CTC Problem 31 July 2013 at 12:44PM in Benefits & Tax Credits 3 replies 574 views

Vicky123

I wonder if anyone can help. Earlier this year my circumstances changed from couple with children to single with children, with all that went on I didn't inform them for 6 weeks but no extra money was paid, ie I didn't receive any more money.
Now they are asking for money back for the period I was single without informing them as overpayment, but there was no actual overpayment. I can't seem to get them to understand this, the woman on the other end of the phone keeps saying you were receiving CTC you were not entitled to, she said it doesn't matter that informing them at the time wouldn't have made any difference to the actual money I received, ie still entitled to CTC as still had the children. So I now have a DD to pay back money I never had in the first place. Any advice, can this be right?

Icequeen99

That is correct unfortunately.

Your couple claim has been overpaid by 6 weeks (you should only have to pay 1/2 of this). However, you should have received 4 weeks backdating on your single claim so that will cover some of the overpayment.

IQ

Vicky123

Gosh! I was sure they were wrong because overpayment suggests I received too much money, which I didn't. Isn't it the same place that pays? Can't they just backdate themselves now?

Icequeen99

Vicky123 wrote: »

Gosh! I was sure they were wrong because overpayment suggests I received too much money, which I didn't. Isn't it the same place that pays? Can't they just backdate themselves now?

No, because it isn't just a change on a claim it ends one claim and needs a completely new claim.

They could also charge you a penalty for delaying to report a change.

As I say, the overpayment should only be about 2 weeks worth at most.

IQ