Where are people with their tax credits renewal?

[SpideyMom]

Hiya.

Am just wondering where people are in the process with their renewals?

My pack came pretty fast this year which was a relief as my payments dropped significantly due to me having to provide them details. I did this and got my reference number to say it had been submitted. Over 2 weeks later I received a text message to say my renewal has been received and will take 8 weeks to complete.

I then got onto chat to ask if they required me to send in proof of my contributions and was told I had to wait for them. So I guess I'm going to be down in my TCs for some time.

Has anyone elses renewal gone through quickly when giving different details to those in the renewal pack?

TIA x

Oh right. I caved and called today. Spoke to a lovely guy but not really any further. I asked if it was worth sending proof in and he hesitated, and said no, its only if you get chosen. How they choose I have no idea. But I'm going to get my stuff together just in case.

This is when I wish you were able to upload your documents for quickness and ease

spideymom we have had to send our documents in 4 out of 5 years. Last year was the first year they just accepted confirmation over the phone. My husbands pension company haven’t even sent out the annual contribution statements yet due to staff shortages (Covid 19 related) so we have asked for it and are hoping it arrives in time to get it to the tax credits people.
I’m guessing it’s more likely that they Are more likely to ask for proof of pension contributions if they are above a certain amount.

I've never been asked but always send them. Probably why I never get asked. This year I havent as I was told to not, and wait to hear from them.

Luckily this year my pension statements already been sent. Last year it took months to get generated

So it looks like my tax credits have been finalised. No letter yet but my payments have been amended on the app.
They are now set at roughly what I had calculated them to be (within around £1). HOWEVER, there is nothing to cover all the weeks of reduced payments ive been receiving. I find this really annoying. My weekly payment is what it should be on a full 52 week basis. This always seems to be the case every year.

I suppose it's better than being told you've been overpaid but I never get my underpayment back

How is everyone doing?

I thought I would update everybody on my situation. I really can't believe it but I am delighted that my final award has arrived today and it is exact to the penny. That has never happened before!

At first it did look incorrect however when I looked through my bank account and did a search for all payments received, (Make sure you check Work and Child Tax Credits and also Working Tax Credits. This is where I thought I had been underpaid because they make payments under the two names). It all worked out exact.

This this is the first year this has happened and gone so efficiently. I had very little hope after previous years experience. I even had an underpayment (hooray) which sure beats them telling me I owe them money.

My only gripe is that they are using last years earnings and not taking into account my furloughed wages which now is well over £1000. But overall I am happy how it's worked out.

I've paid all my bills and debts for the month today and am left with under £100 for the month. Thank goodness I return to work next week. Im still part furloughed but I'm able to work the majority of my weekly hours over shorter days, so next payday I should feel abit better financially.

Hope everyone is OK and there's have been done too.

No movement here. Currently on Telephone on hold to tax credits......

I found the telephone call made a difference. A few days after I last spoke to them it was done so I have my fingers crossed for you

Thanks spideymom. Well I waited on hold for half an hour and then the agent who answered didn’t have a clue what I meant by allowable deductions and just repeatedly asked for the figure on the p60, insisting that this is the only figure they can use. I asked to speak to somebody else and the agent hung up the phone on me. After another half hour on hold I managed to get hold of somebody who seemed capable and he took the correct figures and said that’s probably enough but they will write to me if they want paper evidence.
Fingers crossed.

Its so inconsistent isn't it. That's what I find annoying. The last 2 times I got lucky on the phone and spoke to nice agents but otherwise they have been pretty dia and the attitude is appalling.

I really hope over the next few days things get sorted. I only called after someone told me of their experience and after a few days it finalised. It still didn't seem right but when I got my papers though it was to the penny.

Good luck

It’s been updated already. Payments have gone down by £100 per month even though the income figures are now correct and therefore less than what they previously were working off. But there is an extra payment next week

Gone down? Have you used the calculator?

I usually just calculate it myself and I’m very accurate but I haven’t done it yet. I’m waiting for the letter and will then calculate it.

Well I’ve calculated my tax credits and it definitely isn’t right. I’ve gone back online and checked everything I can and they haven’t finished the update yet and my husbands income estimate for this current tax year has clearly been based on the p60 figures from last tax year. I will have to wait until the update is finalised I think.

So sorry to hear that. What a nightmare its been for you

Anybody ever came out of work, how does tax credits work. I'm married with 3 children so it's a joint claim. Husband works full time.

Well I finally got the tax credits award notice through and they have totally messed it up. They put my income down correctly but have then added my income to my husbands income and recorded that as his income (effectively recording my Small income twice). I’m exasperated by it.
I have written in supplying paper evidence of all the figures including pension deductions and asked for a mandatory reconsideration.

Oh gosh. Well you knew it was wrong. How frustrating though. Hope it gets sorted soon for you