A YORK mother-of-seven says she is struggling to survive after her child tax credit was cut without warning.

Tracy Yates, 29, of Middleton Road, Acomb, went to the bank and discovered her weekly child tax credit was lower than usual.

A week later she received a letter from the Inland Revenue telling her she had been overpaid, and they would be taking £100 from her benefit each week until she had repaid the money.

She said she and her partner, William Hickton, were now finding it difficult to pay the bills and look after their seven children, who are aged between two and ten.

They have been told they might not receive their full payments again until the end of July.

"We are really struggling to survive. It's worrying as we have bills to pay," she said.

Tracy said the Inland Revenue had told her they had paid her £613 on December 7, which she should not have received. But she said she never got the money, and is unclear on exactly how much she owes and why.

The family should receive £200 in child tax credit and £98 in working tax credit a week, but now they get £198.

"We were fine, but then this happened. I am looking after the kids and my partner works as a part-time patient services assistant, so we rely on tax credits to up our money," she said.

She said her partner had a bad back and only earned about £100 a week.

"Now they have knocked £100 a week off our income it has made him feel as if he is working for nothing," she said.

Tracy has contacted York MP Hugh Bayley about her problem.

She is the fourth worried mother to contact the Evening Press in the last two weeks about problems with tax credits.

But Mr Bayley said the majority of people were happy with the benefit.

He said: "Seven thousand three hundred families in York are benefiting from tax credits and I have had four cases of constituents who have had problems.

"Miscalculations happen with benefits, income tax and tax credits from time to time.

"The important thing is to make sure people are treated fairly if there is a miscalculation."

He recommended anyone who was having problems to contact the Inland Revenue straight away, and if they continue to have problems to contact him.

The Inland Revenue said it cannot discuss individual cases, but it insists the problems are isolated incidents.

Anyone who has problems is asked to phone the child tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900.

Updated: 08:28 Thursday, March 18, 2004