Tax credits rejection?

[JillianHoltzmann]

I applied for Tax credits, sent off my form on 20th November. Today, 22nd December, I received a letter saying they received my application on December 5th and I’m not eligible for tax credits because most people in my area are recieving Universal credit.

I checked and Universal Credit came in on 5th December in my area, coincidentally. I’m not sure whether to appeal this decision (since they obviously didn’t receive it 15 days after I sent it!) it to apply to Universal Credit.

It’s a huge time crunch because my rent is overdue because there was a problem with my maternity pay and tax code, which should be rectified soon but I don’t know when. So on the 28th I’ll owe £600 and i won’t be able to pay anything till this is sorted

*or to apply to universal credit

Did you send it recorded delivery? So you have proof day it was signed for? Otherwise I am not sure whether you can appeal. And you could wait a while for an appeal, but if they refuse it you would have even longer to wait for any money. If you apply to universal credit you can get up to 100% of your entitlement, which would be paid back.over the next 12 months

I didn’t send it recorded delivery. I know it was stupid but nothing like this has happened to me before- I didn’t even think it would.

I think on Universal Credit it’s £200 less than on tax credits, which puts me in a whole new problem

If you sent it in one of those pre-pay envelopes that they send with the form then they can take ages to get there unfortunately .I'm really not sure whether you'd have any grounds for appeal. Universal credit will only backdate in some circumstances for up to a month, you need to see if they would consider paying you UC from the date tax credits received your claim, so from Dec 5th. I think this is the best hope you have of recuperating any money. UC will pay you a rent element. It is one month and seven days before you receive a payment but as pp says you can get an advance to tide you over.

They don’t include prepay envelopes, it was sent first class

It's going to be pretty hard to appeal if you have no evidence of when you sent it. You can say when you sent it but you don't have any proof. I'm afraid it's UC for you.