Declaring different income to what us shown on tax credits renewal pack

[SpideyMom]

Thought it would be easier starting a new thread than resurrecting the old old.

Hopefully it will be straight forward.

My pack STILL hasn't arrived however I do know I need to declare different figures than what they are currently using. Basically my pension contributions.

Can I do this online or do I have to renew by post? I've planned to do by post having all the evidence ready to send back, but I'm obviously thinking more about speed now. They have reduced my award by alot and am currently struggling, which we already were anyway. So this month is incredibly hard. The sooner they can get it processed the better.

Has anyone had any experience of declaring different figures and how did you have to do it.

TIA x

Yes it really is.

This year seems to be worse then ever for renewals, never taken this long before and is usually completed within a week. I really do wonder if its because of the switch to uc has already begun for some people or if they have brought in extra checks etc...

I really am sick of living on the breadline all the time, but getting a job will help that, its just finding something that fits round children, partners work hours etc..

I really would like to see those who decide our entitlement, how much it should be, when we get it and the whole tax credits renewal length live like we have to, there's been no increase in tax credits for years, most people haven't had a pay rise for a good few years either, but the cost of living has risen significantly. They dont think of those who have partners that dont work the standard 9-5, single parents, or those that dont have a helping hand from family with childcare.

I too think this year has been really bad for renewals. There is absolutely no way they are issued when they say they are as I have never known Royal mail take so long and especially not over 3 weeks! As I say this will he the 4th week and I've come home to no post!

I also wonder if its because UC is now the main one. I will be significantly worser off on UC so I have hoping that managed migration will happen as it is supposed to as I really can't afford to lose anymore.

People may think just get a better paid job. If only it was that easy. I feel really stuck. I am a lone parent. No help from other parent and my own parents both work in schools/uni so are available for childcare duties to help me out. I really can't afford paying for childcare and my sons school doesn't offer after school care however he is only 4 and don't feel comfortable with him doing such a long day. A school day is long enough! I have a mortgage, bills and the exs debts to clear. I would love a better career, and I would work more hours for a better life for us if I had to, of course i would but it would be impossible for to even retrain or study. I can't give up an income with so many financial commitments and I can't get any help to help me retrain because I own my own house. I honestly feel trapped.

For some reason I have just rechecked my app. Still no change it will make no difference now for us in July. There are only 2 payments left of the month even if it was amended in time for this weeks. So I feel down about things.

Sorry if you have already said but have your payments reduced too?

I know my first one took just over 4 weeks to arrive, so definitely some sort of issue there.

According to the uc calculator we would be slightly better off, but i very much doubt it, with everything ive read regarding it everyone seems to be worse off, so really need to be employed before it happens.

It really isnt just as easy as getting a better paid job, especially where children, childcare etc.. are involved. Im hoping that once ive found a job i will be able to afford to train to do some thing im interested in. I'm hoping one of the call centres near me will have something on part time soon, they did have something for start date this month, but i have a holiday booked in july, and you need 3 months clear with no time off so couldnt apply for that.

Luckily the holiday is paid for and spending money in the bank too, but cant touch it, we only have this holiday due to a ppi reclaim, it was either pay some debt off or holiday and holiday won, due to not having one for a few years.

Yes mine have decreased by around 100 a month.

I'm sure you will secure work soon. You sound very keen to work.

It sounds like you deserve a holiday. I've managed to book us a holiday for August. Was booked 14 months ahead. And we haven't been away for 2 and a half years so I wanted my sons to be able to see part of the world. Going in the school holidays crippled me though and still some spending money to find. Losing money couldn't have come at a worser time to be honest.

Just got to get through it. Things can only get better right

Hopefully, just applied for a trainee position, says full time but says they are open to work around the applicant, so hopefully they may be ok with less hours worked per week .

I think we all deserve a holiday, hopefully your renewal will be sorted well before your due to go away, and any back pay your due can go to towards spending money if you will have any left, once you've sorted the rest of the bills etc... if you have any to pay.

Yes we have just got to keep plodding on, and things can definitely only get better for us.

Still no change and no second pack. Unbelievable 😭😭

Still me ap2003 (just name change).

Its crap that yours has not updated yet spideymom, i wonder if what the hold up is.

I'm unsure whether to do my renewal or not, as its 2 weeks since 2nd renewal pack got sent out, i may give it a few more days to see if it turns up, but going by the first one which took 4 weeks to arrive, it won't be here any time soon.

@sleepinginthegarden is there a reason why you are waiting? Will anything has changed from your first pack? Do you have all the correct information to hand? Why not try it and it you get stuck at any point just save and go back at a later date.

I am fighting the temptation to contact them to try and hurry it through, as they will just say well we have up to 8 weeks and its only been a week and a half. I stupidly check daily, multiple times in fact and I think its making me feel worse. It would be so hard to take if I knew I owed them, but I am absolutely certain that I dont. They are currently using my gross salary which they shouldnt be. Hence why the length of time its taking is so unfair. All this could be avoided by me being able to submit evidence monthly or each April. Its also disappointing as when I am moved on to UC, I wont have a few months of this, I will have 12 months of work confirming a gross salary and not my pension contributions.

I like to keep this thread going, if only to update when the pack has been received or my renewal finalised. Today is 4 weeks since my 2nd pack was issued. So this one has taken longer than the first.

Mine arrived today (dated 9 May), but I can't complete it yet as I still haven't had my P11d from work...

9th May! Good grief. Is that the first or 2nd pack? What was the date on the first of not? Mines still not here and still no update

1st and only, I've not asked for a 2nd.

@SpideyMom no nothing will have changed between the 2 declaration's. Was just waiting for the 2 weeks to be up on the second renewal pack. Yes i have all information available, so will do it this afternoon.

We are the same, they are using dh's gross salary and not taking into account his pension contributions. I've a feeling after seeing how yours is going, that we are all going to get checks though and be asked to provide proof of pension contributions, so im going to print it all off and have it ready if they ask for it at any point in the future.

Never thought about uc with pension contributions, hope it may be as easy as just uploading each wage slip to them to prove your contributions, but i doubt that very much.

Hope you hear something in the next few days regarding yours, I will be the same though checking all the time to see if it has updated, once I've put it through later.

@sleepinginthegarden if you feel confident to do it, id get it done. Their deadline is next month but i reckon it will be months beyond that before it will be finalised. The one year I had to wait until October!

I took think their will be checks. I have printed off everything I can, and copied wage slips showing the payment made and that it is take after deductions and not before. The only thing I am waiting for is my Annual Statement from my pension company, which annoyingly this year is over a month late now. Historically, its always been sent in May. So its typical the year I really need it, I dont have it yet! I do have print outs from my online account though showing whats been paid in so hopefully they will accept that, but I doubt it.

Ive checked again today and no change. More weeks of misery.

@Chasingsquirrels I am absolutely shocked that a pack dated 9th May has only just arrived. How can that be justified as fair with their strict guidelines. I am so annoyed for you! How long will it take to get you P11D?

@SpideyMom well i cant actually believe it but guess what my second renewal pack has just dropped through the door!! It was sent on the 05th june, so going to get it done this afternoon now.

My dhs pension statements is not due till 01/08. So if they want proof of pension payments im going to have to print every individual page of transactions for them or photocopy every wage slip, which will be a nightmare.

@sleepinginthegarden yeeeesssssss! I am so pleased. I dont know whats happened to mine then as mine is the 23rd May. I think when it arrives im just going to send all my stuff anyway in the post as I do feel a letter will be arriving asking for proof etc so may as well get in.

At least its arrived though :-)

I've just checked my app. No change :-(

I know i couldnt quite believe it when it feel through the door. All done now just to wait for them to process it.

Either yours has got lost in the post or sat in a room waiting to be posted out still.

Yes just get everything ready, i had read somewhere that you can upload it all to your online account if they request more information. Not sure if this still stands though.

Just a thought do you claim any childcare expenses? I know a few years ago evryone who did had compliance letters requesting all information regarding childcare.

I think this may also be the same if you have had an in year change also e.g. going from joint to single claim.

I do. But my childcare is under £10 a week for breakfast club so very low compared to some. I'd also like to think based on me logging the school name they will put 2 and 2 together, but we will see.

I was hoping to come home to my letter. I know its irrelevant really as I've already completed my declaration nearly 2 weeks ago, but I've wanted my second pack to be able to send back all my proof. It hasn't turned up today either.

Please let me know when yours updates. If yours is done before mine I will expect a compliance check and contact them to see what's going on.

@SpideyMom yeah i can't really see £10 a week flagging anything up for compliance. But then again knowing tax credits they would just because they can.

Yes i will definitely let you know what happens with mine. Although I'm not holding out any hope for it to be done any time soon, especially with how long yours is taking.

Well I got a shitty advisor when I just called. I know I am early but I just wanted to see if they can do anything as we have been left with no money.
I was bluntly told its taking us approximately 5 weeks to process renewals at the moment. You only sent yours 2 weeks ago so you should know we won't be happy with these calls. So why have you called?
I was shocked, baring in mind I was very polite and had already mentioned them cutting my award is leaving us with virtually nothing.
I didn't want an arguement, so I just said I wasnt calling to be spoken to like that. I haven't got nasty, but maybe put yourself in the position of every claimant who has had they award cut incorrectly pending the renewal being finalised. I was then told awards are amended in line with figures provided to HMRC. I said yes but that doesn't mean it's correct and fair. You should have taken my pension details much earlier than this. But instead me and my child have to struggle as you are using incorrect income figures. It's totally unfair as you have left us in poverty and reliant on family handouts and credit cards.
I was told its a process that they can't speed up. Sooooo I know now not to call them again. But I do feel better for saying my bit.

But as I got off the phone my 2nd pack has arrived in the post so I'm posting all my evidence back

Having a read of the declaration again (exactly the same as the first, just as I expected) it states what I will be getting based on what I am earning, once the overpayment is cleared. It's basically what I've calculated as I should be getting now. So I suppose that's some peace of mind that this isn't going to last forever

Got all my paperwork sealed in the envelope ready to go back in the morning. I highly doubt it will speed things up. Will probably just go into the pile of other renewals. But.... I do feel abit better for being proactive

Any updates yet? Mines still waiting though all proof arrived back at them today so fingers crossed it's soon

Renewals are also taking 10 weeks to finalise now :-(

So I arrived home 2 three thick brown envelopes. I thought 'here we go, this is it, I'm being compliance checked again'...
It wasn't. 2 were from the child maintenance to acknowledge arrears they won't be collecting, and to say payments are going down. (I am lucky if it gets paid anyway), and the other is from tax credits but a provisional award 'whilst they are checking my renewal'. I've never heard anything like it! Why waste time doing that, just process the renewal! I am guessing this has come from me updating my income for this year the day after I sent my renewal. But it's frustrating how fast they can do that but not the renewal.

Hope everyone is getting on OK

Mine is still pending renewal, so looks like going to be waiting weeks for it to be processed, got a text yesterday stating upto 8 weeks to process from yesterday.

Apologies for not been on, just having a tough time at the moment.