Tax credit renewals - anyone heard back?

[Divgirl2]

I've been checking the HMRC app every hour day for the last three weeks but still nothing. Has anyone heard back yet? I renewed at the beginning of June.

I was on mat leave for a decent chunk of last year and so my pay was considerably less what they say it was (exactly what I had declared it would be, but there you go) so what I get currently is leaving me £200 short every month.

Really hoping I hear soon because it's miserable being skint.

My MP hasn't responded yet, I don't hold out much hope of it getting sorted anytime soon. I don't think they realise that they are messing with people's lives, alot of it just looks like they stick in figures to suit themselves without ensuring they are correct. Makes me think it is done on purpose to save money as the whole system is to complex for the majority of people to realise they are not getting what they should be. Every year mine comes back with an underpayment but an overpayment from somewhere else to cancel it out, and my payments drop even when my income hasnt increased!

Its not fair to leave people waiting so long, they have their deadlines for renewing then don't have the capacity to deal with them all. The stress and anxiety it puts on people when they are already struggling is just overlooked. People don't claim this money for luxeries the majority are hard working people that are struggling to just get by.

Has anyone that's had a check done or been asked for evidence been told this on the phone? I'm presuming as it's now been 14 weeks since I renewed that they were doing a check on my claim as I declared a lower amount than what they had on record, the problem is each time I phone they just say we don't know why its taking so long, you will recieve your new award when it's complete. They say they don't need anything else from me. I can't understand why it's taking so flipping long unless it's been high lighted to do a check but if this is the case they will want evidence as to why I've declared a lower income so why arnt they telling me this on the phone? So I can then provide it. I've had no letters, phone calls or texts to inform they are doing a check, which is fair enough if they are but if that's the case why is nobody telling me this when I ring or asking for further info from me so that it can be dealt with and processed?

Anybody no how it works from going to a couple claim to single. I had my 3rd before the cut off so get help with all child care costs, me and husband are splitting up, would i loose the 3 child element and go to 2. Sorry if confusing, just don't want it to be impossible for me to live as pay childcare.

I'm not a 100% but I think if it was before the cut off you will still be entitled for the 3rd. However I think they would move you over to universal credit because of the change of circumstances and wouldn't allow a new claim for tax credits. I presume you'd still be entitled for your third child through UC but you might end up worse off because of the universal credit, some people find they are better off though all depends on your circumstances. Have you been on the entitled to website, if not might be a good idea to do a benefit calculation on there

www.entitledto.co.uk/help/changes_that_trigger_Universal_Credit

Have a look at this link, it might help

Thank you tiredmamma79 ill have a look now. I haven't checked anywhere yet. We have a mortgage that i hope i could stay on and pay it myself as i work. Just worrying about money.

I have just got off the phone again and they are refusing to take into account what we both pay into our work based pensions each year. Said they only take private pensions into account??

@Saladd0dger how is your pension taken? They refused mine until I proved that it didn't include my employers contribution and was a non net pension arrangement, so not a the typical way. So basically my employer paid myself contribution for me on my behalf after I had paid tax and national insurance and put in my account what is left. Then my pension provider has to reclaim the deductions

It comes straight out of my wages. I don’t pay tax or ni as I don’t earn enough. My partners comes out his wage to. I presume before tax

How did you know they'd refused your pensions? Did you get a letter or did they tell you when uve been phoning for an update? I've still not heard a thing and they still just keep saying its processing when I ring. There's obviously something they are looking into for it to take this long, just wish they'd bloody tell me so I can send the evidence or do what ever it is I need to do to get it finalised.

Mine's still with the team that deal with mandatory reconsiderations. They've had it a month now and couldn't give me any time frame at all. Bloody useless. Even more annoying when they've admitted that the call handler I spoke to in July inputted the incorrect information.

Can I ask a quick question.

Iv read a few of you mention pensions ...

For example.

I earn £650 a month. I pay £250 a month into my pension.

Tax credit take the whole wage of £650 into account for my tax credits. Are they meant to be taking £400 into account so minus what I pay into my pension?

It’s a work based one. They take the % I ask for from my wages and then I get some tax relief.

Pay no tax and NI.

They shouldn't be taking pension into account. However it depends on how it is paid. I had some horrible advisors telling me I cant declare my contributions because its a workplace pension, bit I could because it isn't taken the typical way, ie, before deductions.

For example, my gross salary is subject to all deductions. My employer then pays my contribution on my behalf, and then deposits whats left in my back account. My pension provider them reclaims the tax back. For ease, say you earn £1000 a month gross. Are you taxed on that full amount, or an amount minus your contribution? If you are taxed on the full amount then you need to be deducting your contributions and the provider reclaiming the tax.

It's caused alot of issues if I am honest but I have since been told it is because it is cheaper for employers to offer pensions this way as it saves them money. I only work for a very small company so that would make sense.

So to answer the pension question, as long as your contribution doesn't include your employers contribution, and hasn't been paid out before deductions have been made on your salary, then they should be deducting it.

My renewal has finally completed today! It's been 3 months in total and the figures on the app keep changing but something has definitely happened. Now to await the brown envelope to ensure they've got it right!