Child Benefit not been paid for years

kev12175

Looking for Advice . myself and my partner have not received child benefit for our 2 children for over 6 years . We had thought that child tax credit had replaced child benefit . I have called child benefits and they are saying the claim had been closed because a letter had been sent out to us at our previous address and returned to them as not at this address . I believe we informed everyone that we needed to when we moved but cant prove this . Although child tax credit and child benefit are two different departments I would have thought that if child benefit did not receive our change of our address surely it could of been updated through our child tax credit award as they have always sent information to our new address I would be grateful of any advice you could give me on this matter many thanks

miduck

Child benefit can only be backdated for three months. You will struggle to get it backdated further than this without a very good reason, and given that information about CB is readily available on the internet, your belief that CTC replaced it will not be a good enough reason.

krisskross

Blimey that's a lot of money to lose.

pawlala

£9705.60 to be exact. Did you check your bank accounts looking for the money within those 6 years?

kev12175

They are saying that we didn't inform them of a change of address but we might have done but couldn't prove it . They are also saying they do not need birth cerificates to open a new claim as they are already on records . Its a sham the whole thing at the end of the day they should be made to pay what is owed to our kids . Different when people owe them money . A complete disgrace even if we did make a mistake which I am not saying we have . They have all the kids details so in my view what ever is owed to them should be paid and will be getting some solicitor advice tomorrow

kev12175

No never checked bank account because we thought that child benefit was rolled into child tax credit

miduck

kev12175 wrote: »

They are saying that we didn't inform them of a change of address but we might have done but couldn't prove it . They are also saying they do not need birth cerificates to open a new claim as they are already on records . Its a sham the whole thing at the end of the day they should be made to pay what is owed to our kids . Different when people owe them money . A complete disgrace even if we did make a mistake which I am not saying we have . They have all the kids details so in my view what ever is owed to them should be paid and will be getting some solicitor advice tomorrow

It is not a sham, the burden is on you to ensure that you are receiving your correct benefit entitlement, and for the past six years you have not done that. No amount of "solicitor advice" will change that!

princessdon

kev12175 wrote: »

They are saying that we didn't inform them of a change of address but we might have done but couldn't prove it . They are also saying they do not need birth cerificates to open a new claim as they are already on records . Its a sham the whole thing at the end of the day they should be made to pay what is owed to our kids . Different when people owe them money . A complete disgrace even if we did make a mistake which I am not saying we have . They have all the kids details so in my view what ever is owed to them should be paid and will be getting some solicitor advice tomorrow

Whilst I have a huge amount of sympathy and do think you deserve the money, you are blaming the wrong people. You didn't check your bank account, your mistake, your anger should be directed at you, I'd be kicking myself too.

I don't think you will be able to get it backdated though as you have no valid reason to. Your mistake was your's and not theirs.

That said I really hope you do (this was money you were entitled to and on Tax Credits you have a low income), but I can't see how you can to be honest.

pleasedelete

Have they said that they won't pay? They paid me almost 2 years when mine was stopped. I can't remember why it stopped- I think we changed bank accounts and old bank sent it back or something. We had moved. When I realised I called and it was paid very quickly.

Rather than a solicitor why not write a letter asking for payment. If they formally refuse that then you can consider other options.

totallybroke_2

why would it have been stopped in the first place?

Dunroamin

I thought you could only claim child tax credit if you were getting child benefit.