ANOTHER child tax credit question!

[chickenlickin]

ok sorry for asking but need some advice from you clever lot! From april2010- till now we have been receiving about £250 which was a lot more than the year before. DH on lower paid (own business) salary, I was on mat leave. So . . . . based on our earings 2009/10 we get more money now - which doesn't make sense! So my understanding (which they told me) is if our income goes up this year 2010-2011 then we need to tell them before April 2011. 2009/10 is was £22,000 now (2010-2011) is £35,00 (joint gross). So if I tell them kind of now then they re-calculate and don't give us anymore, is that right!!!!????? Just really worried about having to repay.

If your income goes up and you tell them then they will adjust your award going forward. The award from April 2011 is based on your earnings between April 2010 and April 2011. I believe they are trying these days to halt future payments rather than ask for the money back. Best recommendation is to contact them directly as soon as possible.

Ho chickenlicken I think we are in the same kind of position with regards tax credits. I was worried in the same way but rang them up and was reassured, about not having to pay it back, although it seems ours will go right down after April, (also joint 35,000 for 2010-2011)...there is something called a 'disregard' which means you can earn up to £25,000 more within a year and not have to change level till the next year...this is changing I believe to 10,000 but the advisor told me that as long as we haven't earned more than that we should be okay and not have to replay it. We could have done with it last year though! My dp was self-employed last year and we were short, then got a new job...

I would ring them and ask, they are pretty helpful (tax credits helpline)..when you can get through that is. Lunchtimes and evenings not good.