recently become a single parent-Tax credit?

girlsmum

Hello

I have recently become a single parent, i have 2 children under 12, and i have just been on to the tax credits helpline to make a new single claim.

question is, there is an over payment on the last claim that has been deducted from this years and i assume next years as it wont be clear by the end of this year.

What happens to that? will we both have to pay it back, or will it be deducted from my claim?
I don't have the money to pay it back in full, neither does my ex, not that is my problem, but if he has to pay them, then he wont have money to pay me for the children.


Thanks
x

nannytone_2

if it was an overpayment on a joint claim then you are both responsible for it.

Oldernotwiser

Will your ex still be claiming tax credits?

bestpud

They will write to you both about the overpayment and you will have to set up a payment schedule if you cannot pay it outright. They won't take it from your single claim, or any new claim he makes.

girlsmum

thanks, i will speak to him about him making a claim, he will b entitled to something as he is on a low income, I will have to wait and see what they they do with my part
thanks all

AnxiousMum

They won't be able to collect any overpayments from a joint claim off either of your single claims. You will need to set up a payment schedule with them to clear that off. They can come after both of you for the overpayment, as it was a joint claim.

girlsmum

I am not bothered about paying it back, neither is he, just wondered about how they do it

twinklelittlestar

I believe what will happen is they will write to each of you cancelling the joint claim, and also write to each of you regarding the outstanding overpayment. This will become payable by both of you so say $400 overpayment, they will ask you for £200 and your oh for £200. If you are unable to pay it you will contact them and they will organise a payment plan for you to pay them back over a period of time, so dont panic if it is a large sum of money they wont insist on it all at once.

They cannot take a previous overpayment out of your single claim for this year.

Hope this helps