Saw client in May following death of husband. Lady underpaid disability and severe disability elements for 2003-4 and 2004-5 in respect of child with HRC. Its taken 5 months to sort out current years entitlement but no arrears for 03-04.
Hello MP and just received reply that reason is they cant pay arrears on current year award as it would bring it up as overpayment later on. From what was gleaned in the MP hotline phonecall, IR can't go back to revise last years award and have to "force" the computor to pay up. When the tech specifications were being drawn up it obviously wasn't envisaged that the computor might have to pay tax credits from a previous year/s.
Pressing for extra stat payment but isn't it illustrative of the the whole tax credit mess that even if you're owed money the IR computor goes all petulant on you.
Not a rant, too tired, but it helps to share the misery.
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