Hello.
Last year i received for my son the 20 week run on for tax credits as he left full time education and once the child benefit stopped along with the tax credits in August 2012, my son claimed JSA (only 17 at the time) for 2 weeks then signed back up for college so got the TC and CB again. He left college after 5 week and continued to get tax credits and child benefit up till early December 2012 then tax credits stopped as i was told you couldn't get the TC run on twice so from December 2012 till March 2013 i only received child benefit for my son.
I was advised by connexions that as i was in receipt of child benefit that i needed to appeal against tax credits decision as connexions wouldn't pay my son Job seekers allowance as i was getting child benefit for him. This appeal letter went posted in early December. This week they finally got back in touch to say that not only do you not get the 20 weeks run on twice but because my son claimed JSA for 2 weeks last August and that i was not entitled to tax credits for him from August 2012 to December 2012 so i've been overpaid.
As it currently stands my son is on a 12 week full time course which started early March 2013 so got tax credits from then until yesterday (14/03/13) which i've now found out is again an overpayment. I've also been advised that my son can't get JSA as on child benefit (until June 2013) and i'm not entitled to tax credits so basically i'll be only getting £20 a week for him.
Tax credit people have told me this is a grey area and that i should lobby my MP. Connexions/Job centre are telling me that as i'm getting child benefit i should be able to get tax credits but tax credit people are telling me i can't due to kiddo having received JSA for 2 weeks last year and i'm just stuck in the middle.
I am a single mum working full time. I can't claim TC in my own right because i am over the pay bracket and also pay full rent and council tax.
I've been looking online for legislation with regards to JSA and tax credits to no avail or am desperately hoping to find someone who's been in a similar situation. Any advice would be gratefully received. Thank you, in advance.
Last year i received for my son the 20 week run on for tax credits as he left full time education and once the child benefit stopped along with the tax credits in August 2012, my son claimed JSA (only 17 at the time) for 2 weeks then signed back up for college so got the TC and CB again. He left college after 5 week and continued to get tax credits and child benefit up till early December 2012 then tax credits stopped as i was told you couldn't get the TC run on twice so from December 2012 till March 2013 i only received child benefit for my son.
I was advised by connexions that as i was in receipt of child benefit that i needed to appeal against tax credits decision as connexions wouldn't pay my son Job seekers allowance as i was getting child benefit for him. This appeal letter went posted in early December. This week they finally got back in touch to say that not only do you not get the 20 weeks run on twice but because my son claimed JSA for 2 weeks last August and that i was not entitled to tax credits for him from August 2012 to December 2012 so i've been overpaid.
As it currently stands my son is on a 12 week full time course which started early March 2013 so got tax credits from then until yesterday (14/03/13) which i've now found out is again an overpayment. I've also been advised that my son can't get JSA as on child benefit (until June 2013) and i'm not entitled to tax credits so basically i'll be only getting £20 a week for him.
Tax credit people have told me this is a grey area and that i should lobby my MP. Connexions/Job centre are telling me that as i'm getting child benefit i should be able to get tax credits but tax credit people are telling me i can't due to kiddo having received JSA for 2 weeks last year and i'm just stuck in the middle.
I am a single mum working full time. I can't claim TC in my own right because i am over the pay bracket and also pay full rent and council tax.
I've been looking online for legislation with regards to JSA and tax credits to no avail or am desperately hoping to find someone who's been in a similar situation. Any advice would be gratefully received. Thank you, in advance.