Tax credits keep going down!

[user1487854472]

I'm a single Mum and claim wtc and ctc. I work 17 hours a week and earn £12500ish a year. Yet my payments have reduced again to just over £200, that's including something towards child care (£110 a month) Surely this can't be right? I'm in such a pickle 😢

It doesn't sound right. Have you had a letter showing your payments or is it just reduced payments appearing in your bank account?

That doesnt sound right. I work and earn pretty much the same as you and get a lot more. How many children do you have and is that monthly or weekly

That's monthly, and I have one child. I recently completed my renewal and looked online and it's gone down. Do you mind me asking how much you get? I understand if you don't wish to disclose that lol

Check your figures using the website entitled to.co.uk
It really doesn't sound right at all. Did you earn a lot more last year? That is the only reason that I can think could be having such a harsh impact on your tax credits. If you are spending £110 on childcare each month and only earning 12500 pa you probably should be getting more tax credits.

I have two children so i think thats probably why i get more but i would still expect your payments to be higher, i pay £125 childcare a week

I quickly ran through the entitled to
Website based on a single Person working 17 hours and earning 12.5k with one child and childcare
Costs of £110 per month and it came back that you should be getting £110 per week in tax credits.
Obviously it might differ if you put your figures in yourself as you know your exact circumstances but it definetly seems you are Not getting the right amount.

Thank you! I find this whole system so confusing. They had my earnings last year at £21000, but I was on maternity leave so it dropped to £17000, would this make a difference?

Yes, your drop in earnings is almost certainly the reason for your decreased tax credits. You need to ask them to do an assessment based on current year income.

Ask for your tax credits to be based on current year's income. they will disregard the first 2.5k drop in income though.