Child Tax entitlement and job loss

[lalaandpo]

Hi ya,

I'm just after some advice, if anyone's able to help :)

My DH lost his job in April. We received child benefit and no other benefits as above the threshold which is fair enough.
I earn but it's definitely not a main earner income!

I've put in to online calculators to see if we're entitled to anything else and it goes on DH's earnings for tax year 2017/18. So we're not.
He receives contributions based JSA, which stops in October. He's avidly job hunting.

I'm planning to phone the CTC line tomorrow...but just wanted to find out anything others' might know.
At what point does it not take in to account the last tax year? We're hoping we obviously don't get as far as a year of him being out of work.

Both our children are in receipt of middle rate DLA..unsure if this makes a difference to anything.

If anyone has any knowledge it would be appreciated :)

Even though you have been turned down based on last years income ( which was higher) you can ask them to re-assess based on this years income , but you would need to try to estimate what you will earn this tax year and that can be tricky because you don't now if/ when your dh will get another job. His CB JSA would be counted also. So you could apply, wait to be given a NIL award and then ring them with an estimate. yes your kids being disabled will affect your tax credit award enormously so be sure to let them know that they are in receipt of DLA. When your dh's JSA runs out he could claim carers allowance if you don't already claim it and he still has no job lined up. this is assuming at least one of your kids gets middle rate DLA.

If you are in a full service Universal credit area you would need to claim UC instead of tax credits.

Sorry just saw that they both get middle rate DLA so your dh could claim carers allowance. be sure to update tax credits with every change - carers allowance would count as income , or if he gets another job then let them know. This is to avoid an overpayment.

Thanks for you reply :)

I've just got off the phone to them, and once i told her what our joint earnings were last tax year she just said , basically no. It will be next tax year that we can try again (hopefully DH will have a job by then!)

But when i said both children get MR DLA she went off to check and came back and said she's going to send out forms and i need to attach a letter to say our income for this year has changed etc and we may be entitled to something.

Even though online it tells me different, but i'll still do all the forms just in case!

She has misinformed you - even if your children were not disabled , you would be able to re-apply based on an estimate for this year.