Tax credit - anyone got a date for the £500 payment yet?

[JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows]

I see a lot of tax credit recipients will be getting a £500 lump sum rather than the £20 a week - but has anyone had it yet or had a date for it? I get a small amount of tax credits and can't figure out if I'm eligible for the £500

@EggysMom @TheChild you are eligible for the £500.

@myusernamewastakenbyme Oh it's such hard work, isn't it? I'm not even entirely sure why it's happened. I hate filling out the online form, I'm sure I must be doing something wrong.

Haven't had the text and didn't get the £20 uplift previously. Was in receipt of WTC as of 2nd March. Keeping everything crossed

@MondeoFan the £20 could be wiped out by earnings, the £500 won’t be.

@myusernamewastakenbyme

I just logged into that government gateway account on gov.uk where you can see all the tax credit payments...there is no sign of the £500 on there either.

It won't show on the online payments apparently

@MyDcAreMarvel hope so. Thanks

This update on the gov.uk page gives more of a clue when to expect it: " If you want to change your bank details, you must do this by 8 April."

So presumably paid sometime between around 10 April and 23 April.

I'm so glad for this thread, I read about this and I do get wtc but don't want to get my hopes up as knowing my luck I won't get the £500!!

I have heard a rumour that tax credit communication is sent out by surname - I'm a W so I always seem to get renewal packs and letters late, wondering if it applies to text messages etc

@pophop

Off point a bit but if some of you don't know already, getting wtc entitles you to open the governments help to save account. I really recommend looking into it as they give you half your savings at years 2 and 4 as interest. We got £2.20 in wtc last year so doubt we will get the £500.

I've just done this...seems like a good deal to me...im going to save £50 every month for 4 years and the government give me back half as interest...so i save £2400 in total and they top it up with another £1200.

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

I have heard a rumour that tax credit communication is sent out by surname - I'm a W so I always seem to get renewal packs and letters late, wondering if it applies to text messages etc

My surname begins with an A so would make sense as i got text yesterday. Fingers crossed for you all.

I never get texts from them, do you have to sign up for that service I wonder

I dont get texts either...I don't remember ever providing my mobile number to them.

Re the saving scheme again you don’t actually need to receive any wtc just have an entitlement. You can still use it if you earn too much for wtc.

I just got the text & I'm a C surname so this lines up with the theory that they're sending out communication alphabetically.

I started the savings scheme in February as I knew my eligibility for WTC would change in the new tax year & it's great - I'm intending to put the maximum in each month & use it towards a new car at the end of the 4 years.

@NatashaAlianovaRomanova that great you started it but if you are eligible for the £500 you were still eligible for the saving scheme.
The scheme is for working tax credits claimants either those who receive wtc or child tax credits and work the 16/24 hours required.

Well mine starts with A and I haven't received the text so I'm not sure that theory is right!

My texts come from the same number that text me a code when i login to the government gateway account.

My surname starts with a S so not sure on this theory lol.

Ignore my daft theory 🤣 is everyone now receiving texts?

I received WTC on 2nd and CTC too...but I may have been overpaid as I did extra hours this year, and my tax estimate says I earned £400 more than last year. Wondering if this affects the £500 payments

@MyDcAreMarvel I moved jobs last year & got quite a large pay increase in the process which will take me over the threshold for WTC in the 21/22 year & in a few months I won't have any eligible DC to qualify for CTC so my eligibility & entitlement to everything stops when DD turns 20.

Just got the text! I'm towards the end of the alphabet.

@NatashaAlianovaRomanova ahh I see that’s good you got a pay increase at just the right time. I think the saving scheme is brilliant we don’t qualify for tax credits but I advise anyone I know who does to make use of it if they can afford to.
No bank will give you anywhere near that return on your money.

Ah I'm getting paranoid now. I mean as far as I can see I'm entitled to it - I was receiving WTC on the 2nd March and will continue to through 2021/22

Also I'd never heard of the saving scheme - that is brilliant!! Do we just apply through our tax credit account?