dire straits! please help us..

steph8989

i am a single parent, 3 kids,2 boys are disabled, work self-employed16 hours. just been hauled in to the inland revenue! made to feel like a criminal, said i "ticked" a box to say i was disabled and they have overpaid me money since 2004! they want £5900 plus interest back, have cut my tax credits by over £120 per week, and i am struggling big time..... also got debts of £35,000! i am at my wits end......please can anyone help me? I am appealing against the overpayment, as you cant just "tick" a box by mistake(if i actually did that, all i have got to go on is thier word) and recieve extra money! with no letter of award, no-one asking me for proof of this higher rate of care compnet, nothing yet they are asking for all this money back!! no where to turn..... thank you if anyone can advise us , most grateful...Debt:£25,000 credit cards,£10,000 catalogues, ever since my hubby left me because of our sons, i have just got further and further into debt!

thank you x

Becles

I'm not sure how to solve the tax credits problem.

However if you post you details of your debts and your Statement of Affairs (a list showing where your money goes each month), people can offer suggestions on how to move the debt around and make it more affordable, and will offer suggestions on reducing your other outgoings.

Have a look round the utilities board and Money Saving Old Style to see if you can cuts the costs of utilities and food, cleaning and toiletries costs.

If you are going further and further into debt, you're setting yourself up for a huge fall. Best to realise you need to take action now and do something about it, rather than letting the problem build up further.

Is it possible to work any more than 16 hours a week? That would bring in some extra money too.

Hope you get things sorted out as it must be a huge worry for you.

highland

I would speak to your local citizens advice they should be able to help you, also see if you can get them to request this form that you are supposed to have "ticked" a box on saying you are disabled, I am sure HMRC must keep the Tax Credits applications somewhere after all the details are transfered onto the computer. HTH

CIS

It depends, a lot of departments destroy records after 6months to a year.

I've heard of a lot of Income Support cases where DWP have come back after several years and told people they supplied wrong information on the forms but when challenged they dont have the forms to prove they where completed wrongly.

Challenge HMRC for the forms , but if the tax credit award notices where coming out to you showing the disability element, then they usually state that you should have realised and informed them that you believe the award was wrong.

steph8989

Yes but as i recieve it for my son, i assumed it was about him, as there were no reference to myself personally.

Also i have been self-employed, for 3 years, my circumstance have not changed.

Actually, my ex is getting married in Aug, i asked the csa to increase my maintance which has been £40.00 per week for the last 13 years in Februrary.Then all this happened, abit of a coninsidence his future wife works for inland revenue!!!!! he has them for one night every second weekend from 5pm until 3pm nextday! neve takes them for a holiday or 2 nights etc. so i think i have been had by both of them.

youngie

visit your CAB they are usually very helpful many people who work there are professional people who often are very well clued up on tax and benefit problems and their help is free.

donnalove

definatly challenge the overpayment, they said with us that hubby's income was missing from forms and we should have noticed.BUT HUBBY'S INCOME WAS ON THE FORMS,when i rang the complaints team they new something was up because they had had it with someone else.we have just recently won the appeal after a long battle.

do you have the forms yourself to look back on? if there is nothing on there saying you are dissabled then you need to appeal, if there is something on there it is going to be hard to dispute you never noticed.

Turning_into_scrooge

I am actually out of all of these extra tax brackets but what i would like to say is that when ever i fill benefit forms in including my disability renewal forms i scan all of it into my PC and also copy and print a copy out just to be on the safe side as i have had many forms go missing when they have been received.

jaja_3

Definatly take yourself off to the CAB. See the first bod you come across, then ask for an appointment with the 'money adviser' she/he is the one who is the expert in these things.

If we hadnt done this when we were in dire straits I dont know were we would be now.

best of luck.
jaja

Murtle

The housing department I worked at had to scan all documents so there was recorded proof. If they don't have the document they can't prove that you ticked the box or they entered it in wrong.

However, you sound like you need to get to CAB to speak to them overall to get guidance and help to get you out of the debt you are in, and come back here too for hugs, guidance and support and many friendly ears!!

M

steph8989

thank you so much M xxxxx always up for hugs!! many thanks xxxxxxxxxxx