Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

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 · 15/07/2019 11:36

I spoke too soon, when I carried on to view my payments it is now giving me a date of 30th November. I want to cry :-(

Original poster
Divgirl2 · 15/07/2019 12:16

IT PASSED!!! Mine doesn't give a date on the app - do I need to log in on the website to see that?

OP posts:
Original poster
Divgirl2 · 15/07/2019 12:26

Just logged in to the website and on the first page it says 29th July, but the second it's saying 30th November.
I could cry. This is so stressful.

OP posts:
SpideyMom · 15/07/2019 12:27

@Divgirl2 Brilliant. Bet thats a weight lifted.

Yes log on online. The first screen said 22/08/19 and I clicked to view my payments and not redo declaration, it then told me 30/11/19 on my actual account

SpideyMom · 15/07/2019 12:27

It's an absolute joke isnt it :-(

SpideyMom · 16/07/2019 11:24

I have worked out if it really isn’t finalised until 30.11.19, then it will mean my remaining payments will be much higher that what I should normally get. Which is stupid in itself, because then come April my payments will drop and I will feel the hit all over again as I will have had 5 months at a higher amount.

When I got my provisional award for this tax year, it states your full entitlement and reduction. I have taken that entitlement and calculated my reduction to give me the amount over 52 weeks. Worst case scenario end of November, my payments will be ALOT higher for the remaining weeks.

I feel like despite my trying my best to keep them updated and do the right thing, not only am I messed around with my DS maintenance regularly not getting paid, bit I am messed around by TC changing my payments willy nilly.
I use my TC to top up my income. I am on an extremely tight budget as it is, so irregular payments don’t work well for me. I am so fed up ☹

Original poster
Divgirl2 · 16/07/2019 19:05

I'm debating whether to use the last of my savings to switch to UC - I genuinely cannot survive until November on what I'm currently getting. One more nursery payment and I'll have to sell my car to pay for food.

OP posts:
Mitebiteatnite · 16/07/2019 19:18

We are those rare unicorn people too OP, we are significantly better off on UC. we wouldn't even be entitled to TC as DH earns over the threshold, but UC works really well for us. What you need to do is ignore the online calculations (they told us we wouldn't qualify, but we do!) and do the figures yourself. I can help you if you like, it's really confusing the first time you do it.

FWIW my wages are different every month but because I know how to work it out I can anticipate how much UC we'll get the following month and we're never left short.

SpideyMom · 16/07/2019 20:03

Could you help me too at all @Mitebiteatnite?

Mitebiteatnite · 17/07/2019 08:11

Of course spidey I'm at work all day today but remind me later!

SpideyMom · 17/07/2019 08:25

amazing, thank you so much @Mitebiteatnite i have pm'd you already but look forward to your help when you have more time. thank you x

Toni2four · 17/07/2019 11:37

Hi Ladies, I called tax credits last week and they told me to ignore the 30th November as it was an error and they've had loads of calls Regards to it
They also got my renewal amount wrong, my employer gave my annual income but didn't deduct the MAT leave that tax credits tell you to so mine is £3100 higher than it should be, I had to call 3 times to make sure they amended and looking at my online account it says they are working out my next tax credit payments so I should be owed something but you can never tell! x

SpideyMom · 17/07/2019 12:06

thanks for the @Toni2four hopefully it wont be that long then. It's coming up to 6 weeks for me now so the sooner the better

Toni2four · 17/07/2019 12:26

I'm on week 9!! Last week they said another 10 weeks but it looks like it's getting done this week 🤞

SpideyMom · 17/07/2019 12:45

oh shit! week 9! I have no chance then :-(
Fingers crossed for you

RollOnSummerBreak · 17/07/2019 13:31

We're bwtter on UC. Best thing i ever did. My TC claim closed in June. Last year's figures were well over..thwy owe us 3k..just a waiting game be nice to clear some cards.

SpideyMom · 17/07/2019 13:38

The calculators suggest I am worser off on UC :-(

Mitebiteatnite · 17/07/2019 15:50

@SpideyMom I've replied, check your inbox!

RollOnSummerBreak · 19/07/2019 08:42

I've just rang them. It's been finalised and the payment due to me is correct. But it. Won't go in until after 31 July Incase I had any changes to make even though I've done my declaration. I'm guessing because a closed claim. They said prob mid August

SpideyMom · 19/07/2019 09:12

great news @RollOnSummerBreak. How long have to been waiting. I am so tempted to call them but the last time they snapped at me for it

RollOnSummerBreak · 19/07/2019 09:18

I renewed 14 June. But the text confirmation was 21st..

SpideyMom · 19/07/2019 09:20

I have just been told because I am declaring a different income to what they have it has triggered a check. In which case they cannot give me any timescales as it will take as long as it takes...gutted :-(

RollOnSummerBreak · 19/07/2019 10:11

I declared 5 k less and no checks. But it wasn't anything pension involving or anything just my maternity and dp had a month off which lowered his income. His is done and submitted by his accountant anyway

Toni2five · 19/07/2019 12:08

Rollonsummerbreak did you have a big underpayment coming to you then? Mines around 4K less than they had recorded also due to MAT leave so I'm hoping for a little bit back x

Lougle · 19/07/2019 13:28

Ah yes, that happened to me last year. I wanted to take off my allowable expenses (Professional body membership, Union, etc) and a chap phoned me and said 'look, it would be much quicker if you didn't try and claim for those things...' As it made about £50 difference to my tax credits I just let it go, but if I'd insisted, it would all have had to be evidenced and checked.