Tax credits

[backofbeyond]

Claire, I know what you mean I am really starting to panic and to dread Monday coming (I was going to order my food shopping to come on Monday and then paniced in case my tax credits didn't go in lol).

[JW11]

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!

Well nothing in the post for me this morning, again. It has been 10 weeks today since I posted it. I just cannot understand what this hold up is. Even if they are investigating my renewal why can't they just tell me that instead of palming me off and treating me like a child. I contacted the citizens advice bureau yesterday and they have advised that all I can do is wait, if I want to they can contact tax credits on my behalf but just to confirm that they have received the form, sure I already know that so there's no point. I just don't want a big overpayment. And as you all have said it is the worry of checking your bank account one day and finding out the payments have suddenly stopped. We all rely on that money for food, bills etc. I have no problem sending utility bills, bank statments to them etc. All my bank statements are in my name although I still think that some of the utility bills may be in joint names with my husband but we have only been separated for just over a year and I just haven't got round to taking his name off everything that comes through the post. Although they'll probably make a big drama out of that!!!! At this stage I DON'T CARE.....I just want to know why I am different to everyone else I know who has renewed their tax credtis recently with no delays or hold ups!!!!! I don't claim any benefits and never have, I own my own home and pay for the bills, I meet all expenses for my children too. What else can I do but give off and vent my frustrations here because noone at the tax credit office seem to care.

[backofbeyond]

Hi JW11 - not that I wish it on anyone but I am glad that there are other people going through this with me.

 

I wonder if it is just the people who have sent their declaration off by post that are having this delay? As haven't heard a single person complaining say they "rang" up X amount of weeks ago? Just a thought.

 

My post doesn't come while around lunch time so once again playing the waiting game

[claire99991]

Hi JW11 - not that I wish it on anyone but I am glad that there are other people going through this with me.

 

I wonder if it is just the people who have sent their declaration off by post that are having this delay? As haven't heard a single person complaining say they "rang" up X amount of weeks ago? Just a thought.

 

My post doesn't come while around lunch time so once again playing the waiting game

 

Well last night as I was lying in bed and not sleeping due to this tax credits issue I had a thought as to why mine might be getting investigated. My partner is self employed anyway he registerd a seperate buisness a limitied one about a year and half ago as he was going to swap everything over to the limited buisness and expand (he is a plumber) but the country dried up the work never came and his work load slowed down massivly so not one penny ever went thru the limited buisness there was no bank account for it we just ignored it and carried on with the one we had always used but he has just informed me that he got a fine for 100 pound as he didn't send a self assesment in for it and he should have sent it of saying not traded or 0 or whateva, maybe they think there was additional earnings thru that buisness when there wasn't how do I prove that buisness was never ever used? I have done nothing wrong I swear on my kids life we never used the limited buisness but it looks bad its all such a mess and I'm getting in such a state. My partner is going to ring the tax office and tell them the figure was 0 and that buisness was never used just so they know, but this must be why my tax credits is taking so long.

[claire99991]

I will add that we have a accountant who does our self assesment for the buisness that is used to make sure the figures are correct and that is always done on time.

[backofbeyond]

Claire please stop stressing; think we are both guilty of letting our minds run away with us and we are making the situation appear worse than it actually is.

 

Deep down you know that you haven't done anything wrong so if they are doing more stringent checks then so what? They are still paying us whilst they are doing these checks aren't they? Ok so we both *may* have an overpayment but from what you have said it is certainly not gonna be mega bucks is it? Plus they will just take it back at a rate per week - they are not allowed to leave you in poverty.

 

I honestly think they are just checking the postal renewals as everyone who has telephoned has had no issue! x

Edited August 4, 2011 by backofbeyond
typo

[claire99991]

Yea your right my mind just starts running away and then I say to myself your crazy you haven't even done anything wrong so what if there checking they won't find anything differnt and I can show them bank statements from me and the buisness, I just need to calm down lol! Maybe the people who sent it by post are just waiting longer. I rang this morning but there was a message saying don't worry if you haven't heard of us be patient we are checking the claims this year which must take a long time for everyone.

[backofbeyond]

I kind of wish i'd persisted though and phoned now lol

[JW11]

Hi JW11 - not that I wish it on anyone but I am glad that there are other people going through this with me.

 

I wonder if it is just the people who have sent their declaration off by post that are having this delay? As haven't heard a single person complaining say they "rang" up X amount of weeks ago? Just a thought.

 

My post doesn't come while around lunch time so once again playing the waiting game

 

Everyone I have asked that has got their renewal through within a few weeks ALL, without fail, telephone their renewal through. Really wish I had have done the same thing now. This is the first year that I have posted it, simply because I just did not have the time to be ringing constantly trying to get through on the phone. As I said in one of my earlier messages way back in February I got a letter to ring the "specialist compliance team" at tax credits so they could check all my details were correct. They basically asked where my ex partner was living, why he didn't see the kids, who helped me mind the kids while I was working, really very personal questions which I answered because I didn't think I had a choice, back then they said everything was fine, my payments would stay the same and that was the end of the matter. I really feel like I'm being singled out now for some reason and it just does not feel nice. Surely someone can help? 10 weeks of waiting.....the sress in unbearable.

[backofbeyond]

Have you actually called them to make sure they have received your renewal? If you have and you know they have it then I don't think there is anything we can do other than wait - I mean it's not like they've stopped our payments whilst they are investigating is it?

 

10 weeks is ridiculous but I suppose if they have put a new system in place then there are bound to be some "teething" problems and delays.

 

Mine hasn't actually been that long compared to yours, I sent mine recorded delivery on 05 July and when my husband called last Weds he was told it had been received and is being "processed". Not sure if it is being "processed" in the normal channels or whether it is by a specialist team - they didn't specify.

 

I am trying not to worry as at the end of the day what will be will be and at least we are still receiving payments in the meantime. I take on onboard your point about whilst they are checking a further overpayment could build up but really I would rather it that way then them stop it whilst they are because I don't know about you but I depend on my weekly tax credits. If you felt the overpayment was unjust then you can always appeal once you receive your award notice.

[claire99991]

10 weeks is not acceptable at all i would call them again as it says if you havent heard after 8 weeks to call, i mean you have a right to know whats going on, i would be going out of my mind if i had been waiting that long, i sent mine the 9th july and all i get is its 'marked as recieved and being processed' nothing else, dont know who its being processed by or if or what checks they are doing

[backofbeyond]

Well post has been and once again nothing to report i just don't know what to think. My eldest daughter is 7 in a couple of weeks and in all my years of claiming don't think they've ever stressed me out as much as this lol

[JW11]

10 weeks is not acceptable at all i would call them again as it says if you havent heard after 8 weeks to call, i mean you have a right to know whats going on, i would be going out of my mind if i had been waiting that long, i sent mine the 9th july and all i get is its 'marked as recieved and being processed' nothing else, dont know who its being processed by or if or what checks they are doing

 

Well I just took the bull by the horns and rang them again this morning. Now I've been told that yes my renewal was received on 31 May and that there were extra checks made on it. What extra checks I don't know. The other bit of information I was told is that just this morning a manager has put on the system that all checks have been done and it is now ready for processing. Again I asked about timescales etc and was told they can't give any definitive time could be 1, 2 3 weeks etc. It sounds a little bit more positive than earlier in the week but until I have that confirmation of my payments in my hand I'm not counting my chickens. My sister just phoned as well and she was told that hers was currently with the "declaration" department, whatever that is and it could take another while to be processed. I cannot beileve this is what they're telling people. Does anyone know what the declaration department is????

[backofbeyond]

Lets face it the whole tax credit system has been laughable from the beginning - it has been left wide open for fraud from both organised gangs and joe public. I think that the new government are trying to improve the system until the universal credit comes in in 2013.

 

The fact that we are under so much scrutiny when we haven't been before is making people feel like criminals even if they haven't actually done anything wrong. I know that from now on (no matter how frustrating trying to get through on the phone is) I will be telephoning with my renewals and any change of circumstances - at least then I know that I have given them all the information there and then rather than wondering if my letter has been a) lost in the post of b) lost in the black hole of HMRC.

 

I really wouldn't panic now JW11 at least you know it has been dealt with and nothing she said caused you concern. I think the "declaration" department will just be the standard team that deals with renewals?

[claire99991]

nothing in the post again for me,

[beckyboo28]

Well i am still waiting for my renewal to come through, its been 7 weeks now.I keep getting told not to worry about it but its hard not too. I cant sleep properly because of it and im getting nowhere on the phone my daughter is 6 at the end of august im so stressed and worried over this grrrrrrrrr xx

[backofbeyond]

[claire99991]

 

I really no how you feel my kids are 5 and 1 and this is deffo stressing me to much, my partner is gonna give them a call later and try find out what's going on. X

[backofbeyond]

Nothing in the post for me today again - I bet the post man thinks I fancy him as I am always watching for him coming lol

 

Looks like now I am going to be stressing wondering whether my money will be going in on Monday or whether its going to drop dramatically

[claire99991]

nothing in the post for me either, i honestly feel sick to my stomach when i see the post man lol!

 

i think we will be waiting for a few more weeks yet as yours was about 4 weeks ago wasnt it and mine was 3 with post times for them to reviceve them etc

 

hope your money is ok on monday, and hope mine is tuesday (it was normal last week though)

[backofbeyond]

To be honest I hope that there is a slight change in my money on Monday as then at least I would know they had dealt with it and then I wasn't going to be left under the breadline. Lets face it we'll know with our payments way before a letter arrives!

 

Fingers crossed for us both! I will let you know if I get anything in the post or what happens with my payment on Monday.

 

I sent my renewal off recorded delivery on 05/07 and it was signed for on 07/07.

[claire99991]

i sent mine the 9/7 but that was a saterday and it said next pick up was monday so they will have got mine 12/7

 

Everyone keep this thread updated x

[backofbeyond]

I find it really comforting to know that I am not the only one going through this and hopefully by sharing our story it'll help other people who stumble across this site looking for answers x

[claire99991]

i also find it comforting as i feel like im the only one! (i am the only person i know who is having to wait a long time)

 

you know what maybe just maybe lol! we sent it of at the most busy time in july and we didnt do it over the phone maybe there is just a bit of a back log with there new checking system and maybe it will be ok

 

nearly all my friends claim tax credits and they all did it by phone in may or june and even they were waiting 2-3 weeks then for it to come thru, my friend thinks im worrying about nothing.

 

Lets try stay positive x

[backofbeyond]

I'll be honest every year I have always sent my tax credit renewal off to reach them just in time for the 31 July deadline (by recorded delivery) and have never had an issue.

 

Yup, staying positive is all we can do