Having to pay back working tax credits

gillylily

Hi, I have a question and am wondering if anyone can help. My husband and I were receiving Working Tax Credits last year and were told that we had been overpaid, this was because my husband received part of his pension in a lump sum and we didn't realise it counted as income. We are now having to pay back £3,600. We are both self employed and no longer receiving Working Tax Credits, I have had a recent diagnosis of cancer and have undergone major lung surgery and am not working. Does anyone know if we are still obliged to pay this money back? I have no income coming in apart from a small private pension. 

thespiceman

Hello @gillylily   Pleased to meet you welcome.

Thank you for joining and sharing. Sorry to hear this about your illness and I hope you get well soon.

I am one of the team of community champions who guide, advise and help new members who join.

In response to you question I do not know. There will be members of our community who will know or a member of our team will be in touch.

Have you spoken to CAB.  They could advise you.

Benefits are complex and confusing. You need the right information and advice.  They have expertise and knowledge.

Hope that helps.

Please take care.

@thespiceman

gillylily

Thank you for your kind response, you are right about benefits being confusing! I will definitely speak to the CAB for some help.

poppy123456

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear of you health!

Unfortunately overpayments do need to be repaid. Are you paying this back monthly? if so and the payments are too high you should ring HMRC to ask them to reduce your payments do to hardship.

KG100

I know someone who had to pay back just over £2,000.
They paid back £35 per week untill it was paid off.
They're quite fair about it really and you can work out how much you can afford to pay back over the phone. 

sammyjayne2010

Hi,you can request to make lowere payments.write to them with your incomings and outgoings. X