Have the government done away with child tax credits?!?

[Pop24]

Had a nightmare day trying to apply for universal credit which has just replaced what would have been child tax credit in our area. We have savings of more than 16,000 (hard earned and saved house deposit!) but our household income is low. Am I right in thinking that child tax wasn't dependant on savings just income?? Yet You can't claim UC with savings of more than 16k. So, my query is, does this effectively mean ctc no longer exists? And how is that fair when people in some areas would still qualify for it? Are we really being penalised because we happen to live where we do when if we lived in the county next door we would still be able to claim child tax credits. So frustrated and confused. And advise much appreciated!

Blinkyblink - What counts as a change, that is something which seems to be causing a bit of confusion ?

Presumably getting a new partner would mean you both had to be on the claim and would count as a change.
So if for example a lone parent had over £16k in savings and was transferred over to UC and under transitional protection those savings wouldn't affect her claim. Say she then meets anew partner and he moves in does that then mean that's a new claim and the UC rules kick in and she would lose any entitlement to UC as she has savings over £16k ??

That's how it was under labour when my df was made redundant- he had more than £8k in savings (redundancy pay) so was entitled to £94 a fortnight in total for a family with 2 teens. Having said that I always felt it was wrong that a friend got high tax credits because of low income and 3 dc when she'd bought her 4 bed detached house cash with inheritance so with no mortgage she had so much spare money it was crazy to think tax credits paid out. Her dc always had expensive things - top of the range mac laptop at age 7 etc. There must be some kind of balance.

Anything.
It will be strict because ultimately the intention is everyone under UC.

It's something o know a fair bit about.
Going through a divorce and my divorce lawyer is an expert on it

Yes mother - people who have no mortgage and a low income can have a pretty decent lifestyle with the tax credits they get. I guess that will be exactly the same under UC though as a house won't be classed as capital I don't think.

Blinkety - would a new baby being added to the UC claim mean transitional protection is lost? Or a child leaving education ?

The whole thing has been a monumental fuck up!

Yes to both.

The transitional protection is a temporary measure. Any change will change to UC.

Littlenells... why?
I will be very seriously impacted, and negatively. The old system doesn't count spousal maintenance payments. Under UC, it will mean I review zero (because I have high spousal maintenance payments).

I'm gutted but to me, the system makes sense and I don't see it as a fuck up. People will lose out, many will. That doesn't necessarily means it's a fuck up.

No babyroobs
The circumstances below would cause transitional protection to end

a partner leaves or joins the household

a sustained (three-month) earnings drop beneath the level of work that is expected according to their claimant commitment

the universal credit award ends

one (or both) members of the household stop work.

Andnoe
I have been advised that ANY change that would impact the amount you receive i tax credits, whether higher or lower.m, would result in protection ceasing and moving over to UC.

Makes sense. They have offered the protection but it is underpinned by overwhelming need for all to be on the same system, and that's only going to happen if any change results in a move.

Blinky you were wrongly informed. Also people with three or more dc cannot claim UC until November 2019at the earliest even if they live in a full digital UC area.

Such conflicting information !!

Sorry posted the transitional protection for UC in early post.
The change of circumstances that would lead to a forced IC claim are in this link

www.welfare-benefits-unit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/What-triggers-a-claim-for-Universal-Credit-in-a-full-service-area.pdf

Also if you have three dc or more, you cannot claim UC currently until Nov 2019 at the earliest.

The dwp give conflicting info because mostly they are guessing themselves.

Yes to the three children point, correct re the rollover month.

Some people's situation won't trigger a change in years potentially though. For example someone who has young children now could potentially have transitional protection for the next 15 years if their circumstances don't change? How can there be such differences ? For couple claiming tax credits now with savings in the bank of £20k can receive UC and have savings, but another couple starting a new UC claim now can't get a thing because of their savings.
How could such unfairness continue for potentially years on end if the first couple's circumstances don't change.
It will also affect people's decision to move a partner in or have another child etc.

In all likelihood there will be an end to the translational protection for all. My solicitor reckons 3 years from time that UC is rolled out across all of UK. Of course that is just his thoughts, but no way will there still be translational protection on 20 years time!!

Blinky - I agree with your solicitor. I really don't see how such unfairness could continue for long. There would be uproar !!

So if I have 3 dc my tax credits claim won't be affected till Nov 2019?

Yes at the earliest Choc.

Also anyone making a new claim for tax credits or attempting to make one for UC ,that have 3 or more dc born BEFORE April 6th 2017 can claim TC for every child until at least Nov 2019.

<a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/ucpbn-3-capital.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/ucpbn-3-capital.pdf