tax credits, is it true...

[jimmijam]

...That when u ring them up to let them know of change of income when on maternity leave, you dont count the 1st £100 week of maternity pay? Have just read it in the birth to 5 book from the hv, but have not heard of this b4.
Also, have had problems with them in the past. How long can it take 4 a letter to come thru confirming any changes?
Thankyou

Don't know the answer to your first question, I'm afraid, but we got confirmation of a change we called them about within a couple of weeks (this was last week that the letter came).

Thanks. I told them of a change months ago, turned out they recorded the call, passed it on to head office but nothing was done, resulting in me now owing them money. I rang them 3weeks ago with a change but nothings come thru yet. Will try to check the change when i ring them at the end of the week.
Thanks

Yes its true. Had to wait for initial award based on previous years income before I could provide estimate based on current years income.

£100 disregard for each week for SMP within the tax year. I had something like 30 weeks in first tax year and remaining in next

Ooh thanks sleepevader. :-) thats put a smile on my face (tho i do wish id known about that with ds and dd!)

jimmijam I thought that if you told them about changes and they didn't amend their records and payments then you weren't required to pay them back. I'm sure I've read that on Money Saving Expert.

Have a look here.

Spent a lot of time on the phone to them about this as just filled my forms in.
Ditto to what sleepevader's comment

ooh thanks for that. i had written them a letter (which i havent yet posted) asking how i can be sure in the future that changes have been made, but didnt know about the form. have just printed it off, will fill in and post asap! thankyou saoirse86 !!!!
when the renewal letter came thru it said ds was still getting the higher amount of childcare, when i rang up to confirm it had been changed i got "oh yes i can see your call has been recorded and passed on to head office for confirmation but they appear not to have done anything about it, sorry"
-if head office cant even make the changes it doesnt fill me with much hope (or trust). i am very greatful for tax credits (tho i suppose we do pay for them thru our taxes), but something isnt quite right there, i thought they'd have it running reasonably smoothly by now. quite a few ppl i know have had overpayments or been told they arent entitled because a partners under 25 etc- strange to me as i was claiming when i was under 25. This will be our last little un so hopefuly we wont have much trouble with it all in the future!
ooh sorry all, rant over. feel better now :-)
thankyou all again