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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to feel stunned, foolish and a bit angry.....

46 replies

SoleSource · 03/04/2013 22:26

becuase until today i had no idea i was entitled to child tax credits each week since the birth of my severly disabled child in 1998. Therefore have not claimed it until today.

All those years of being skint and going without. That money could have really helped us :(

Please find out if you are entitled, tomorrow!

This money is a completley separate claim to Income Support, DLA, Carers Allowance and Child Benefit,

OP posts:
MumOfTheMoos · 03/04/2013 22:26

But they'll back date it, won't they?

YouTheCat · 03/04/2013 22:27

Sole, this makes me cross. Some bugger involved with your family and your child's care should have asked you if you were getting everything you were entitled to.

rhondajean · 03/04/2013 22:28

They only back date it a few weeks I think.

Sole, I am so sorry, but really pleased at lest you have found out now.

Original poster
SoleSource · 03/04/2013 22:28

I have had several benefit checks by the Jbcente and was not informed about this money.

My friend has a disabled child and has claimed CTC for twelve years and was shocked i didn't know a thing of it!!!!

OP posts:
zen1 · 03/04/2013 22:29

Think they will only back-date up to 3 months.

Original poster
SoleSource · 03/04/2013 22:29

Thank you x

Backdating is one month only

Years of £ gone

4 billion of unclaimed child tax credits last year alone.

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 03/04/2013 22:30

They might back date a few months but it'll be nowhere near what you should have.

They'd want the full amount back had they overpaid you over that time though.

I'd put in a complaint as someone somewhere has not done their job properly.

HollyBerryBush · 03/04/2013 22:31

It's up to the individual to research what they are entitled to.

MyDarlingClementine · 03/04/2013 22:32

its your responsibility to check and find out what you need but if you feel this opportunity was also missed by someone in authority who could have told you, write to your mp.

Original poster
SoleSource · 03/04/2013 22:33

I have asked the appropriate people.Jobcentre, social worker, health visitor, everybody. Not mentioned to me once.

OP posts:
zen1 · 03/04/2013 22:34

One month is terrible. I only found out about it from the MNSN pages - it's appalling that no one informs parents of disabled children about these things.

Oodsigma · 03/04/2013 22:35

Do you have records of the job centre meetings? Might be worth raising that with someone 'for training purposes' although with UC its all in one pot so they won't have to check because hopefully they'll have all your entitlement straight!

Jan49 · 03/04/2013 22:35

For what it's worth, child tax credits was actually not introduced until approximately 2002/3 so you haven't missed out on it for as long as you think.

What a pity though that you didn't know about it before now.

EchoBitch · 03/04/2013 22:40

That is a total bum but at least things might be a bit easier now.

Original poster
SoleSource · 03/04/2013 22:41

Oh ten yeras then. Gosh, i knew about working tax credits but never heard of child tax credits. How i missed this i do not know. I watch the news and political programmes etc..

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 03/04/2013 22:46

It's also on adverts going on about renewing it & deadlines every year around april - July time.! Sorry, think YABU but at least you've got it now.

HollyBerryBush · 03/04/2013 22:47

Oh the bright side, some years ago, that moneysavingexpert site gave a link to some tax credits that no one was claiming, about to go extinct. Me and DH both PAYE, filled the forms in, got a lump sum, back dated 6 years. Following year, lump sum requested back by HMRC

My advice. pay your own way and never fill in forms as HMRC are entirely staffed by fuckwits.

SquirrelNuts · 03/04/2013 22:48

YANBU they dont tell you these things, we struggled and got into debt after DS was born and found out when he was 6 months old we should have been claiming, i think they backdated 3 months, but it was incredibly gutting

Original poster
SoleSource · 03/04/2013 22:49

Holly! :(

OP posts:
Original poster
SoleSource · 03/04/2013 22:51

Yes i feel gutted. angry at myself too. How i missed this i do not know. I am sure this is not publicised that well.

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 03/04/2013 23:10

I wouldn't just accept that you're not getting it. I'd be looking at getting my MP involved in trying to claim it back. If you are caring for a severely disabled child then it stands to reason your eye might not be on the ball, doesn't it? I'd fight it, SoleSource. Assume in your mind that you won't get it, but fight it.

FrankWippery · 03/04/2013 23:11

It was one of the first thing I was told to claim when I started on income support 18m so. I'm staggered that you have not been aware of it until now, it's certainly talked about in just about every article to be read on what can/is claimed, particularly for single parents. And how very odd that the job centre failed to tell you this.

thebody · 03/04/2013 23:13

Disgraceful sole, someone involved should have told you.

Really hope you sort it.

DontSHOUTTTTTT · 03/04/2013 23:33

Shock. That is terrible.

It's almost as though they make things complicated on purpose Hmm Sad

nenevomito · 04/04/2013 09:34

How on earth did you manage to miss this? Its on the CTC forms, its on every single site that deals with children and disability and was mentioned to me at every turn by the charity who helped me with my forms. I've not looked at the DLA forms, but IIRC its on there too.

Sometimes you have to help yourself you know. You can't always expect people to do it for you.