Working Tax Credits have reduced by almost £100 pm!

[trinni]

This happened in April and I assumed it was some kind of end-of-tax-year-adjustment. Reduced from £312 pm to approx £220. I have two dc, both at school and the Child Tax Credit payment hasn't altered.

I have been paid again today and it's still almost £100 less than usual.

As far as I'm aware, nothing in my circs has changed and I will definitely phone them tomorrow but it's bugging me now!

Anyone else had this happen or know why it might be?

Mine went down by £50 with no change to earnings or circumstances. I don't know the criteria but remember there was something in last years statement saying the amount would go down for this tax year. Still worth checking it out though.

I think the qualifying criteria and limits were amended/dropped. I have gone from qualifying for childcare tax credits...to not qualifying because the earnings limit dropped in April. So, I've not had any changes to my salary but am also well over £100 per month worse off.

have you renewed for this year.?.that might just be the interim payment til ur final assessment comes through.

I think most peoples tax credits have changed this year, haven't they?

The limits have totally changed, so fewer people are eligible and fewer get the maximum allowance etc.

More importantly, the period they can backdate changes has reduced from three months to one month - which is a nightmare because it can take a month to get through to them on the phone!

I managed to get through to them this evening.

It's to do with last year's income being lower than this year's estimated income, due to me changing jobs in May last year.

I have however, over-estimated slightly ( on this year's salary) by about £500 so it will be adjusted - phew!

I'll still be about £50.00 per month worse off but to counter that, have slightly more child tax credits but not to the tune of £50 pm.

Anyway, thanks all for your replies and sugestions, much appreciated

Sorry to tell you but I was pleasantly surprised to see mine is still about the same! On the other hand, I don't recall receiving any information from them for ages, don't they normally send a review thingy in March or April?

Fanny, when you say yours hasn't altered - are your circs similar to mine ie; did you earn less in the previous tax year (2010/2011)? This seems to be the reason I'm awarded less. It does makes sense.

My review letter arrived at the weekend. I've been prompt in checking and returning it. Just hope they adjust and backdate anything due asap.

Mine went up by about £20 a month (between working and child tax credits)

My income has gone up ever so slightly since last year, I took a big pay cut just over 2 years ago when changing jobs but much the same since then. Always working full time.

I've just lost £200 a month because of a change in my income back in 2010!! Not disputing they're right, but it's a bloody big drop in income when you're not expecting it. So much so that I'm now madly applying for new jobs as I'm really struggling to manage.