Going back to work... tax credits

[GiantChocButtons06]

Hi im a single parent of 2. My youngest is due to start school in September and i feel ready to return to work now, so Im due to start my new job at the beginning of march. Im just a little worried how long it might take to receive my first working tax credits payment. I already recieve child tax credits just wanting to see if anyone else was in a similar situation and how long it took to get their first payment. Thanks

Won't a change in circumstances move you onto universal credit rather than tax credits? That's what I understood but could be wrong.

I think it will be universal credit too.

Apparently not as im not making a new claim. Its only if your making a new claim. Someone i know in similar situation to me didnt have to switch onto UC last year as she wasnt making a new claim just adjusting the one she already had. She cant remember how long she had to wait for her first payment tho...

It's a change in circumstances so will be UC

Ok well if it does stay tax credits, a quick Google tells you it can take up to a month for payments to change.

It does say if you lose your job, you will move from tax credits to universal credit but does not say what happens the other way round (not working then starting to work). So it is not only new claims that are affected.

If you already have a single child tax credits claim then you can stay on tax credits.

Just to clarify you will not be told to claim UC.

You already have a child tax credit claim so can also make a w/tax credit one.

It's no new claims that triggers a move to UC where tax credits is concerned.

Some people are better off on UC so one you have started work it might be worth you seeing CA or similar to do a better off calculation - but you need to be sure as once you apply you can't change back.

I had no problems staying on tax credits when I went back to work at the end of last year. I was previously on child tax credits and just added working tax credits to my claim. I informed them of the change via the HMRC website. It did take quite a few weeks to get it sorted and get my first payment, but my claim had additional information (I get the disabled worker element, so I had to make sure they added that on) which probably slowed it down. I was still on income support until just before I started work, so I applied for the max budgeting loan of £812 before I came off it, to help cover costs until my first wage.

If you call to make change it will take up to 2 weeks and if you make change online it will be up to 4 weeks. You will still stay on tax credits and your child tax payments wont be affected while change is processing in regards to your work.

Well the amount could be affected if u earn alot.