Urgent Call To Local Families Over Unclaimed Cash

1.58.00pm GMT Mon 19th Jan 2009

Local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt is calling on local families to claim over £500 in tax breaks under a little publicised government scheme before a 31st January deadline.

Before the current system of 'child tax credits' was introduced in 2003, the Government made payments in 2001/02 and 2002/03 under a totally separate scheme known as the 'children's tax credit'.

Many people were not aware of the scheme at the time and did not claim the money, and the deadline for claiming runs out at the end of this month. The credit was worth £529 per family in 2002/03 and was available to parents who paid tax in that year and who had a child under 16 in that year. The money was paid at a flat rate except for higher rate taxpayers who got a reduced level of help.

Now Richard is urging local families who did not claim at the time to get in a claim before the deadline passes.

Richard Burt said: "With difficult economic times ahead, I am keen to make sure that local families get every penny to which they are entitled. The old 'children's tax credit' scheme was not well publicised back in 2002-03 and many families may never have claimed the money. Forms can be downloaded from www.hmrc.gov.uk Search for 'children's tax credit' and print off form 11CTC 2002/3 to apply."

In addition to the basic payment of £529 per family, a double rate of tax credit was payable to families who had a new baby during 2002/03. This additional help can be claimed on the same claim form.