TCM0052200 - Changes - work (left job): Left main job, started new main job within seven days
Checklist
Note: From 27th January 2021, there are no new claims to tax credits
Before you follow this guidance make sure
- you follow the guidance in TCM0138020
- check the ‘Unprocessed Change of Circs’ work list for any outstanding entries and make a note of any information you require to clear the work item. Follow the guidance in TCM0054060 to clear the item on the ‘Unprocessed Change of Circs’ work list only
Note: If the ‘Unprocessed Change of Circumstances’ work list item is the same as the change you’ve been notified of, delete the work list item and continue with this guidance. - you have the correct user roles to follow this guidance
- a change can be made. Follow the guidance in TCM0042260
- you are in the correct MU. Use TCM0322460.
Reasons not to follow this guidance
You do not need to follow this guidance if
- the customer is not starting a new main job
- the customer is starting a new main job outside of seven days.
Required information
Obtain the following information from the source (for example, customer, employer)
- end date of old job
- number of paid hours in old job
- start date of new job
- number of paid hours in new job
- employer’s reference number (if appropriate)
- new employer’s name
- new employer’s address
- Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number (if the new job is self-employed).
Guidance
Note: when sending customer, staff or process data to another individual or team, make sure you follow the latest data security guidelines or contact the Data Guardian / Data Security Team for advice.
Step 1
If you are dealing with a four-week run-on referral from a Contact Centre or a paper change of circumstances, go to Step 2.
If you are dealing with a reply from a customer in response to our enquiry for further information, go to Step 2.
If you are dealing with any other reason, go to Step 2.
Step 2
Check you have got the following details
- date the old job ended
- total number of paid hours in old job and any other remaining jobs
- total number of paid hours for other remaining jobs
- start date of new main job
- total number of paid hours in new main job and any other remaining jobs
- new employer’s reference number
- payroll reference (if available)
- employer’s name and address
- Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if self-employed. For how to do this, use TCM1000365.
If the correct end date and four week run on has already been applied
- update ‘Household Notes’ with the appropriate message. For how to do this, use TCM1000001
- take no further action.
If you have got all the details, go to Step 5.
If you have conflicting details, go to Step 3.
If you have not got all the details
- phone the customer to obtain the end date and any other missing information. Follow the guidance in TCM0094080
Note: If you’re dealing with any other changes make sure you have all the information you need to apply to apply the other changes as well. Follow the relevant ‘Changes’ guidance. - go to Step 3.
Step 3
Check PAYE/SA for customer end date.
If you are able to obtain end date, go to Step 5.
If you are unable to obtain the end date, go to Step 4.
Step 4
If you contact the customer and obtain the missing information, go to Step 5.
If you contact the customer but they cannot provide the missing information, follow the guidance in TCM0036150.
If you cannot contact the customer, follow the guidance in TCM0036150.
Step 5
Check the status of the claim. For how to do this, use TCM1000025.
If the claim is pre award
- enter the details of the change on the ‘Free Format’ screen. For how to do this, use TCM1000036
- update ‘Application Notes’ with the action you have taken. For how to do this, use TCM1000028
- take no further action
If the claim is post award, go to Step 6.
Step 6
Check the status of the award. For how to do this, use TCM1000101.
If the claim has been ceased or terminated because of one of the four-week run-on exceptions
- check for exception changes within the four-week run-on period. For how to do this, use TCM1000353
- follow the guidance in TCM0228040
- take no further action.
If the claim has been rejected, ceased or terminated and the customer’s new circumstances mean they may now qualify for tax credits
Note: Claims made on or after 6 April 2012 may be backdated up to 31 days.
Note: Claims made prior to 6 April 2012 may be backdated up to 93 days.
Note: Before you can invite a fresh claim, you must check whether the customer(s) have a valid exception to business rules. This can either be if the household contains an individual of Pension Credit Qualifying Age (PCQA) or if customers are claiming for more than two children. These customers will still be entitled to claim tax credits up to 31 January 2019. Following the guidance in TCM0044080 will take you through the necessary steps.
Note: From 16th January 2019, an additional exception will be accepted where the customer is in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium (SDP) as part of their legacy benefit.
Severe Disability Premium (SDP) is an extra amount of money that is included in Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and housing benefit where a customer meets the entitlement conditions.
To be eligible for SDP, a customer must be in receipt of one of the following qualifying benefits:
- PIP daily living component
- Armed forces independence payment (AFIP)
- DLA care component at the middle or highest rate
- Attendance Allowance, or Constant Attendance Allowance paid with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
SDP is only payable where a customer lives alone or is treated as living alone. A customer cannot get the severe disability premium if someone is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance or the carer element of Universal Credit for looking after them.
- invite the customer to make a fresh claim. Follow the guidance in TCM0044080
- take no further action.
If the claim has not been rejected, ceased or terminated
- as there is no entitlement to the four week run on enter the date the customer has provided for the old hours end date, in the ‘Hours End Date’ field
- enter the new main job details. For how to do this, use TCM1000355
Note: If the customer has not provided an end date, use the date the customer notified us of the change, as advised earlier in the guidance end the job using the date the customer has provided. For how to do this, use TCM1000354.
Note:Customers with short gaps between jobs can continue to be treated as in remunerative work provided the gap does not exceed 6 days. The ‘Hour’s History’ must be amended to cover the period between the old job ending and the new job starting. For example, the customer ends one job on 18/10/2013 and starts a new job within 7 days on 21/10/2013. The ‘Hours Worked History’ should be amended to cover the gap with the old hours with a start date of 19/10/2013 and an end date of 20/10/2013. - go to Step 7.
Step 7
Note: From 6 April 2012, if a customer tells us within a month about a change of circumstances that increases the maximum rate of tax credits they are entitled to, their award can be amended from the date of the change. For changes notified after one month their award can only be amended one month prior to the date the change was notified.
If the start date of the new job occurred within one month of today’s date
- apply any other changes you have been notified. Follow the relevant ‘Changes’ guidance
- complete ‘Amend Finish’ screen. For how to do this, use TCM1000032
- go to Step 9.
If the start date of the new job occurred more than one month before the today’s date but the customer notified us of the change within one month go to Step 8.
If the start date of the new job occurred more than one month before today’s date and the customer failed to notify us of the change within one month, go to Step 8.
Step 8
Note: From 6 April 2012, if a customer tells us within a month about a change of circumstances that increases the maximum rate of tax credits they are entitled to, their award can be amended from the date of the change. For changes notified after one month their award can only be amended one month prior to the date the change was notified.
Note: If a change is notified that does not alter or decreases the maximum rate of tax credits the claimant is entitled to, it will be applied from the date of the change.
Consider whether the change in hours will increase the maximum tax credits award (that is, before any income changes are applied). For how to do this, use TCM1000347.
If the change in hours results in an increase in the maximum tax credits award (before any income changes)
- record a period of hours at the old weekly hours rate in ‘Worked Hours History’, to cover the gap between the end date of the old hours and the ‘Include From’ date of the new hours, use TCM1000364
- apply any other changes you have been notified. Follow the relevant ‘Changes’ guidance
- complete ‘Amend Finish’ screen. For how to do this, use TCM1000032
- go to Step 9.
If the change in hours does not result in an increase in the maximum tax credits award (before any income changes)
- the change can be backdated more than one month as the customer notified us within one month of the change or the change does not result in an increase to the customer’s maximum tax credit award
- amend the ‘Include From’ date for the new hours to the same date as the start date shown for the new hours. For how to do this, use TCM1000364.
- apply any other changes you have been notified. Follow the relevant ‘Changes’ guidance
- go to Step 9.
Step 9
Note: Any changes you have made will not be applied until you complete the ‘Amend Finish’ screen.
If a warning message displayed and you had to pass the case to a Level 2 user or your manager, take no further action.
If a warning message displayed and you were able to make the change
- update ‘Household Notes’ with the appropriate message. For how to do this, use TCM1000001
- go to Step 10.
If a warning message did not display
- update ‘Household Notes’ with the appropriate message. For how to do this, use TCM1000001
- go to Step 10.
Step 10
If you have been working from a work list
- delete the work list item. For how to do this, use TCM1000160
- take no further action.
If you have been working a WAM referral
- put the WAM referral in confidential waste
- take no further action.
If you have been working an electronic referral
- delete from the database
- take no further action.
If you have been working a piece of correspondence
- close the document on DMS. For how to do this, use TCM1000037
- take no further action.