Desperate help needed stopping my single claim :(

princessdon

Yes it can happen - but realistically they normally have some proof they moved house (no one wants their new bank cards going to an Ex!).

I take it you did inform the school at least and they can prove he changed his address?

Also you say you are now moving out - you must realise that if they beleive you have been fraudulent that you will be required to pay it all back and they are unlikely to accept a new claim when you move?

Ejo76

To be fair he known I appreciate him letting me stay at his house whilst he went to his mothers, letting me finish my degree, nothing was changed as the main point of contact is via phone or myself to be honest nothing has been changed over, im in a lose lose situation and can't see any way out of it, I thought I was doing right changing to a single claim and I don't get and more that £30 a month more than before so it really wasn't for financial reasons, I really am stuck here

princessdon

I don't see anyway out of it either TBH. Positives - at least if you won't have a huge amount to pay back and maybe you will get back together at some point

Negatives - I'm not sure how they will take a claim for single person again if you are wanting to move out

Ejo76

I hope so, 3 times I have spoke to the officer at tax credits and each occasion he has said they will have to stop my single claim but no mention of repaying my money back, I think that would just finish me off completely , what a horrid situation, I have done everything properly but the damn ex wouldn't change his details and I get punished for it!! Only thing I can think of is going to a solicitor to make a statement under oath about living alone see if they would accept that!! Thankyou very much for your advice xxx

princessdon

They will ask for it back if they determine that you have made a fraudulent claim - plus they have the right to take "others measures", May be best accepting their claim as not single without rocking any boats.

Ejo76

Just seems unfair when it's a true situation,but whatever is easiest I will go for.... Not sure what u mean by accepting there claim? Just want a quiet life x

Cornish_piskie

The only thing you can do is tell them exactly what the set up is and why your ex chose to do things this way. Whether it will satisfy their criteria for being single is another matter and, in all honesty, I can't see that you are 'properly single' seeing that you aren't footing the bills or paying towards accommodation.

The extra money that a single parent receives in tax credits (CTC + WTC) is to reflect the fact that there is only one income and that income has to provide shelter/food/clothing/utilities etc for both you and the children. If your ex was footing the bills - I assume by this you mean utilities and paying the mortgage then you are hardly single... hindsight is a wonderful thing but you really should have done things properly and had him pay maintenance and claimed correctly for the tax credits - with you then paying the bills.

It's not tricky to change names on utility bills etc so I think your defence that he didn't want to change them as he was planning on returning (but it has been over a year!) is a very weak one.

I'm sorry it's not probably what you want to hear but I think you need to brace yourself for a bit of a rocky time and an overpayment demand. I would imagine that paying back shouldn't be too much of a problem seeing that you have been receiving benefits enough for a single mum paying all her bills but actually having someone else paying for most of those outgoings.

Ejo76

Oh god I'm worrying now x

chris1973

left the house 13 months ago and is currentrly living with his mother down the road

Given the timescale I suspect that the biggest hurdle is that its going to be extremely difficult to convince them that in 13 months, he hasn't invoiced a single thing, taken out a single subscription or had a single item of mail or a bill delivered to that address in his name. I know the first thing I would do if I had to move back with my parents for so long, would be to take out a Sky Sports subscription, and since my parents wouldn't (be expected to) foot the bill, that would at least be one bill in my name at their address!.

I also know that if I had split with a partner, even amicably there would be certain items of personal mail which I wouldn't want her to read or open - even accidentally. After 13 months apart, I may be dating somebody else whose number appears daily on my mobile phones' itemised bill, or who i've bought some flowers or a gift for on my credit card and I dont want my ex snooping into my statements or knowing my business and the ins and outs of my 'new' life.

Blimey, these days when you move to a new / temporary address, the junk mail in your name at your new address is often piled up there waiting for you!!

Just seems unfair when it's a true situation

The problem is that in their eyes, everybody in this situation is in a 'true situation' (even the ones who perhaps actually aren't). They hear it all of the time during the interview. What makes it worse is that things like insurance, driving license, V5 Documents are also legal documents where not informing the relevant entity of long term address changes are also risking other seperate offences, albeit fines. Its hard for them to believe that in 13 months, he hasn't got around to updating at least one of these documents or fulfilled his obligation to notify or convey his address changes to one single entity. During this time, he would have at least renewed his car insurance once, a perfect opportunity to add the new address!.

Unfortunately i'm sure even to the point of sympathy, that there are many people genuinely in the same 'seperated but with kids' situation as you, however the smart move is to cushion yourself by covering your backside with as much 'proof' as possible at the earliest opportunity that you are no longer living at the shared address and are living elsewhere, ready for when the inevitable investigation is called. Just do a search of the forum for how often this sort of situation arises.

I know hindsite is a wonderful thing, but he hasn't exactly been instrumental at helping himself or you.

Dunroamin

Don't you have to change your address on your driving licence when you move?