Sorry but another tax credit and pension payments question

[NGC2017]

I have posted here before about this months back so apologies to ressurect.

Following a review of my pension contributions I was horrified at how little I was payment in. It was little over £5 a month. So I made the decision to increase my payments to hopefully give me a more comfortable future.
I discussed this with tax credits and was told pension contributions would be deducted from what they use as income. But as my work don't declare my payments I would have to declare them myself at renewal.

Today I have chased TC again regarding my renewal pack and then asked the question what information I needed to provide about my pension contributions. I was asked is it a private pension. I said no, it is offered by my work however my work do not inform the HMRC of the payments I make. Only my entire salary.
If you read on Nest Pensions it clearly states the whole salary will be used to make deductions and only then will my contribution be paid on my behalf.
So basically work declare a higher figure to HMRC but what I actually get paid is less my pension payment. Hopefully I make sense. I have challenged this many times with work as I know it's not the typical way but they have said it may not be the most used method but it is legal how it is done. And as I say, Nest pensions does clearly state the way contributions are paid. I suppose its almost like a private pension but it's not? Or am I wrong?

Anyway the advisor has said they will not deduct my pension contributions as they are made through a workplace pension and not private. I said but I am not including their share, just what I may in myself each month. My contribution will also have already been taxed by my employer.

Is this really true? Tax credits have always told me my contributions are deducted. I am sick of being told one thing by them and then something else.

A lady on here before really helped me and checked with her husband. But now I am told again that they won't accept my contributions.

Thank you

Everywhere I am reading whether occupational or private it's states i need to declare my own contributions. But TC say not. I would understand if I wasn't paying in to it. But I am. In fact I am paying more than double the government percentage.

This is so frustrating

It's because NEST don't deduct in the same way as usual private pensions, the way they do it is perfectly legal, it's just not the most commonly done way. You need to deduct your pension contribution and the tax you have paid on that money from your total income. You could write a letter to them including the information from the NEST site that shows that they reclaim tax for you rather than it being deducted pretax from payroll, and a statement to show what you have paid in.

It's no surprise to me at all tax credits don't not know their own rules.

Thank you for your reply @dirtystinkyrats you've saved me from going back though all my conversations with them. I was so annoyed when she said earlier as they literally say one thing and then the next advisor will say another.

I intend to put everything in writing and I am more than happy to send in my payslip and annual pension statement. It won't stop me from paying into my pension but hopefully will avoid overpayments etc.

Thank you once again