help with claiming benefits

Hi mihaela,

Am I right in assuming that these benefits have been refused as the benefits agencies are saying you have too much income?

If this is the case, bear in mind that Tax Credits look in the first instance at your PREVIOUS tax year (so now, in 2017/18, they are looking at your income April 2016-April 2017). You say your Maternity pay is ending now, so if it was the case that in that relevant tax year you were on a much higher pay, a simple reconsideration to the Tax Credit office with a reliable prediction of this tax year's income may do the trick.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax reduction are simply income assessed on current income, so check that the figures they have used and the make up of the household is correct, but if it is, then this refusal may be right - you have not given indication of what your partner is paid, or I would have given some vague sums to demonstrate.

If your refusals are for some other reason then please do let us know!!

Kind regards,

Mary