Housing benefit and working/child tax credits

[GreatBallsofFluff]

Hello everyone. Just a quick question. Generally is housing benefit directly related to the amount of tax credits received?

I don't claim childcare costs during term time but do for the holidays. Called tax credits to advise them of the changes last week. Today I have received a letter from the local council saying that my housing benefit has been cut by about thrre quarters of the amount extra that I am receiving to cover childcare from tax credits and my council tax benefit has been cut to zero.

I don't see how this is fair as the extra I am now receiving from tax credits is to cover the cost of childcare I am incurring whilst DD is off school. It is not as if tax credits decided to give me extra so I have more money to go off on a jolly. So now as well as still having to pay 30% of the childcare, I now have to make up the loss on housing benefit

Did you inform the Council that you have increased childcare costs at the same time as informing HMRC (tax Credits)?

If you inform the Council of your Childcare costs, they disregard them from your income.

Ah ok, they've just got it on the calculation sheet as child tax credits. I didn't tell the council as usually they just send out a letter similar to this whenever I call hmrc so thought it would be 'known' as it were that the extra tax credits were for childcare. Will call the council on Monday and talk to them about it. It just seemed so unfair otherwise.

Sorry meant to say thank you lougle