CASH-strapped families in Worcestershire are struggling to make ends meet because of a bureaucratic bungle.

Last month, the Government launched the child tax credit and working tax credit as a way of helping families on the lowest incomes stay in employment.

But delays and miscalculations to the means-tested benefits have meant that families the scheme was designed to help have been plunged into debt while waiting for applications to be processed.

Despite assurances from the Inland Revenue that claims made before the January deadline would be paid by April, many families are still waiting.

The Worcester branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau has been inundated with queries from worried parents.

"A lot of the people have had a gap with no money and those on the lowest incomes have had a real problem," said Gill Munro, deputy manager of the CAB, in St Nicholas Street.

Melanie Hall, aged 27, who spends a third of her salary on childcare for her nine-month-old daughter, Isabella, is furious.

The payments delay has played a part in her decision to drop full-time employment, as an Evening News reporter, and work part-time.

After filling in the child tax credit form on the internet in February, she is still waiting for confirmation of how much she will receive, and has now received a letter from the Inland Revenue asking for her name, address, National Insurance number and salary details.

"It makes me wonder whether they've lost my form," said Mrs Hall, of London Road, Worcester.

"There was no number at the top of the letter so I rang the tax credit helpline but it's constantly engaged.

"I feel as though I'm living in limbo land. A third of my salary already goes on childcare.

"This tax credit would make all the difference."

Maria O'Keefe, of the Inland Revenue, admitted there had been "teething problems" and that the helpline was dealing with 400,000 calls a day.

"There is a small amount of people who haven't received their tax credits and they have been advised to call into their local tax office and they will receive an interim payment where appropriate."

Have you had problems receiving your tax credits? Contact our newsdesk on 01905 74 22 44 or email wenedit@ thisisworcester.co.uk