Child tax credit - can I trust them when they tell me...

[Twinklemegan]

... not to worry that this year's award is based on last year's income (with me on maternity leave) even though I've given them my much higher estimate for this year. Apparently the award will only change if my income this year is £25000 more than last year. I am really scared of using the money in case they want it back at the end of the year. Lady on helpline assured me she was telling me the truth. Logic would say to put it in a savings account just in case, but we really need the money tbh.

Twinklemegan,its like banging your head against a brick wall isn't it?

I think they purposely make it confusing,so the average person has no hope of challenging any decisions.

I shall await todays post with interest-I'm betting that there will be another 4 letters ftom them,each saying something different.

It is so annoying-I have a HUGE pre school bill for dd2,which I'm going to struggle to pay,yet I daren't touch the money they keep paying me because I KNOW it isn't rightfully mine.

On the other hand, does anyone know if there is there a statute of limitations on over payments?

In responce to the op yes they are right. The annoying thing is when you get the award notice it doesn't show the new figure you have given them but the way to check they have it is to look at the payemnts due from April 2008 these should drop to take into account of the higher income.
You can earn more than 25000 and get help with CC it depends though on how much CC you pay and other cirumstances like how many children.

Just went on that entitled to site, it says we should receive help with housing benefit () think not and that WTC is underpaying us £100 a week!

A WEEK!

And hewre we are living off debts (ie student loan) to survive

peachy, go to your local council website, they ahould have a housing benefit calculator, put yout details in there...see what pops up.

I find entitledto wrong compared to what we get.
But the op is right, If you earnings change by less than £25k they do not affect your tax credits THIS YEAR!!!!! But Next financial year they will drop considerably if your incame went up this year

Dh was not working for quite a while of last financial year and our tax credits were quite High. I phoned them last week to tell them of his new job earning £23k and our tax credits are only going down by £4 a week
But next year they will go down loads because thats when they will use this years income!!!

Crazy

the thing with entitled to is it doesnt include my student loan, council will (slightly unfair as it is a LOAN), however, I may nto be able to work next year as I will graduate September but if DS3 is at Sn schoola s we think I have to be here for random colections / drop iff by the bus, LEA says no alternatives.

I will get £40 a week ca (that'll cover a lot then) but the housing benefit WILL be ours then- which is a huge bonus we hadn't expected!

The 25k is right. Unless your income in this tax year increases by 25k more than what you earnt last tax year (06/07), then your tax credits award will not change. It will obviously make a difference come april next year.
Tax credits are always based on the previous tax years earnings, unless you think you may be earning less in the current year.
I used to work on the TC helpline (please don't all shout at me!!) and agree with everything said on this thread - good and bad!