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Original poster

Tax credit renewals - anyone heard back?

289 replies

Divgirl2 · 01/07/2019 10:59

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.

OP posts:
SpideyMom · 03/07/2019 08:26

Morning all. I don't know why I keep checking the app. Everytime I do I feel more and more deflated due to no change

sacope · 03/07/2019 09:08

@tisonlymeagain

You can check your payments online, so while you are wait g for the letter to detail your award, you can still find out what is coming to your bank before the letter arrives.

sacope · 03/07/2019 09:09

Mine was done in May but the online payments schedule updated within about 10 days. It wasn't good news, I was expecting it to go up but it went down Sad

megletthesecond · 03/07/2019 09:11

I renewed over the phone last monday. There were no changes to last year but I had to let them know about my payrise this year.

The next day I got a text saying it could take 8 weeks to process and then an extra tax credits payment on Friday Confused. No paperwork yet though.

tisonlymeagain · 03/07/2019 09:19

@sacope there's still nothing online, it just says I can't view them online and have to call. It's been like that for months.

Original poster
Divgirl2 · 03/07/2019 11:06

Nursery fees paid - I have £69 until the end of the month. And still nothing from TC. I'll check again at lunch time.

OP posts:
Lougle · 03/07/2019 11:23

I think they must be in crisis. I phoned in May to say that one of my children was awarded DLA Middle rate care, backdated to January. Then renewal documents came through without this info, so I phoned them to check if I needed to add it in my renewal. No, they knew, but the info had crossed with the mailing of the renewal docs. Fine.

Several weeks later, I get our award notices. They've awarded 'severe disability' for DD2. DD1 already has it. I phone them and say 'you've given severe disability to DD2, but she should only have 'disability'. DD1 gets 'severe disability' only. 'Sorry, we'll amend'.

Several weeks later, yesterday, I get new documents. They've removed the severe disability for DD2 (well done) but then changed the date of the award to May, which is when I informed them, but backdating rules say that the date of the claim is the applicable date because I informed them within one month of the decision (oh dear). That means that there is an overpayment on last year's award and an overpayment on this year's award. £710 in total. But it's ok, cheerily, they'll just halve our payments until it's paid.

So, I spent 45 minutes on the phone yesterday, walking the chap through the problem and telling him what the solution was. Reminding him that DD1's award was perfectly fine. No, DD3 doesn't have any disability. No, it's DD2's award.... Sigh.

SpideyMom · 03/07/2019 12:07

I am trying to avoid calling them again. When I did the other week I was told 'why are you calling now, you know there is a processing time. You are still within that so why are you calling us? You will know we wont be happy with all these calls when we are busy with renewals'.

I was really shocked by it.

If I could end my claim I would in a heartbeat. But TC are my life line. We dont get alot but helps towards our daily needs

tisonlymeagain · 03/07/2019 12:14

They are a shower of shite! When I first got the notice through in June that said I had been overpaid it stated clearly several times thorough out the letter to call them immediately if figures were wrong. I called them and they basically said "oh it's just standard text on the letter, we can't do anything, you'll have to wait for your renewal pack..." Hmm

SpideyMom · 03/07/2019 14:15

This is my point with TC's. From my part I have always provided updates as and when they happen. They seem to be very strict on the rules of what we have to obide by, but very slack on their part!

Over 3 weeks ago, I had a text message to say it will take 8 weeks to finalise. Speaking to an advisor last week I was told it is now taking 10 weeks.

A PP yesterday said they haven't even had their pack yet, yet the deadline is 31st July, in which case if you haven't renewed your payments will be stopped.

Hardly seems fair. I had 2 packs issued. first one took nearly 4 weeks to arrive. In that time I have to request another after it being 2 weeks late. I was told I could not renew on my old one just incase it was different, as it would have a new renewal number. I waited and waited. I ended up losing patience and renewing anyway. after waiting another nearly 3 weeks. My second pack arrived after 5 weeks from them telling me they had posted it. It was identical other than the renewal number, which if you renew online it goes on the most recent one given anyway. So I could have renewed mine back in May, yet didn't because of the misinformation I was given.

Very annoying

tisonlymeagain · 03/07/2019 16:38

Just got home from work and had another useless 'provisional tax credits statement' that says 'this is not a decision about your entitlement to tax credits, the amounts shown on this form are provisional'

This is for 21/08/2018 to 08/01/2019. They make it very hard to understand. There's a whole load of figures and then it says

Amount to be paid XXXX.XX
Minus payments already made by us XXXX.XX
Amount due to you £0.00

So can I take from that I don't owe them and they don't owe me?!

radmum81 · 03/07/2019 17:18

So relieved to see it's not just me that's waiting. I transferred to UC in April so probably mine is a bit more complicated.... impatiently waiting.... on the app it said mine should've been completed by july 2nd which was yesterday 🙄

Moofreemum1 · 03/07/2019 19:26

Just checked mine and said it's going to be complete by 30 November!! Why is it so late?? They did ask for extra stuff regarding childcare costs but not sure if this relates to the renewal or not

radmum81 · 03/07/2019 19:50

Mine says 30 Nov now too!!!

SpideyMom · 03/07/2019 19:58

Nov 30th! Oh no. Where is this information? My app doesn't seem to give me a date?

Original poster
Divgirl2 · 03/07/2019 20:08

If you click on "renew or check my claims" it'll say when to expect your renewal by. Mine is still saying 31st July but I'm skeptical.

OP posts:
Moofreemum1 · 03/07/2019 20:43

My payments went down by 2 pound a week a few weeks ago so maybe it might stay that way do you think? Although next month I've got changes to make I hope it doesn't mess it all up! This is such a complicated system

EggysMom · 03/07/2019 20:47

Received my brown envelopes this week, finalisation of last year and provisional calculations for this year.

carlywurly · 03/07/2019 20:47

It's so frustrating. I know I'll owe them money due to a surprise pay rise I got but I could really do with knowing how much, when and how it will be paid.

The concentrix situation was also a shower of shite a few years back. Sad

SpideyMom · 03/07/2019 21:15

Yes mine still states 31st. However I know I have changes, and those changes are likely to mean they owe me, so I doubt it will be done by 31st July.

I feel so stupid obsessing over this. I must sound desperate. But I am down 200 a month. To put things into perspective I have had to live on less than what I've lost for a few months now. I've had to cut all the bills I could. Last month I was left with pounds of my own money after everything got paid out. So I am really desperate

Original poster
Divgirl2 · 04/07/2019 09:56

My expected date is gone now. It just says I can complete it again until the 31st of July.

I swear it said yesterday it should be completed by the 31st.

OP posts:
SpideyMom · 04/07/2019 10:19

That's what mines always said. So I assumed it meant it will be done by then.
Mine just says you've completed your declaration. You can complete it again by 31st July.

I'm getting so fed up now with it. When PP said last night it's now saying November I wanted to cry. I am sick of struggling all the time

SpideyMom · 04/07/2019 10:28

I'm actually sick of all the HMRC reminders in the news lately urging claimants to renew by 31st July. What about all the ones that have and are still none the wiser 😔

Original poster
Divgirl2 · 04/07/2019 16:18

Still nothing on the app. I'm meant to be going to see family this weekend and not sure I can afford to put petrol in the car.

I sometimes I think I might be better off on universal credits - the calculators certainly think I would be one of those rare unicorns who are. But I can't afford the 6 week wait while I switch (definitely not now). Not sure I want to risk it anyway.

OP posts:
radmum81 · 04/07/2019 18:09

I'm better off on UC and it's much easier system. The 5 weeks no money is tough but u can get an advance if u need to
U have to pay it back so I didnt bother just lived very cheaply and survived on pasta for a few weeks

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