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

Sorry to hear about your DH passing @Chasingsquirrels. Thankfully the loss hasn't been much to consume any of your time away from things that are more important.
I agree though, it should be more automated.
I can only think in my case they are contacting the pension provider to confirm figures. Which is absolutely fine, though it won't be any different from the proof I have sent them. But if the time I had to wait for Nest to send my Annual Statement is anything to go by, them I'm gonna take a guess I've got many more weeks of waiting to endure.
We go away in a month. Our first holiday in years so this has come at a really bad time

I really must stop checking my app. It's been 5 weeks today. I suppose, looking on the positives, my message confirming receipt said it will take 8 weeks to process. I'm choosing to ignore the 10 weeks, October and November I've been told after. If the 8 weeks passes then I will have to accept later in the year may well be the case for it all to be finalised.

I knew the inconvenience would happen this year because of the pension scheme I am in. But I honestly never thought it would take this long

I have just logged on via my computer. It is now saying my renewal should be finalised by 22nd August now. So not the 8 weeks afterall :-(

oh shit, and now I have gone into view my payments its now saying 30th Novemeber. I could cry

I got a text from them today saying they needed to speak to me about my incomplete tax credits return. I rang them and after being on hold for 30 minutes and then some messing around, she took my pension figure over the phone. I advised that they always ask me to send in the evidence and usually had a letter with a reference number etc so they could verify it. She had no clue and said she didn't know if I'd need to send it or not. Then she told me that they'd aim to complete my return by 25th September- 10 weeks, despite me completing it originally on 12th June. I don't hold out much hope that she knew what she was talking about or the timeframe given tbh.

I suspect the issues with returns this year relate to staffing issues due to the move over to UC which has been rolled out further. I'm lucky in that we can manage because of the way I have control over my pension, but it's bloody awful for those who are reliant on their tcs.

oh it just makes me so sad. It was bound to happen though as I am so reliant on them. These last few months have been crap and have made me feel crap, virtually questioning every penny I spend and putting off shopping trying to drag things out.
I have stopped obsessively checking my app, it only made me feel worse. I think now I just need to accept it will be done when it's done.

A lady was kind enough to work out my UC for me and I will be worser off anyway, so I need to just hold on and wait it out. I completed mine a few days before yours, having to declare my pension payments too. I haven't had any text or letter, but I sent them in proof anyway as though I was doing a postal renewal despite doing it online. I am hoping that will be enough, but I am expecting a much longer wait that the 8 weeks I was given

That sounds so miserable for you, I'm so sorry you're having to endure this. Something has definitely been done on their systems for me because I now have a one off payment coming my way, followed by slightly reduced 4 weekly amounts after that. Apparently this is help make sure I 'get the right amount' over the year. I never do understand why they do this. Just don't give me the one off payment and keep my monthly amounts the same, because if you add them up it comes to the same amount over the year. Bloody idiots!

I hate those random one off payments. I feel they just mess you up so I don't see the point in them.
That's great that something has been done with yours. Bet you're relieved

So I have just been told as I am declaring a different income to what they have, it has triggered a check. In which case not to take any timescales into account as they wont apply. She said in these circumstances there are no timescales as it will take as long as it takes.

Today is a bad day, my car is leaking oil and this has just made it worse. I am so fed up with everything going wrong and demanding money I simply dont have... I could cry :-(

So I see that the UC switch over is finally beginning. I wonder if this is why it has taken so long, and maybe it is likely we are going to get moved over? Just a thought

Hiya.

Just a little update. It's been nearly 7 weeks now and no change for me. I decided to call and managed to get a lovely advisor.

Initially she told me that my renewal was showing as partially captured. Was concerned about this as its the first time I've been told this. She then looked further into it and said all my paperwork and proof has been scanned on and it now in a workbasket to be finalised.

Unfortunately she was unable to give me any sort of timescales, just apologies, but did say 'at least you are well ahead of the game and sent in all your evidence, rather than waiting for us to ask for it, as that would delay things further.' So I was really relieved about that.

I'm still no closer to knowing when but it was a relief to hear her talking about my declared figures and the evidence I have sent as its made me feel like they have everything they need from me to finalise it when they get round to it.

So now just need to keep waiting.

Fingers crossed it's not too long now then SpideyMom, and good that you prempting the information request will speed things along.

Thanks @Chasingsquirrels have you had any movement with yours?

That sounds like good news for you at least! Still nothing here but I'm not surprised. It really does vary as to who you talk to doesn't it?! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Nothing yet, I submitted 3 weeks ago tomorrow and had a "thanks for submission ready for processing, will fake upto 8 weeks" text 2 weeks ago tomorrow.

Annoyingly I've just found out the the NHS exemption certificate my tax credits income level will entitle me too makes ds1 eligible for susbidised sixth form transport, but I doubt it will be processed before I need to buy his bus pass.

Maybe I should post in the pension information so they've got it, did you send yours with the renewal pack or renew online and just send the paperwork in?

It really does @Ahshitehesatitagain I've spoke to some awful ones. Today I go lucky. The only think that annoyed me was she said it should be done by next week but it is in a backlog. I personally ignored that as I really don't think it will be done in the 8 weeks I was initially told, which will be up end of next week!

@Chasingsquirrels I renewed online and when my 2nd renewal pack finally arrived weeks later I also returned it, along with all my proof. I sent in my last wage slip showing how much I had paid in for the year, also showing that its taken after deductions and not before, bank statements of all my salary payments into my account as well as information from my pension account showing what 8 was investing every month. At the time my Annual Statement wasn't ready but I felt I was sending enough to prove my contributions anyway.

If I am honest I never thought it would take this long. Its amazing how you just get on with it but a part of my is hoping that now I've spoken to someone again and my 8 weeks is nearly up, that it will be done soon. But I know that's just me being silly. It will he done when it's done.

She did say they have alot of people working on them as after 31st July as that's the deadline, from 1st August there will be alot more people able to help getting them all finalised. I suppose at the moment staff are being separated between finalising renewals and taking renewals over the phone.

I just wished that there was a way for my employer to give them my contributions figure. Then I wouldn't be here now as they would already have it. I also hope when I get moved to UC that I won't get this month in month out

I’m still waiting too. I completed mine on the 10th of June, so nearly 7 weeks ago and still haven’t heard. When I log in online it says it could take till the 30th of November 😩 mine have been halved and it’s been a struggle to be honest. I hate having to rely on them. They had dh’s income totally wrong with no explanation as to why. That’s the first that’s ever happened.

its horrible isn't it @jenniuol

I did also question that. To be honest I am told different things. Not so long ago I was told that to not work on any timescales as my declaration will have triggered a check as I am declaring a lower income. Yesterday I was told different. She told me not to take any notice. My app says 8 weeks, then online the first screen says 22nd August, and then fully into my tax credits account it says 30th November.

I was lucky that I managed to get a lovely advisor on the end of the phone. A lot can be awful. Unfortunately I guess its a case of waiting as they cant push anything through.

I genuinely cannot wait to report back her and say its all done

I know me too! I haven’t phoned them as it usually just annoys me. I’m toying with whether I should or not. Like you say some of the advisers are awful and you wish you hadn’t bother. On the other hand I’m worried that somethings wrong and if I phone it might get it sorted quicker. Who knows 🤷🏻‍♀️

Can't help to give them a call. It isn't like you've only just done it. Its been 7 weeks pretty much. I've read others have completed there's and had it finalised and close as quick as a week later.
I'm still obsessively checking my app tho

Gotta laugh. Got my final award today- with the wrong income on it still. Will do a mandatory consideration tomorrow and get it sent off with my proof. I can't say I'm surprised, I really was not convinced by the woman's response on the phone when I spoke to her the other week. She sounded like she was making it up on the spot.

You are joking @Ahshitehesatitagain I'm angry for you. Who the hell are they employing to do these. You arent the first person I have heard this has happened to.

Still no change for me. I'm so past desperate now. I'm so miserable. Going away in August and need to borrow money now