Working Tax Credits - can they base it on this year's income?

[HippyJess]

Thanks in advance for any help here!

My husband is applying for Working Tax Credits for both of us. Last year I had taxable income from work of £1073 (for the whole year) and £803 from taxable benefits (JSA).

The problem is that when you take into account my income plus his for the financial year 2013/14 we're entitled to basically nothing (DC1 is due 12/09/14 and it'll be different after that) - just £38 for the whole year!

However, when I adjust the estimates to this year's income for me - which is zero and will stay that way! - then it says we're entitled to £422 in tax credits per year.

We wouldn't be applying based on last year's incomes, but based on this year's incomes what we're entitled to would really help. How can we make it so that they base our claim/entitlement on my income for this financial year instead of last year's? My partners income is the same.

Is there a way to do it? Thanks!

You just have to ring them up and inform them your income will be less this year and ask them to base your award on your estimated income for this year.

So since it's a new application we send it off with last year's incomes on it, then as soon as it's been processed call them up and tell them that my income this year is zero? Does that sound right? Bit annoyed that we don't seem to be able to apply with that info and have to be assessed at virtually nothing before we can change it

Yes unfortunately that is the way it works. It is initially based on last years income and they will probably give you a zero award. You then ring them and explain the drop in income, they should then adjust the award.