I've been missing out on an extra 145 quid per week for over a year!!!!!

[crimplene]

Finally, I went to the CAB for some proper benefits/ tax credits advice yesterday as I'm running out of savings and starting to worry very seriously about how we're going to get by. It was worth the four hour wait as it turns out we're entitled to all sorts of stuff I'd never even heard of, plus a load of stuff I thought we weren't entitled to; and have been for ages.

I asked for some advice on MN a while back, didn't explain properly, and as a result of what everyone said was so scared of being accused of fraud that I didn't try to claim anything - or even tell any of the various people who could actually have helped in case anyone 'shopped' DP.

Yiiipppppeee!

good news Crimplene, have a glass of something tonight to celebrate!

It's a huge relief I didn't realise how worried I'd been about money or about how many corners I was cutting

Can it be backdated?

The tax credits can be for three months, but I'm not too worried about the rest - I know lots of people especially those with DCs with SNs miss out on these things so I'm just gald to have got this sorted out - I would never have done otherwise as I was quite happy to believe that I can look after myself and it was only what I now realise is far too little money that pushed me into finding out if there was any way I could get help.

glad you got it sorted. We didn't know about DLA for years and as CTC was introduced while we were living in the US I didn't claim those either cos I didn't know they existed. Still not sure why they do to be honest. We're on the same low wage we were when we left yet now, 4 years on, the Guvt give us extra money. Coo.