Big Brother is Watching You....

[Deleted User]

I had a change in circumstances as my Son started Senior School in September. I immediately notified Tax Credits that I was no longer using a childcare provider. I decided to delay telling housing benefit until I had my new award notice so I could take it all in together and get it all sorted at the same time as my housing benefit it paid Monthly and not due until end of September I was satified it could all be sorted in time. Anyway after 10 days my award notice hadn't come so I decided to ring Housing Benefit and advise them what I was doing. I was really shocked because they basically told me they already new about the change as Tax Credits had emailed them and she was even able to tell me the details of my new Tax Credit Award. Next day my award letter came so everything has been handed in now for them to recalculate but my real question is... How did Tax Credits know I was in receipt of Housing Benefit???? I mean it's not a problem I've nothing to hide, but I found it odd that HB knew what my new TC was before I did? I mean it could have been incorrect? I had no time to check it. So since when did they all start communicating????

[Deleted User]

its called joined up benefits,imho not before time

Macro_3

The LA have always been able to obtain details of your tax credits inc whether you get additional elements like childcare etc, but it's only in the last couple of months that notifications have started to be sent to LA's from the DWP re tax credits changes when they occur.

LL30

I've had this since the beginning of this year - I think it's great!

RILEYBULL

Excellent News!!!! About time too.

[Deleted User]

Oh don't get me wrong I think it's a good thing and obviously part of the move towards universal credit. It's just as Macro has answered I wondered how Tax Credits even knew I claimed housing benefit, surely they don't go to the trouble of looking up everyone's Council and contacting them everytime someone makes a change? I could for all Tax Credits know have a mortgage or own my home? The only downside as I said in my post would be if the Tax Credit award was incorrect and it caused a problem.

Well I'm off to a meeting with a HMRC rep tomorrow with work talking about the new Real Time Infomation that is coming in as part of the move towards universal creidt and no longer having a tax year end as it is all to be done Monthly..... I shall add this to my list of questions!

fluffymovie

It's called ATLAS and means since 4 July tax credits have emailed us details of all tax credit changes

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/local-authority-staff/housing-benefit/claims-processing/hb-information-flows-programme/atlas-project/

[Deleted User]

Thankyou for that Fluffymovie, you are a star!

AnxiousMum

fluffymovie wrote: »

It's called ATLAS and means since 4 July tax credits have emailed us details of all tax credit changes

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/local-authority-staff/housing-benefit/claims-processing/hb-information-flows-programme/atlas-project/

So, my financial details for my household will be sent to an authority who I have never made a claim from?

Edit: From the FAQ of the link provided by Fluffy......1.
What is ATLAS?
ATLAS enables the automatic transfer of award data for a range of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Tax Credits direct to local authority systems. Information is transferred where there is a new award or a change of award and the DWP/HMRC customer is in receipt of Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit (HB/CTB).
Receiving information automatically significantly reduces HB/CTB overpayments and underpayments, in particular where the customer fails to notify the local authority of the claim or change, or provides the information late.

So no, if you are in receipt of HB/CTB, then the info is sent on. So, how do HMRC know if a customer is collecting HB/CTB? I assume because you would've had the numbers verified by the LA when you've applied, and they maybe confirm the details with CTC? Interesting - but thought it strange that the financial details of every household in the country could be in the hands of a LA when many of us claim nothing from them!

fluffymovie

HMRC know because we add a code to a system which tells them to tell us.

At present this happens with passport benefits like jsa,is etc.

AnxiousMum

fluffymovie wrote: »

HMRC know because we add a code to a system which tells them to tell us.

At present this happens with passport benefits like jsa,is etc.

Ahhh! Well it's about time, if I was claiming housing benefit, I would not have an issue with the local council having my income details....but as I'm not, don't feel my income is any of their business It is about time this type of thing was in place!