Voice NI: The Tax Credits System

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Arfawn

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Joined: 30�Jun�2004
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 37

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Topic: The Tax Credits System
Posted: 18�Nov�2008 at 1:33pm

Tax Credits are payments from the Government that are designed to supplement the salary of families and people on low incomes.

Since their introduction we have heard many horror stories regarding overpayments and errors in awards leaving many low income families in debt through no fault of their own. Similarly we have heard many stories on how the system has helped lift many low income families out of hardship.

Can you tell us about your experience of the Tax Credit system? What works well and what can be improved?

Edited by Arfawn - 18�Nov�2008 at 3:49pm

annie

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Joined: 25�Nov�2008
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Posts: 3

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Posted: 25�Nov�2008 at 1:48pm

So far I have had no problems with Tax Credits. I have been receiving Child Tax Credits since there introduction

Bronagh B

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Joined: 27�Nov�2008
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Posted: 27�Nov�2008 at 12:14pm

case referred to CCS - young male client - his partner had given birth to their son and passed away 11 days later. We were asked to help out several weeks later - client had taken over full time care of son and had made a claim to Child Benefit/Child Tax Credit - he was getting concerned as he had received no monies despite repeated calls to both Departments - supplying them with all information requested.At this point client, already a highly vulnerable client was surviving only on Incapacity Benefit.

When we contacted Child Benefit conveying our deep concern at the delay in processing claim - we were told that client would receive a telephone call from CB and that they would process asap. No contact was made despite several calls to CB/ deeply frustrating-felt as if we were being 'fobbed off' - furthermore there was nowhere we could go with it -no local contact - In desperation i drafted a strongly worded letter to TaX credits/Beaufort House which client hand delivered -they were able to pay client that weeks money and advised him to call weekly for payment while they sorted it out.Glad of this but did not take account of the fact client would have to pay to get into city centre to collect payment. Further calls to CB-speaking with supervisors - as before sympathetic at clients plight but unable to really do anything concrete. In utter desperation and anger i contacted Kevin Higgins to vent my frustration and to see if there was any way around this bureaucratic nightmare!!!

At last CB make contact with client and promised case would be processed asap. Baby is now over 4 months old!!!! Some good news - tax credit have this week deposited into clients account all arrears to date and will pay weekly entitlement into clients bank account. On a serious note i am appalled at the length of time it has taken to sort this out - given that CB is the passport to CTC - what do they think client and baby will live on for the 4 months ???? cannot get my h ead around it. Thanks to Kevin for his support and for listening to me when i was on a rant!!

KevinH

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Joined: 12�Dec�2006
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Posts: 48

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Posted: 03�Dec�2008 at 9:36am

The following post was emailed direct to Advice NI by Helen Sim, Ballysillan Community Forum Advice Centre / NBAP:

Our advice service had a case where a client was granted parental responsibility by the courts for his Grandchild in April 2008. The clients only income at the time was Income Support. Once the client had the been granted parental responsibility he made a claim for Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit. He received Payment of Child Tax Credit in July 2008.

The client contacted us in September 2008 when he still hadn't received any payment of Child Benefit. He had made many calls to the Department but couldn't get anyone to assist him or tell him why it was taking so long to process his claim.

We tried to telephone the helpline on several occasions but couldn't get to speak to anyone, all we got was an answer machine advising us " all operators and busy please call back later". We then wrote to HMRC on 22 September 2008 but never received any acknowledgement from them. We contacted Advice NI who took details of the case to take it, along with other outstanding cases, to HMRC. Our client contacted us at beginning of November to advise us he had finally received payment of Child Benefit.

It seems strange that whilst HMRC administer both benefits Child Tax Credit only took a few weeks to process whilst Child benefit took 6 months.

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Arfawn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group eModerator Joined: 30�Jun�2004 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Quote Reply Topic: The Tax Credits System Posted: 18�Nov�2008 at 1:33pm
	Tax Credits are payments from the Government that are designed to supplement the salary of families and people on low incomes. Since their introduction we have heard many horror stories regarding overpayments and errors in awards leaving many low income families in debt through no fault of their own. Similarly we have heard many stories on how the system has helped lift many low income families out of hardship. Can you tell us about your experience of the Tax Credit system? What works well and what can be improved? Edited by Arfawn - 18�Nov�2008 at 3:49pm

annie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25�Nov�2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Quote Reply Posted: 25�Nov�2008 at 1:48pm
	So far I have had no problems with Tax Credits. I have been receiving Child Tax Credits since there introduction

Bronagh B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 27�Nov�2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Quote Reply Posted: 27�Nov�2008 at 12:14pm
	case referred to CCS - young male client - his partner had given birth to their son and passed away 11 days later. We were asked to help out several weeks later - client had taken over full time care of son and had made a claim to Child Benefit/Child Tax Credit - he was getting concerned as he had received no monies despite repeated calls to both Departments - supplying them with all information requested.At this point client, already a highly vulnerable client was surviving only on Incapacity Benefit. When we contacted Child Benefit conveying our deep concern at the delay in processing claim - we were told that client would receive a telephone call from CB and that they would process asap. No contact was made despite several calls to CB/ deeply frustrating-felt as if we were being 'fobbed off' - furthermore there was nowhere we could go with it -no local contact - In desperation i drafted a strongly worded letter to TaX credits/Beaufort House which client hand delivered -they were able to pay client that weeks money and advised him to call weekly for payment while they sorted it out.Glad of this but did not take account of the fact client would have to pay to get into city centre to collect payment. Further calls to CB-speaking with supervisors - as before sympathetic at clients plight but unable to really do anything concrete. In utter desperation and anger i contacted Kevin Higgins to vent my frustration and to see if there was any way around this bureaucratic nightmare!!! At last CB make contact with client and promised case would be processed asap. Baby is now over 4 months old!!!! Some good news - tax credit have this week deposited into clients account all arrears to date and will pay weekly entitlement into clients bank account. On a serious note i am appalled at the length of time it has taken to sort this out - given that CB is the passport to CTC - what do they think client and baby will live on for the 4 months ???? cannot get my h ead around it. Thanks to Kevin for his support and for listening to me when i was on a rant!!
	BB

KevinH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 12�Dec�2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Quote Reply Posted: 03�Dec�2008 at 9:36am
	The following post was emailed direct to Advice NI by Helen Sim, Ballysillan Community Forum Advice Centre / NBAP: Our advice service had a case where a client was granted parental responsibility by the courts for his Grandchild in April 2008. The clients only income at the time was Income Support. Once the client had the been granted parental responsibility he made a claim for Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit. He received Payment of Child Tax Credit in July 2008. The client contacted us in September 2008 when he still hadn't received any payment of Child Benefit. He had made many calls to the Department but couldn't get anyone to assist him or tell him why it was taking so long to process his claim. We tried to telephone the helpline on several occasions but couldn't get to speak to anyone, all we got was an answer machine advising us " all operators and busy please call back later". We then wrote to HMRC on 22 September 2008 but never received any acknowledgement from them. We contacted Advice NI who took details of the case to take it, along with other outstanding cases, to HMRC. Our client contacted us at beginning of November to advise us he had finally received payment of Child Benefit. It seems strange that whilst HMRC administer both benefits Child Tax Credit only took a few weeks to process whilst Child benefit took 6 months.