to expect something back from the state now our income has dropped by more than half...?

[vtiredmummy]

Had rotten dat today, and ended up shouting/crying on phone to poor call centre lady from the child tax credit office.

Our situation - until last week dh and I were good earners, (and hard workers) with paid childcare. Now dh has been made redundant and effectively overnight our income has reduced by well over half.

So (stupidly) I called up the tax credit people (cos my wage alone entitles us to both child and working tax credits) to let them know...like the advert 'let us know if your circumstances change...etc etc' to be told that we are entitled to nothing because of our income over the past ten months.

Then we can re-claim in April where they will base it on 08-09 income and they might take into account redundancy, but the amount we get (if anything) is still based upon 08-09.

They won't take the cost of childcare into account because dh is at home, so our ds now loses all routine and continuity as we will have to take him out of his nursery due to the cost.

Does anyone else think this is totally, totally ridiculous??? We will get all the credits we need in April 2010 in effect. If dh hasn't got a job by then we'd have lost our house long before.

We can't be the only ones in this situation and I find it infuriating that HMRC don't have a system for people in this situation.

And if dh left me I'd be better off as a single mum right now...which just makes me even more mad. What the heck does the government think they are doing???!!!

AIBU, or should I just be thankful for what I have gor. I don't feel much like this right now btw...

Rant over

Did your husband get a decent redunancy payment?

I know how you feel x
YANBU AT ALL!

I have just been made redundant and am 12 weeks pregnant with twins and have a 2.7yo DS, I tried to claim job seekers but because I was on maternity leave in 2006 tax year my NI contributions are short by £75 so they wont grant me benefits!
I am applying for tax credits but because DP and I were both working last year we will be lucky to get £10 a week!

It makes me mad because you get penalised for staying together and bringing your kids up
Have you heard about the 13 and 15 year old parents and how their local government will help them as much as possible yet those of us who have paid into the system all these years can get nothing!!

No YANBU. The tax credit system was set up without the slightest thought that people's circumstances could change so thoroughly. And of course the prior year system works well for the well paid and self-employed, but is useless in your situation.

I think that Labour need to introduce a JSA for families in order to relieve the current burden. This could then by deducted from future tax credit payments, because as you say, you need the money now!

YRNBU AT ALL

It makes me sooooooooo cross.

Write to your MP and the local and national news.

not sure you'll continue getting tis level of sympathy on an aibu thread.

part of your post makes it sound as though you want the gov to cough up to preserve your ds routine...bit precious?

of course i hope your dh gets a job and that god forbid you dont lose your house.

Has your DH claimed job seekers allowance?

Working Famillies Tax was the biggest fuck up ever and that's no mistake!

Really feel for you and hope your dh is able to get a job again soon.

The continuity of care for your ds is also really unfair.

beansontoast - you are WAY out of line here.
OP DS needs routine and structure and the govenment should be supporting hard working people. SOD OFF

that's a bit harsh beansontoast. i don't think vtiredmummy is being rprecious about the routine, but upset that the system is so rigid and frankly ridiculous and is NOT being unreasonable about tax credits.

surely it's not just a question of his routine, though, it's that if your dh is looking after ds, he can't really look for a job, can he - and that's in nobody's interest.
whole system is crazy. People on low-lowish incomes SHOULDN'T PAY TAX, there shouldn't be any tax credit nonsense about it: really expensive to administer, and lots of unfairness.
YANBU

It is a bit shitty, but its just life. My childrens routines were interrupted for similar reasons. If you have a non earning partner, you can hardly expect the govt to chip in to pay for childcare.

Obv makes it harder for him to look for a job, but loads of SAHPs have the same problem.

It goes on your income over the whole year, so if that works out as higher than the threshold then no, you won't get anything. there has to be an upper ££ cut off.

I really hope your husband finds another job soon & will keep my fingers crossed for you.

-re your son, no it's not nice, but he'll not be damaged in any way and it'll be a big saving. You will have to make many adjustments, not just his nursery place, and it will feel hard, but you will manage it and it won't be as bad as you fear.

I know you're scared, but it's going to be ok.

In EXACTLY the same situation. HATE it.
YANBU at all!!!

Nothing to do with maintaining the level you are used to - has everything to do with getting the money when you need it and not when you don't.

And besides, if by next year your combined income has gone up again they'll take it all away anyway. So in effect, you will never get the money that you needed when you needed it!!!!!

I am happy to join the rant.

Super advice Mrsjammi - I will remember this myself and tell anyone else in OP situation.

mlm19 - YAB a bit U to be so aggressive...

DH got stat minimum redundancy. This keeps us safe til April. DH's employers laid off his whole dept in one fell swoop.

readyfor I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Rotten so and so's.

mlm19 I'm deffo going to write to my MP. It has got to be worth a go, because as I said earlier I am certain there are so so many people going through this.

beansontoast I am not writing for sympathy. I am angry. And the reason I want continuity at nursery is because we would break our bones to stop ds being affected by this situation. Our lifestyle has changed overnight, but I do not want to change what ds (2yo btw) is used to, comfortable with, and most importantly happy and secure with. What I want from govt is some financial help. We have spent our whole working lives contributing, and have now reached a point where we need a lilttle back, that's all.

It isn't very sensible to base child tax credits on teh previous financial year. And it must be a very stressful time for you.

I can understand about the childcare. It's hard to give up that continuity when you think you might need the childcare again soon but I don't think the government should help with that if a parent is able to care for the dc. They have to make it means tested re income and savings.

but you get what you are entitled to under the system, don't you? even if it isnt what you would like?

loads of families manage on one income, ours for example.

If I, as a single mother, shouted for more state help because we only have 1 income in our family, I can just see the Daily Mail (no apologies) style comments rolling in.

have you any family nearbu who can help out?

YANBU to expect help, the current system is pants.

But YABU to expect finacial help towards childcare that you don't need. The line has to be drawn somewhere.

Thanks for that cracking bit of advice mrsjami I shall be calling them back up on 1 April!

nightbynight based upon my wage (the only one we have now) I am entitled to both working and child tax credit. The problem is they won't give me a penny because dh was earning a wage for 10 of the 12 months of 08-09. So they will give me the money months and months after I need it.

I take it the biggest cause for concern is a mortgage? If so, I think the bank/mortgage lender should be the ones to offer help straight away, not the government.

mrsjammi is right about 08-09 you can just ask them to take trhe redundancy into acount,its not an issue, done it quite often when circs change.

The childcare-PITA but ultimately there have to be rules.I know its hard (have been there myself)but thats why they have the freeplaces at 3 scheme.

I would suggest to the OP that she look at entitled.com -lots on there about housing benefit etc which can be income tailored: important to know I think.

And yes what Hecate says:fear of the unknown really is worse than the actuality. heck we lost the lot-home,everything- and we'restill here years later and doing rather OK!

TC'sdocause rpoblems but FWIW they've enabled us to keep dh in owrk over the years and just about kept our head aboce water with me as a carer.

'Have you heard about the 13 and 15 year old parents and how their local government will help them as much as possible yet those of us who have paid into the system all these years can get nothing!!' Thank goodness- hardly their fault they haven'tcontributed whilst at school!.As for the rest that's just mindblowing but how can they not be helped- do we not want the baby fed /clothed??