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Tax credit compliance letter
jerseygirl74
Posts: 11 Forumite
Hi I'm beside myself with worry at the moment. I received a letter on friday saying my single claim for last year was being investigated as they had something to say my husband was living there and asked me why I hadnt claimed as a couple. Here is the story:
My husband and I decided to separate in 2007. We was affected by the floods that year and was living in a caravan. I applied for tax credit as my husband was going to be moving out, we told our daughter and she was devastated, I think we underestimated how she would take it. To cut a long story short as there was a lot of things going on with the flood claims, builders etc and my husband couldn't afford to pay for somewhere to live and support us as we have a lot of loan, credit card debt etc he decided to stay and sleep in the spare room and I assumed that as we were not "together" as a couple that I was entitled to claim as it was a temporary measure until we were able to put the house on the market, (our house was unsaleable) and clear some of the debts. It was also easier because of my working hours for him to be around for childcare as I started at 3am. As far as my daughter and others were concerned we had decided against it. I cancelled my claim in august this year as we had decided he was moving back into the bedroom. After receiving this letter I have looked into things and I dont think I was entitled to claim whilst he was living in the house and money was still joint as it was easier for bills etc. I am so scared as I havent knowingly claimed fraudulently I may have misunderstood the single claim criteria. I have never been in trouble before and i'm terrified of being prosecuted. I thought I was doing what was best for my daughter by keeping things as normal as possible, maybe I was naive or stupid. I cant prove we were apart as we never financially or legally separated and if I wasn't entitled to the claim then I will pay it back but am scared I will get arrested for fraud please help its such a mess, will i go to prison?
I have been to CAB who referred me to community legal advice team. She basically said we should have separated our money, which I know now and at the time it seemed unnecessary as everything was joint bills. In their eyes we were essentially living as a couple even though in our eyes we weren't. He did his own washing, cooking (apart from the odd evening meal). we didn't sleep in the same room. I know its gone on for a long time but it was working for us and I signed the renewals saying no changes because there wasn't any.
My husband and I decided to separate in 2007. We was affected by the floods that year and was living in a caravan. I applied for tax credit as my husband was going to be moving out, we told our daughter and she was devastated, I think we underestimated how she would take it. To cut a long story short as there was a lot of things going on with the flood claims, builders etc and my husband couldn't afford to pay for somewhere to live and support us as we have a lot of loan, credit card debt etc he decided to stay and sleep in the spare room and I assumed that as we were not "together" as a couple that I was entitled to claim as it was a temporary measure until we were able to put the house on the market, (our house was unsaleable) and clear some of the debts. It was also easier because of my working hours for him to be around for childcare as I started at 3am. As far as my daughter and others were concerned we had decided against it. I cancelled my claim in august this year as we had decided he was moving back into the bedroom. After receiving this letter I have looked into things and I dont think I was entitled to claim whilst he was living in the house and money was still joint as it was easier for bills etc. I am so scared as I havent knowingly claimed fraudulently I may have misunderstood the single claim criteria. I have never been in trouble before and i'm terrified of being prosecuted. I thought I was doing what was best for my daughter by keeping things as normal as possible, maybe I was naive or stupid. I cant prove we were apart as we never financially or legally separated and if I wasn't entitled to the claim then I will pay it back but am scared I will get arrested for fraud please help its such a mess, will i go to prison?
I have been to CAB who referred me to community legal advice team. She basically said we should have separated our money, which I know now and at the time it seemed unnecessary as everything was joint bills. In their eyes we were essentially living as a couple even though in our eyes we weren't. He did his own washing, cooking (apart from the odd evening meal). we didn't sleep in the same room. I know its gone on for a long time but it was working for us and I signed the renewals saying no changes because there wasn't any.
0
Comments
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you can be seperated and live in the same house...
but what will go against you is the fact your finances were joint...
joint finances -= couple...
the fact is, so many people rig the system that they have to take this serious and investigate, and from what it looks like, you were still a couple...
probally best to seek legal help...0
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