Tax credits

[beckyboo28]

Hello i am new to this so please bare with me i posted my taxcredits renewal in may and now (6 weeks later) i still have not had my renewal done. I have phoned them constantly all they keep saying is they have recieved it on june 20th and that if i have not heard anything after 8 weeks ( august 15th) then to phone back. Has anyone else experienced this i normally phone them and do it over the phone but this year i posted it as i get fed up with waiting on hold to speak to an advisor. I am worried as a single working mother, im stressing out as i have never had to wait this long, and nor has any one else i know. Its the not knowing whats happening that bothers me and the advisor i spoke to this nmorning was abrupt and rude and told me not to phone again unless i hadnt heard anything after the 8 weeks. Has any one else had to wait this long thankyou xxxx

[claire99991]

yes me!! well not quite that long but i sent my renewal pack of a few weeks ago as i couldnt be botherd sitting on the phone wish i had though! still havent heard anything and am wondering if my payments will stop next week now cos they havent sent my reward notice, anyway i rang today and they said they have it logged as being recieved and are waiting to process it but she said the turn around at the min is 4 weeks.

 

xx

[beckyboo28]

yes me!! well not quite that long but i sent my renewal pack of a few weeks ago as i couldnt be botherd sitting on the phone wish i had though! still havent heard anything and am wondering if my payments will stop next week now cos they havent sent my reward notice, anyway i rang today and they said they have it logged as being recieved and are waiting to process it but she said the turn around at the min is 4 weeks.

 

xx

 

yes they have mine logged but told me it can take upto 8 weeks to process its 6 weeks already:-x its all very worrying tho i wonder whats going to happen after my 8 weeks i phoned them yesterday morning and i was abrupty told not to contact them untill aug 15th if i havent heard about my renewal i always normally phone them and do it myself same as you only this time i wasnt prepared to be on hold either wish i had too everyone i know has had theirs done. xxx

[backofbeyond]

The 8 weeks backlog I think is to do with a new checking system they have implemented. I too sent mine in by post (recorded delivery) on 05 July and haven't heard anything. I was panicing as I have always done it by post and normally heard from them in a couple of weeks max (i.e. payments changed and then award notice followed week after), anyways my husband rang on Weds and was advised that it was being processed. If they have confirmed that it has been received then don't panic - they'll only stop payments if they've had no contact regarding it.

 

I now have the worry that my payments will alter if i've had an overpayment so I will keep checking the bank lol, you never know we may have been underpaid and have a nice sum in the bank

[beckyboo28]

yes they have mine logged but told me it can take upto 8 weeks to process its 6 weeks already:-x its all very worrying tho i wonder whats going to happen after my 8 weeks i phoned them yesterday morning and i was abrupty told not to contact them untill aug 15th if i havent heard about my renewal i always normally phone them and do it myself same as you only this time i wasnt prepared to be on hold either wish i had too everyone i know has had theirs done. xxx

 

 

Chance would be a fine thing haha. Im just going to keep a track on my payments amd wait i guess thats all you can do. Thankyou both for your comments:roll: xx

[JW11]

Hello, I'm so glad I read your comments. I'm in the same boat and so is my sister. I sent my tax credit renewal form back on 26 May 2011 and have heard nothing since, although my payments are continuing. I'm really worried because back in February of this year I received a letter from the "compliance team" asking me to ring to confirm my details and also advising that this was an opportunity to declare whether I was still a single parent or living with a partner. I thought this was unusual but rang and answered all the questions they asked. I thought this was the end of the matter until yesterday when I rang to check on the progress of my renewal. The girl I spoke to was very nice and said that she could not see that my renewal had been received but that she would speak to her supervisor and put me on hold. When she came back on to the telephone her manner had changed slightly and she said that my renewal had been referred to "another department for investigation". I was shocked. I asked what department and she just said another department which she had no control over and that it could take another week, two weeks or six weeks, she wasn't sure, until they contact me for further information. I said what further information, I completed the form and sent it back, her response was I don't know. Now I'm really worried because of the phone call I had to make to the compliance team in February and now this. Am I under investigation? What should I do? Should I contact them again and if I do what questions should I ask? I know my payments are still continuing but I'm so worred about what is happening behind the scenes that I don't know about. Also when I try to ring it takes sometimes an hour to get through, I'm a working mother and just don't have the time to be ringing all the time to chase up my renewal. Any help you can provide would be really appreaciated. Thank you.

[backofbeyond]

There is nothing you can do other than wait unfortunately. Try not to panic though (easier said than done i know). Do you think your claim is / has been correct or do you think there'll be an overpayment? If you read some of the other threads where they have claimed thousands of pounds extra for childcare they haven't been so harsh with them and have just taken payments back through future payments.

 

Mine was "being processed" last Weds when my husband rang up but haven't heard anything as yet - it is so frustrating!

[JW11]

Thanks for the reply. I just don't know why they're being so evasive when I ask what department my renewal has been referred to. Why can't they just tell me where my renewal has been sent and give me more information other than "its being investaigated by another department". I feel like a criminal. If they are looking into my claim and carrying out checks I would rather know that now rather than get a letter or phone call out of the blue. There may well be overpayments made but because they're still continuing to pay me the same weekly amount any anticipated overpayment will be more and is building up weekly. The other thing is when I put on the form my earnings for the year I put an approximate figure on because I had not received my P60 at that stage (started a new job) but I did tick the box approximate. I have never had this problem before. SO SO worried that I have been overpaid and my payments will suddenly stop and I will have hundreds or thousands of pounds to pay back which I just don't have.Has anyone else had the same experience? Has anyone else had the same telephone conversation with Tax Credits?Also the previous letter I had received in February to ring the specialist compliance team is worrying me too. All this must be linked some how but I don't know how. It's the lack of information when I ring that's worrying me and infuriating me more than anything. HELP!!!!!

[backofbeyond]

They cannot just stop your tax credits, if you get more than the basic family element (which I am guessing you do because of what you posted previously) they can take between 10-25%. 10% is for low earners who do not receive a reduction and the 25% is for people who earn more so again I am guessing you would be 10%.

 

Like I said before I know it is easier said than done about not panicing but there really is nothing you can do until you get the new award through. There have been more stringent checks this year due to a new checking system and I think this is why so many renewals are taking so long. I am sure like me you are waiting for a letter to drop through your letter box and worrying if your payments are going to change but there really is nothing we can do

[claire99991]

Its very fustrating i agree but there is nothing we can do but wait and see, im also worried as i just keep getting told its being processed! the figures are all correct thougj (apart from i earnt 90 pound more than i thought i would over the year) but i dont expect it will change it that much, also ive put a estimate down for my OH income as he is self employed, i keep thinking in my head i have put down the correct info havent i!! how are other people getting a turn around of 1 week after i sent mine of but mine is taking for ever??

 

lets keep this thread up dated as to when we get any info about our renewals x

[backofbeyond]

We must just be special lol! Well post has been and nothing in there - nothing in the bank (not that I was expecting an underpayment). I get my tax credits on a Monday so wonder if my amount will change for next week?!?!?!? This is what does my head in, receiving changes in payments before a letter so every Monday i dread logging onto my bank! I had quite a few changes towards end of last year my hours dropped and therefore my income did, cancelled childcare and then my husband stopped working and then I had an overpayments from previous year so my payments plummeted so wonder if this could have anything to do with it?!?! All sorts of things are going through my head. I suppose we will find out soon enough, I just hope (fingers, toes and everything crossed) that I haven't had an overpayment.

 

I will keep you updated as to when i get my new figures x

[claire99991]

well my post has been and there is nothing today either, i get my payments on a tuesday and they were showing in my bank account on saterday this week but dated as monday WTF! but nothing today and its the same as what i always get so that must have been my weekly payment ive had it a couple of times before where its gone in a day early. Im not expecting for them to owe me any money im just hoping they dont stop or go down a awful lot. xx

[backofbeyond]

It went in early because of a bank holiday in Scotland yesterday, I had mine on Friday and I worried (nothing new there then) until I looked on the calender. Surely it doesn't take over a week for them to actually process them?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[backofbeyond]

p.s. just realised I may have worried you when I said my payments plummeted due to an overpayment in January. This was from 09/10 and there is some guideline that if its after 2 years they cannot take it from your future payments (thats what I got told) so they only had Jan-April to take the money back hence the reason my payments dropped.

[claire99991]

so annoying i wish i just knew what was going on so it wasnt hanging over me! last year i estimated my OH would earn 5000 as self employed but it was his 1st year in buisness and when the accountant got back to us it only actually made a net profit of 160 pound!! anyway the accountant was late getting our figures back to us and when i rang tax credits to tell them it was far less than what i thought it would be they said its tough **** cos it was past the 31st january so they wouldnt give us anything back. I hate waiting for tax credit renewals as it is they have a mind of there owne and pull figures from the air or so it seems...

[backofbeyond]

when i rang tax credits to tell them it was far less than what i thought it would be they said its tough **** cos it was past the 31st january so they wouldnt give us anything back.

 

Shame that doesn't work the other way round

[Nystagmite]

Its very fustrating i agree but there is nothing we can do but wait and see, im also worried as i just keep getting told its being processed! the figures are all correct thougj (apart from i earnt 90 pound more than i thought i would over the year) but i dont expect it will change it that much

 

I think the £10,000 (or is it still £25,000) disregard will apply to you. That means, you say "I expect to earn £x this year" and if you earn over that by less than £10,000, there is no overpayment.

 

Given that it's such a small amount, there will probably be no change anyway.

[claire99991]

thats good then i didnt think 90 pound would change much,

[beckyboo28]

Hello, I'm so glad I read your comments. I'm in the same boat and so is my sister. I sent my tax credit renewal form back on 26 May 2011 and have heard nothing since, although my payments are continuing. I'm really worried because back in February of this year I received a letter from the "compliance team" asking me to ring to confirm my details and also advising that this was an opportunity to declare whether I was still a single parent or living with a partner. I thought this was unusual but rang and answered all the questions they asked. I thought this was the end of the matter until yesterday when I rang to check on the progress of my renewal. The girl I spoke to was very nice and said that she could not see that my renewal had been received but that she would speak to her supervisor and put me on hold. When she came back on to the telephone her manner had changed slightly and she said that my renewal had been referred to "another department for investigation". I was shocked. I asked what department and she just said another department which she had no control over and that it could take another week, two weeks or six weeks, she wasn't sure, until they contact me for further information. I said what further information, I completed the form and sent it back, her response was I don't know. Now I'm really worried because of the phone call I had to make to the compliance team in February and now this. Am I under investigation? What should I do? Should I contact them again and if I do what questions should I ask? I know my payments are still continuing but I'm so worred about what is happening behind the scenes that I don't know about. Also when I try to ring it takes sometimes an hour to get through, I'm a working mother and just don't have the time to be ringing all the time to chase up my renewal. Any help you can provide would be really appreaciated. Thank you.

 

Hello same as me i had recieved a letter back in jan/feb asking me to confirm my employment details paye etc i was worried as iv been and still am working at the same place have been for 5 years. I phoned taxcredits yesterday asking questions the advisor looked at my claim and said nothing was showing up as being a problem just that its waiting to go through that was it! well my eight weeks is up on aug 15th, so i asked 'okay then what happens to my payments after aug 15th if my renewal hasnt still gone through?' he just said my payments will stay the same!!!!! i know how you feel its the not knowing that drives you mad but i guess all we can do is wait. I f you decide to phone them again just demand to be told what the hell is going on if an advisor dont help ask to speak to team manager. They tell us all to be patient but they have our lives in their hands so too speak. xxxx:mad2:

[JW11]

Well nothing in the post again yesterday or this morning!!!! Turns out my sister is in exactly the same boat as me. She posted her renewal in a week before me in May and she had heard nothing either. She rang yesterday to enquire and find out what the hold up was and was told more or less the same as me "we have received your renewal and its currenly being processed, your payments won't stop in the meantime". It has now been over 8 weeks and I just don't think it is good enough. Some of my friends renewed theirs over the phone and got their renewal notification with 10 days and I'm waiting 8 weeks!!!!!!If for some reason they are investigating my circumstances or require further information why can't they just tell me that and be open and transparent. As it stands they are still continuing my payments and I could end up receiving any overpayment because off that. Has anyone else had the same experience???

[backofbeyond]

lets keep this thread up dated as to when we get any info about our renewals x

 

Well nothing in the post today

[claire99991]

nothing for me either

[beckyboo28]

Well nothing in the post again yesterday or this morning!!!! Turns out my sister is in exactly the same boat as me. She posted her renewal in a week before me in May and she had heard nothing either. She rang yesterday to enquire and find out what the hold up was and was told more or less the same as me "we have received your renewal and its currenly being processed, your payments won't stop in the meantime". It has now been over 8 weeks and I just don't think it is good enough. Some of my friends renewed theirs over the phone and got their renewal notification with 10 days and I'm waiting 8 weeks!!!!!!If for some reason they are investigating my circumstances or require further information why can't they just tell me that and be open and transparent. As it stands they are still continuing my payments and I could end up receiving any overpayment because off that. Has anyone else had the same experience???

 

Hello yes me, im glad iv read your post this is exactly the same as me thats all they are telling me also yet, everyone i know has had theres done within 2 weeks would just wish they good tell us what the crack is its weighing on my mind. I said to the advisor that with them taking so long i could end up with an overpayment or my money being stoppped she just said wait untill the 8weeks is up.Great!!!!! i have so far been waiting just over 6 weeks.Really worrying xxx

[claire99991]

Well i know people who have sent there forms of and had letters back within a week or 2 so they must be investigating us lot thats what i think anyway.

[claire99991]

when i google it most people who are getting the 'its being processed' means its being investigated im so worried i carnt even sleep!! i feel like a criminal i dont pay childcare, i put down the correct figures from my p60 and i put down a estimate for my OH as he was self employed and the tax return isnt done yet, i did this last year as well and it was fine....what the hell have i done wrong i feel as though ive done something wrong, when i googled it some people are being asked to send of bank statements, utility bills and payslips and there money is being stopped while the investigation takes place.. i know you carnt believe everything you read on google and its silly to get carried away but my mind is just on overdrive with it all now i feel sick!