Tax credits - waiting and waiting

[HelenPapa]

Hi everyone,
I came to the UK to work (i'm a Cypriot) since August 2011 and in the summer of 2012 i managed to find a job which only lasted for 5 weeks (16 hours/week). I'm a lone parent as well and I was paying childcare for that period (£920) while I only earned £500.
It's now been 8 weeks since I started that job and HMRC is still sending me forms to complete in order for them to deal with my Working Tax Credit claim.
My question is: Will I get the working tax credit at some point? And if it takes more than 2 months to start getting it, how am i suppost to start another job and pay almost £2000 until I get any help? I mean, how am i suppost to pay the childcarer? I don't have any money and the previous time i worked for the 5 weeks i had to make a loan from some friends...
???

Are you not working now? if that is the case you wont be entitled to working tax credit i woudnt have thought, but im sure you will be entitled to something. Im not sure it will be the HMRC you will be making that claim to though. I would maybe call them or contact the department of work and pensions to see what you need to claim. If they are not the right people they will point you in the right direction - good luck, they are all bloody slow :(

i'm not working now but i worked for 5 weeks and i made the claim as soon as i started that job

ok, but now your circs have changed, you will be entitled to a different benefit, i am sorry i can't help as im not up on benefits, but im sure someone will be able to.

thanx, is there anyone out there who can help me?

You could get an appointment at your local Citizen's Advice Bureau too, they might be able to help and advise you.

thanx for the tip about the Citizen's Advice Bureau. I'll drop-in on Monday

Do check your rights. I know when I filled in the tax credits form it asked if you had been resident or working (can't remember which) in the UK for the last two years. I'm not sure why they ask this, but I assume it would affect your claim.

Info here on Tax Credits for "new arrivals" to the UK

www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/new-arrivals-intro/new-arrivals.htm

www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/new-arrivals-intro/new-arrivals.htm

Thanx for the url ItsAllGoingToBeFine :)

Anyway, until Monday when i'll go and sort all these out, I was thinking about what job to find now and i came up with an idea :)
I don't know whether it would be possible or not so i though i should ask you all if anyone knows more about the subject.

So here it goes...
Since i have a problem finding childcare and the cost of it is toooooooo much, i was thinking maybe if my friend employed me as her housekeeper/pa for at least 16 hours per week so i could still get benefits from HMRC. I know, it sounds ok so far but there's another thing: we live together - i'm in the tenancy agreement but she is the main tenant... Would that be possible?

Any opinions please?

Are you talking about pretending to be her housekeeper/PA or actually working for her? Is she going to be paying you?

Ask the CAB for a full benefits check, if your not working you will get Child Tax credits anyway and job seekers allowance or Income support (depending on age of child), you should also be getting Housing benefit and Council Tax Benefit as well.

How long have you been in the UK? they maybe looking at your residency status which may delay things considerably.

Your friend would have to register as your employer then and pay the relevant insurance etc won't she?

Helen, why don't you do something like Avon / better wear etc or both! You'd have to register as self employed and actually do it, but you'd be able to claim wtc/ childcare costs etc for however many hours you did.... then If you were to get a full time job you would just have to change your employment details and adjust your payments. Maybe not your ideal job choice to begin with but if it helps maybe?

Yes, your friend would have to pay your income tax. (they really are 'tax credits'h

Apols for bad typing

You could be self employed and work for your friend, then you're responsible for the tax and NI not her

whowhatwherewhen there are rules about who can register as self employed and a live in housekeeper I don't think is one of them.

I think by definition being self employed usually involves multiple employers, so a cleaner cleaning for several homes would be self employed, but as a live-in housekeeper you would be unlikely to be working for multiple employers.

I think HMRC would be a bit about your proposed set up

well i think so too so i think i'll have to think of something else...