help possibly the worst day of my life.

jaxx46

So here's the situation. After losing our business in the credit crunch my partner and i are waiting for the brewery to make us bankrupt as agreed when we handed the pub back to them. It's been four months already and we're living in limbo. Currently we have joint claims for esa, housing benefit and ctc. This morning my partner tells me he is leaving, that he's changed and wants different things out of life! Then the postman brings a letter telling me i have to have a medical if i want to keep claiming esa and then a lady from the inland revenue turns up and tells me i owe £5640.53 in overaid tax credits from 2003/2004!! I'm at my wits end. Obviously i will have to tell DWP when he's gone but does anyone have any idea how that will affect my benefits? What happens if they stop my esa after the medical, will i be able to claim anything else? As for the overpaid tax credits how am i meant to pay that back? At the moment i get £50 esa and £50 ctc per week, we get £580 housing benefit a month but our rent is £650 so the child benefit tops that up. I am so depressed and confused and would really appreciate any advice from the good people out there.

Minxy_Bella

I'm sorry that I haven't got any really practical advice but just wanted to give you a (((cyber-hug))) and to say that this might be the worst day of your life, but this too will pass.

You will get through it and you will come out of this horrible time stronger and wiser.

At the end of the day, the most important people are you and your children. Protect yourselves and remember, you cannot pay (back) what you have not got. The TC people have probably made a mistake anyway - fight them!

Your OH is probably just as fed up as you are and this is his way of trying to cope. Badly. I bet he'll come running back once you've sorted things out a bit.

I hope things get better for you quickly.

CouponWoman

Hi Jaxx46

Deal with your problems a little at a time otherwise you will panic.

1 - when your partner (if he does) inform the DWP and make a claim for income support to top up your benefits. ensure you claim free school meals for any children in school. ensure you claim full council tax benefit and see if you are entitled to any more housing benefit.

2 - your medical - these are compulsory and make sure you attend. take any medication with you. if you are signing sick due to depression ask your GP to refer you to a counsellor as this will strengthen your claim.

3 - tax credits - ask them for full details of how they reached this figure. if you believe this is correct you can make an offer to repay the debt weekly, make an offer of £3 per week and see what they say.

Please bear in mind that your partner is probably very depressed at the worrying things that have happened. try and talk to him and things might work out.

good luck

bestpud

Oh boy, what a day!

But, as said, take a deep breath and deal with one issue at a time.

I'm assuming you don't have children at home as you don't mention any child related benefits?

Do you know whether you actually owe that money to tax credits? I'm assuming this is a way down the line if they turned up on your doorstep? It might be advisable to contact the CAB about it and take any paperwork you have with you.

As for the ESA, there is every chance the medical will find in your favour and you will carry on receiving it, but the very worst outcome is you will be switched to jsa of £64.30 per week. I don't know if it helps to point that out or not?

Either way, you just need to change your council tax and housing benefit/LHA into a single claim and you should still receive the help you get now.

I agree your OH is likely feeling the strain too and may well come round when he's had some time to think.

Good luck - I hope it works out for you.

diddlydum

I'm really sorry to hear about your day.

I'll start with the easier things and move on.

1. Tax credits. If you've been overpaid then it'll be written off in bankruptcy. It sounds to me like either you didn't sign the declaration or if you had a temporary split then it could be that you claimed as a couple when you were single, or vice versa.

2. The medical is a standard part of the ESA claim. A doctor will ask you what you can do and what you can't do, and then the DWP will make a decision based on this. It's not anything to worry about, it's normal.

3. Tell the DWP that he's moving out and, even more importantly, tell the HMRC too. If you're claiming child tax credits your joint claim ends and you need to claim as a single person; if you don't, the whole year's claim can end up being void.

Essex_Maid

you poor thing sending you hugs - but uncertainty breeds panic - so breath deeply, and don't think too far ahead. Just take one step at a time, and tell yourself "when the going gets tough - the tough get going". Start to get the expert help you will need.

Agree, go to GP and ask for urgent support for a counsellor.

Go to Citizens Advice asap and ask for help and review of your benefits, etc.

There is also:

Community Legal Service Direct
www.clsdirect.org.uk tel 0845 345 4 345

There is also the Consumer Credit Counselling Service: http://www.cccs.co.uk

At times of great stress I have found Bach Rescue Remedy (about £4.50 for a small bottle from most chemists) very gentle, non addictive.

You husband sounds as if he has had a Panic Attack - but think about yourself and children first.

You will start to feel less panicky when you get some specialist help and support.

Sending you love.

jaxx46

thanks to everyone for your advice and support x