Letter from TAX Credits re credit check

CatherineS

This thread is now worrying me.

My husband left me 18 months ago, and we have now been divorced for nearly a year.

He lives with his girlfriend in a neighbouring town. I wish I never had to see him ever again, but we have two children so for their sake I am trying to be civil to him.

I still live in the house and we still own it jointly although I am the one who pays the mortgage out of my bank account every month. He is useless at paperwork and I still often get letters addressed to him even though I have told him to contact the senders. For example, he is self-employed, and he still gets his VAT return sent to this house every quarter.

I am rubbish at being assertive, and as he comes by the house to pick the children up often, I still just hand over the letters. How, having read this thread, I am worried that I may get investigated - there is absolutely no way we are still a couple (If we didn't have children I would gladly never have to see him again) - but I realise that maybe my lack of assertiveness may come back and bite me. :eek:

Should I do something about this?

NoBS_2

CatherineS wrote: »

This thread is now worrying me.

My husband left me 18 months ago, and we have now been divorced for nearly a year.

He lives with his girlfriend in a neighbouring town. I wish I never had to see him ever again, but we have two children so for their sake I am trying to be civil to him.

I still live in the house and we still own it jointly although I am the one who pays the mortgage out of my bank account every month. He is useless at paperwork and I still often get letters addressed to him even though I have told him to contact the senders. For example, he is self-employed, and he still gets his VAT return sent to this house every quarter.

I am rubbish at being assertive, and as he comes by the house to pick the children up often, I still just hand over the letters. How, having read this thread, I am worried that I may get investigated - there is absolutely no way we are still a couple (If we didn't have children I would gladly never have to see him again) - but I realise that maybe my lack of assertiveness may come back and bite me. :eek:

Should I do something about this?

Yes.

Contact tax credits firstly and ensure they have either his current address or him registered as 'Return Letter Service'.

Also do this with Self Assesment.

And I know it's hard but try to be more assertive. You shouldn't have to take any flack for a man who's obviously not assertive himself. He'd have notified them himself - it's his responsibility. But get on the phone and update people. It will reassure you.

[Deleted User]

CatherineS wrote: »

This thread is now worrying me.

My husband left me 18 months ago, and we have now been divorced for nearly a year.

He lives with his girlfriend in a neighbouring town. I wish I never had to see him ever again, but we have two children so for their sake I am trying to be civil to him.

I still live in the house and we still own it jointly although I am the one who pays the mortgage out of my bank account every month. He is useless at paperwork and I still often get letters addressed to him even though I have told him to contact the senders. For example, he is self-employed, and he still gets his VAT return sent to this house every quarter.

I am rubbish at being assertive, and as he comes by the house to pick the children up often, I still just hand over the letters. How, having read this thread, I am worried that I may get investigated - there is absolutely no way we are still a couple (If we didn't have children I would gladly never have to see him again) - but I realise that maybe my lack of assertiveness may come back and bite me. :eek:

Should I do something about this?

I think this is slightly different as you can prove your ex lives at another address.
But you need to sort this out as when RTI comes in later this year gearing up for universal credit, employers will submit addresses along with payment details to HMRC on a Monthly basis so it could cause you a problem then.

georgiasdragons

Lots of people have financial ties with exes and fathers of children.
Like joint mortgages and old loans these can be explained. I think the main problem would be bank accounts and bills.

I guess they will review each case or claim fairly. I think from what I read you have to prove that this person lives elsewhere. Any utility bill drinving licence bank statements etc.

My friend was called in for having a boyfriend they had dates times he was at her house they tried to stop her housing benefit all she had to do was ask him to send proof of his own home he supported which he had case dropped.

ManicMum

Disgusting that OP is getting extra cash and ripping us all off. Why the b****y hell should you get it when others don't? Sick of all these con-artists. Reckon we could wipe the nation's debt if we cracked down on benefits cheats and people at the other end avoiding tax.

Can someone in government please read this forum and get a grip on what is happening.

#fedupgrumpyatpeopletakingthep**s

NoBS_2

ManicMum wrote: »

Disgusting that OP is getting extra cash and ripping us all off. Why the b****y hell should you get it when others don't? Sick of all these con-artists. Reckon we could wipe the nation's debt if we cracked down on benefits cheats and people at the other end avoiding tax.

Can someone in government please read this forum and get a grip on what is happening.

#fedupgrumpyatpeopletakingthep**s

The point of these letters manicmum is to do exactly that - clamp down on those claiming fraudulently and correct the claims where information they have is conflicting eg - the partner didn't update his details and is living elsewhere which can be proven.

CatherineS

Thank you NoBS, JN and GD - I think I overreacted somewhat and yes, now you've pointed it out, of course I can prove that he lives somewhere else because he will be paying council tax, car insurance, bank accounts etc elsewhere.

You have put my mind at rest and now I'll be able to sleep tonight!
:T

NoBS_2

CatherineS wrote: »

Thank you NoBS, JN and GD - I think I overreacted somewhat and yes, now you've pointed it out, of course I can prove that he lives somewhere else because he will be paying council tax, car insurance, bank accounts etc elsewhere.

You have put my mind at rest and now I'll be able to sleep tonight!
:T

Aww that's good Catherine, glad you feel better.

anguk

georgiasdragons wrote: »

Lots of people have financial ties with exes and fathers of children.
Like joint mortgages and old loans these can be explained. I think the main problem would be bank accounts and bills.

I guess they will review each case or claim fairly . I think from what I read you have to prove that this person lives elsewhere. Any utility bill drinving licence bank statements etc.

My friend was called in for having a boyfriend they had dates times he was at her house they tried to stop her housing benefit all she had to do was ask him to send proof of his own home he supported which he had case dropped.

The last time our housing benefit was reviewed the housing officer queried the people living in our house because apparently our son is still linked here. I gave her his address (he lives and works hundreds of miles away), a search showed him at that address and everything was fine.

I couldn't understand why he was still linked to this address until I remembered that the BT phone bill is in his name, we'd never bothered to change it, also he has an old bank account that he doesn't use but it's still at this address.

It's understandable that there may still be old connections from offspring or ex-husbands etc but as long as you can prove they no longer live in your house everything should be okay. It's the people who live with their partners but claim as single parents who need to worry.

kitkatt1982

Confused about the posts. Playing devils advocate, OP posted the linked thread a long time before this one, perhaps they have now separated? OP, you need to be clearer about your relationship to this person if you hope to gain advice? At the moment, you sound like you could be in a relationship with them and therefore if it sounds suspicious on here it will to tax credits and tbh I'm glad they're questionning it having known far too many people get away with this! If you are genuine and your child, or the other person, are lodgers in one-another's homes you should state this. Are there three bedrooms in the property so that you and the other person and your child all have somewhere to sleep? I know as you own the property you are probably not claiming HB but this would be one of the first thing tax credits would look at I would imagine.