To ask for help with tax credits?

[Rowenaravenclawsdiadem]

Background

I earn 15k a year. DH has just been made redundant but had earned over £50k 2017-2018.

When I go onto tax calculator based on what he earned last year we are not entitled to anything. But his income is now zero.

I read somewhere that they take into consideration the money he has earned this year to date and this will be deducted from any figure. But our household income is now £15k which is not enough to cover the bills let alone mortgage.

I’ve tried calling but they keep saying call numbers are too high and then it gets disconnected.

Are we entitled to claim anything? We have 4 dc, 1 disabled.

Christmas jobs are 10 a penny out there at the moment Which part of the country are you in?

Also, I’d your DH claiming job seekers? If not, and you get mid rate DLA, he could claim carers allowance.

Christmas jobs are 10 a penny out there at the moment

VERY region dependent. Make sure your area is not a UC one.

www.onefamily.com/talking-finance/finance/tax-credits-and-benefits-calculator/
This quick calculator is quite good - for £40K you would be looking at maybe £95 per week

You need to estimate your income for the year - this is the figure to give the tax credits people
eg if OH earned £25K from April to now + £15K = £40K

You can't take a payment holiday on your mortgage because of unemployment, I tried this last year when I was out of work and it's a big no!

I consolidated debt, sold some stuff, got a crappy in-between job, called utilities and broadband and got a better monthly deal and cut back on food bill until I found a good job again.

Good luck!

Don’t forget that (unfortunately) you’ll only qualify for 2 children on a new claim.

I think that’s UC areas only isn’t it? I have more than two on my claim. They were all born before April 2017 which is the cut off.

Yeah, ignore me.

I think you can make new claims for four if they were all born before the cut off.

Thanks all! Will try and figure it all out.

As your DH is no longer earning could he claim carer's allowance for your DC who gets DLA? It's not much but it would help.

Do you have any sort of insurance for job loss even possible in some bank accounts

Have you tried child tax credit? You will also get the disability element for your child on dla

This won't be of use to you, but it you had savings, there would be a potential solution....Bung DHs entire salary for the tax year so far into the pension, and declare estimated earnings for this year to tax credits as just your income.

4 kids, one who qualifies for DLA, you would be looking at nearly 270 per week in child tax credits I think, and that would make it well worth doing the pension payment. If you accept credits, you'll soon see that your marginal rate was actually 73% If you weren't bunting the salary in the pension.