MP offers tax credit advice
The town’s MP is urging constituents from East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow to get in touch with her immediately if their tax credit payments are stopped.
The call follows a spate of mistaken assessments by Concentrix, who are contracted by HMRC to partly administer the scheme, which has left many lowincome families in the area without their vital payments.
Following pressure from Lisa Cameron and other MPs, HMRC announced that they will not renew Concentrix’s contract next year and have drafted in additional staff to help those affected receive the money to which they are entitled.
Dr Cameron said: “I’m glad that the Tory government have reacted to pressure to intervene to resolve this urgent matter.
“I’ve already been contacted by a range of local families who have been left in distress when their vital tax credit payments have been stopped without warning and so have taken up their case directly with HMRC.
“In these cases Concentrix had made a number of bizarre allegations which had resulted in payments being stopped.
“My team have been in touch with HMRC to discuss a range of specific cases from this constituency and to push for a speedy resolution so that those affected can get the money they are rightly owed.
“I want to ensure that those families whose payments have been stopped in error are refunded as soon as possible.
“I’ve now been assured by HMRC that each of these existing cases will be resolved within a matter of days.
“That’s why I’m appealing for other families who may have been affected to get in touch now so that my team can help expedite their case with the new crisis team which has been set up by HMRC.
“I’m determined that any constituent left out of pocket by the mistakes made by Concentrix is refunded as a matter of urgency.”
Constituents can contact Lisa Cameron by phone on 01355 587430 or by email at lisa.camreon.mp@ parliament.uk.