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Original poster

Does this amount of tax credits sound correct?

96 replies

WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 06:22

DH £16,500 per year
Me £3,500 per year (maternity leave)

£35 a week tax credits

(3 kids no childcare currently).

It seems like a really poxy amount. I checked that all the info they had was correct.
My friend who's husband earns more gets a lot more tax credits than us.

We are struggling financially - big time.

OP posts:
orangesandlemon · 18/07/2019 06:57

@BitchQueen90 isn't it done on brackets (anything under 15k a year and then 20k and then 25k and so on) plus OP has 2 children to be considered, so actually she's on far less than she is entitled too. £35 a week is really low for her earnings and children

user87382294757 · 18/07/2019 06:58

I think if it looks likely to be less this year (coming) you can tell them and they can update it. We are similar as had a slight overpayment from last year- at the start of April had two months no payments. And then less. Around about the same income. Mine is 6K ESA (cont based) and DH varies due to self employment which makes it tricky, but they take the ESA in their calculation also.

Actually ours seems a bit more than you so maybe check with them, the online chat is good, or helpline.

Ours is 6K ESA, plus around 18K from DH...we get around £325 a month. There is a tax credit calculator online too if you google. I can only guess there was perhaps an overpayment in the previous year or something?

orangesandlemon · 18/07/2019 06:59

Sorry I have only just seen the updated version. But here's what I use to help me

Does this amount of tax credits sound correct?
Original poster
WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 07:01

No I checked we weren't paying an overpayment - we're not.

I will call them today. I'll ask them if it's based on last years earnings.

When I called them a couple of weeks ago, even the guy on the phone said "no that doesn't seem like enough does it?" And then just carried on. So even he commented that it seemed a low amount.

OP posts:
MauisHouseOnMaui · 18/07/2019 07:02

They will base it on last years income unless you inform them that this years income is different, you need to ring them or go online to update your income and then it'll be recalculated.

Original poster
WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 07:03

Yeah so according to that we should be getting about £100 a week roughly.

Which would mean we could afford bread.

Thanks for the help, I will call them.

OP posts:
Original poster
WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 07:04

I have updated my income.

I haven't just left them thinking that I'm on 20k a year. That would be daft.

OP posts:
user87382294757 · 18/07/2019 07:04

OK so i did the online calculator with your figures and 3 children born before 2017 - not sure if that is correct or not - as it changes the amount. It came up with this (below) so I would contact them and check it is correct. It looks like they are basing yours on your previous year when earnings were higher (maybe not on maternity leave) Maybe you can get them to base it on this year instead. I think they did this for us in the past around the renewal time.

It will depend on your DC birthdate though as the third after 2017 would not count and would be two DC instead, might still be more though. Hope all works out OK Flowers it is stressful

Tax credits calculator

Results

You may be able to get the following tax credits.

This is based on the details you have entered, and could change if your circumstances change.

You could get

Child Tax Credit

£623.82 every four weeks towards your household costs
Childcare element

£0.00 every four weeks towards your childcare costs
Working Tax Credit

£0.00 every four weeks towards your household costs
£623.82 in total

user87382294757 · 18/07/2019 07:06

That was based on total income of 20K

Original poster
WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 07:07

Thanks user.

It's just two children that count but nonetheless it definitely should be more than it is.

Thanks for your help.

OP posts:
Belledan1 · 18/07/2019 07:09

If your money drastically reduces they should take it in to account for tax year and also i thought they didn't take in to account smp they took that off earnings. Ask them that when call.

redsky21 · 18/07/2019 07:17

Doesn't sound right to me. They do base it on last year but if you're current income is drastically different from last years then they will use your estimated income for this year. Also remember to deduct £100 for every week of maternity leave when working out your income for this year as that is not counted. Definitely think you should be on more.

TheHandsOfNeilBuchanan · 18/07/2019 07:19

Did you not consider your low incomes and lack of savings before deciding to have a third child? Lots of people don't have more than one or two children even on much better incomes because of the financial pressure.

Original poster
WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 07:27

Did you not consider your low incomes and lack of savings before deciding to have a third child?

Yes.

Which is why I worked hard and saved hard. I have the option of going back to work which I have contacted my manager about.
In the mean time I will apply for the tax credits that we are entitled to for the two children that we already had.

But thanks for the judgement.

OP posts:
Original poster
WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 07:27

Also - I didn't have a 'low income' when I got pregnant with DC3 Hmm

OP posts:
converseandjeans · 18/07/2019 07:48

DH was on about 18k when I had DD & they gave use about that much so it sounds about right. I was back in work when she was 4 months & DS at 6 months as we couldn't manage.

Original poster
WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 07:53

18k with one child? Yes that does sound correct.

But we have two (three but third not counted) so it should be more.

Therefore it sounds correct for a family with one child. Not for a family with two.

OP posts:
stilldontgiveaf · 18/07/2019 07:59

It depends on when you made the claim and what you gave them. Normally if it's a new claim they go off of your last three months wage slips.

Original poster
WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 08:05

It's not a new claim.

Just on the phone, called at 8am and got straight through. She's looking into it.....

OP posts:
Original poster
WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 08:13

Yeah I just have to wait until the renewal goes through.
It said at one point we were earning 37.5k a year which isn't correct either.

But I guess the renewal will sort all that out.

They take that figure and the new figure we have them and give us the amount for somewhere in between which sounds a bit ambiguous but at least I know it should change in the next few weeks.

Thanks for your help.

OP posts:
Namechangesareus · 18/07/2019 08:35

I hope you get things sorted op, that sounds grim if you can’t even afford bread. Perhaps you could get a referral to the food bank?

BitchQueen90 · 18/07/2019 09:19

@orangesandlemon no, it changes every time your earnings change by £2500 a year. My hourly wage went up by £1.25 last year and it reduced my tax credits by £15 a week.

user87382294757 · 18/07/2019 09:25

You can probably update them in the year and they can update it, I do find them quite good really hope it sorts out. you just need to keep them updated

Namechangesareus · 18/07/2019 09:43

bitch does a £1.25 ph rise not offset the reduced tax credits payment?

Original poster
WTFthatsweird · 18/07/2019 10:09

We don't need a food bank. We just keep increasing our overdraft by more and more.

I need to nag my manager again!

OP posts: