Help please. I’m confused about which tax credit run on period applies

Hi,

I’m totally confused and hoping you might be able to help.

The government guidance doesn’t seem to be very clear about the run on period for tax credits in my situation, and I’ve been told different things by each of the tax credit helpline advisors I’ve spoken to over the last few weeks.

Me and my partner have an ongoing tax credit claim. My partner is disabled and until recently I worked full time. We didn’t receive any tax credit payments as I earned above the threshold.

Earlier this year I became ill and was signed off as not fit for work. I was paid sick pay by work for a few weeks then my employer decided to terminate my contract due to ill health.

I told tax credits about the change in circumstances the day after my contract ended. The advisor I spoke to told me I would be eligible for a 6 month run on, rather than the standard 1 month run on. He said this was because I had been getting occupational sick pay before my job ended and I had submitted a claim for new style ESA after it ended.

A couple of weeks later I spoke with another advisor who told me I would only be eligible for a 1 month run on because my employment had ended, rather than the 6 month run on I had previously been told about. I queried this with the advisor who went away, checked and then confirmed I would be eligible for a 6 month run on period but his would need to be rubber stamped by a different team. A couple of days later I received a provisional tax credit award for this year which outlined all eligible amounts and payment dates for this tax year.

But then a couple of days ago I got another letter, an amended award which only covers the first few weeks of the tax year, with only a few weeks of payments.

I called the helpline again and was told that my tax credit claim had ended because I was no longer employed and the 1 month run on had expired.

So, can anyone please explain what run on period should apply – should it be 1 or 6 months? And, if the run in should be 6 months, how can I challenge HMRC about this? – I haven’t had any letters which actually say my claim has ended.

Many thanks in advance for any advice and clarity about this.

Bobble

Hi Gary,

Quick update in case it is of help for anyone else.

I followed your advice and spoke with an advice group, who said that the 6 month run on doesn't apply to new style ESA.

Best wishes,

Bobble