Tax credits - temporary (hopefully) change in circumstances

[sleepyhead]

Dh is signed off work with stress at the moment. He's attempted to return to work twice and failed and is due to go back on Tuesday. He thinks he will go back then, but he thought that the last time, right up until he got to the train station and had a panic attack, so I'm not counting on it.

The doctor reckons it is entirely related to his job and has advised him to get another one (easier said than done) and he is trying.

Meanwhile, he got paid this week and discovered he was on stat sick pay. He thought he would get more but it seems the discretionary sick pay ran out after a couple of weeks. So we're about £900 down this month and will be the same next month at least.

I earn about £800 pm, we get basic Child Tax Credit and no WTC. £1200 pm may well still take us over the threshold for WTC anyway.

Should I phone the Tax Credit people and report a change in circumstances, or will the fact that this is temporary make it irrelevant?

We can just about get by this month with a little bit of money saved. Next month we can pay the mortgage. After that, well hopefully things will be sorted out or I can get evening/weekend work.

Any advice appreciated.

Unfortunately, it is your annual salary that determines tax credits, so you are unlikely to get an adjustment unless your total income falls below the threshold.

Thanks. I think I'll do this anyway as there's no guarantee that it is temporary unfortunately and I think they can only back date any claim by three months(?)

Our income for last year was enhanced quite a bit by a big chunk of back pay I got (4 years worth) - don't get me wrong, I'm glad to get it and the bit that didn't go on bill is keeping us going through this, but it means that last year won't reflect this year in any case.