what if any and how much benefits will be x

Tell her to go to citizens advice

Entitled to say she's entitled to over £250 a month in tax credits :(

She was just on Mat leave last year and before that long term sick pay (SSP).

Her earnings didn't even go over £6k so the figure seems very wrong

Sounds like they may have classed her mat pay as income - which it isn't. She needs to ask them to look at all the pages of her claim.
They stopped mine as had dh still as working despite being made redundant 2 years previously. The man said they often just look at details on the first page!!
They will ask why they have to review it, say a change in circumstances or they go off previous year automatically.

Maybe call this Christian charity for help with debt advice? They also do free finance courses to help people manage their budgets I think. They focus on helping people in poverty so maybe they can help. Good luck.
capuk.org