Tax credits have just put nearly 10k in my bank

[TheWildOnesNeverDie]

Just checked my bank, as I do most days at 12am incase payments have Gone in from my free lance job.
I don’t earn very much so I like to keep an eye.

I have just checked and nearly had a heart attack to see there was 8k in there. Last time I checked I had £113

I quickly scrolled to see where it had come from and it says bank giro - which is usually tax credits/ child benefit, but I get paid on a Friday.
And usually only £63 per week.

I have one child, have not changed circumstances all year. Haven’t contacted them for anything recently either.

WHAT DO I DO?

This happened to a colleague of mine not 8k but a fair amount, she paid off her debt and when she was asked for some of it back a year later she paid in interest free instalments. She said it was worth it as she effectively paid off her debt with an interest free loan!

I really wouldn't get excited. £1000 or so for one year under payment is not unsual £8000 is.

It's not showing on Gateway so that too would indicate it is incorrect. Can you really work out based on what you get this year that a £8000 is what you missed out on?

hopefully they will find its all back payment..

Fingers crossed for you op.

For those who have continually asked for updates.. I have done a load of ironing, and sat down and drank a cup of tea on hold before..

Similar thing happened to me. I started getting nearly £1300 a month off them. I asked them a few times if this was correct and was told yes. Daughter had recently gone onto DLA and husband had started a new job so there was a bit of confusion. I knew it wasn't right but they were telling me it was so I just had to go keep receiving payments. Eventually a year later they realised they had overpaid me and I should have been getting £800 a month. They cut my payments down for months to £350 till it was paid off.

invest in best interest account you can find

@Crystal87

WOW

£800 is a huge amount of money, never mind £1300

I had no idea people got that amount every month!

It makes a lot of sense in terms of people choosing not to work though. My DD works 20 hours a week and doesn't get paid £800! I can only imagine if she had DC to support not working would be better for her.

Obviously the amount people are entitled to depends on their circumstances, the poster receiving £800 has at least one child on DLA. She may be unable to work much / at all. She may also have several children.

Find somewhere to invest it while they investigate it. Could takes ages and at least you'll earn the interest on it.

To have that much @changeforprivacy they have a disabled child who receives dla. they’re not choosing not to work

Always put it aside for a few years even if they say it's right. It's a bloody nightmare sorting out repayments later.

No need for the biscuit. When people don't known these things, it's ok to explain them. Without a biscuit.

@IVEgotthetinselBITCHES

I genuinely didn't know they paid so much, that's all. I wasn't making any comment about ability to work. I claim cares allowance myself so I know how shit it is to be a Carer.

Changeforprivacy, it seems a lot but for a low income family with four children, one who receives Disability Allowance, it doesn't go far. At the moment, due to my circumstances I wouldn't be any better off working but I do hope to work again in the next few years.
My DH earns £1200 a month and after rent and bills there's nothing left, so what we get in benefits covers me not working and helps me to stay at home and be with my children which I am grateful for.

I really wasn't judging you. I just didn't realise that the payments could be that much. I thought they were much less. Not saying you shouldn't get that amount, not saying that at all.

@changeforprivacy apologies for the biscuit.

I’m a carer too and shouldn’t post after a bad day

What people don't understand in my situation is that if I was to work, I'd be putting four children in childcare, the majority of it paid for by tax credits, so it's not always as easy as coming off benefits and going to work. When I worked full time I was still entitled to payments due to low income. The amount I get takes into account how many children I have and how much my husband earns in his job, which is full time.

@QueenOfOversharing an online benefit check would show what you should be getting, and then if what you actually get is less, you call them and get it sorted. Or you speak to someone like me.

I agree though, they should tell people. That's why the court case was important.

My own idiot brother didn't know. A few years ago, he told me he was getting lower rate DLA, so I thought "no premiums for you then" and didn't say any more about it. Recently, he told me that he'd got an £8k payment from the DWP. Turns out he'd been on middle rate care all along, and they've just paid the arrears of the premium. Silly sod.

@Crystal87, I don't think anyone should be expecting someone caring for a child (or adult, come to that) with disabilities to justify the benefits they receive.

Caring is a 24/7 job and carers get a pittance in benefits. The money they save the government is massive and successive governments have treated them diabolically.

Oh that’s lovely TheWildOnesNeverDie and I hope it helps give you a wonderful Christmas.

They did this to me a few years back, less money but a big overpayment. Swore to me it was correct when I called them. But I'd heard too many horror stories and didn't trust them. I kept the money in a separate account. Sure enough, months later they asked for it back. I went through citizens advice and with their backing, proved it was their mistake and I should be able to keep it. But no, they claimed it was my error. Safe to say I paid it all back. Didn't need the aggro and they were too big to take on.

Good luck op

@MockersFactCheckMN Tue 03-Dec-19 15:56:25

you can go to NY (flights and 3 nights in a hotel) for under £300

Maybe if you live in New Jersey but not from the UK. Even going off peak you'd barely get a flight for that price, let alone at Christmas.

you can afford frivolities such as rent and food. Scrape by on maybe an extra £200 a month.

OP managed.

Because no one on tax credits or UC is ever supposed to have a holiday or anything nice, eh?

A Christmas trip to New York is beyond "nice"

Ffs tax credits are not to pay for a holiday to NY.
Jeez if you can you are in receipt of overpayments.