New tax credits claim gone to specialist team?

Debtfreeandlovingit

Hi everyone, need some advice please.

Basically my partner moved in on the 28th October 2013 so made a new tax credit claim as a couple. At first it seemed the whole process was slowed down due to a reading error on the form, getting a number incorrect on the form for my partners national insurance number. Had to wait for a letter that had to be sent out twice as it got lost in the post the first time. Rang them up after receiving this letter so we could confirm my partners details. All was ok and the lady said to expect my backdated tax credited into my account within the next week or so. That was a couple of weeks ago now so I decided to ring them up again. Now I've been told the claim has gone to the specialist team and the lady couldn't give me anymore details apart from it could take another 4 weeks to process! I've had no tax credits for 9 nearly 10 weeks now and now it could be yet another 4 weeks! I feel like crying. Can anyone tell me why claims go to the specialist team please? What does it mean exactly?

Debtfreeandlovingit

Also my partner was born in Holland but has lived in England for the last 20 years since he was 10 and hes got a british passport. Could it be something to do with that?

I don't know how much longer we can survive without tax credits as we're really struggling :-(

pmlindyloo

It could just be that the system has flagged up your previous joint claim a couple of years ago when your boyfriend had no recourse to public funds (a previous boyfriend I presume?)

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3444527

Since incorrect information was given in your previous joint claim then it could just be that they have flagged up your claim because of the NI error this time and want to investigate.

There is nothing you can do other than wait out the investigation - you have checked that they now have all the correct information on your present partner so, in the end, it should all be sorted.

gingergee

Took 14 weeks when mine went from single to joint claim as they have to close original case down and reopen it as a joint. It's not just a change of circumstances.

Debtfreeandlovingit

pmlindyloo wrote: »

It could just be that the system has flagged up your previous joint claim a couple of years ago when your boyfriend had no recourse to public funds (a previous boyfriend I presume?)

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3444527

Since incorrect information was given in your previous joint claim then it could just be that they have flagged up your claim because of the NI error this time and want to investigate.

There is nothing you can do other than wait out the investigation - you have checked that they now have all the correct information on your present partner so, in the end, it should all be sorted.

That comment about a partner having no recourse to public funds was made by somebody else not me. My other problem a few years ago was tax credits not matching up my son as hes had 2 different surnames. And yes my partner now is a new one and a far better one that that one lol

thankyou for your answers :-)

Debtfreeandlovingit

gingergee wrote: »

Took 14 weeks when mine went from single to joint claim as they have to close original case down and reopen it as a joint. It's not just a change of circumstances.

OMG poor you, thats a bloody long time! When i first made the new claim at the beginning of November they said it should take 3 weeks to process before payment, I just wish they had said nothing now...

Ky-An

It would be the compliance team. You can only wait for their decision. It could be anything. Has your partner claimed benefits before? Is his niño correct? Is he the father of your child, if so was you ever receiving benefits as a lone parent and you didn't advise where he lived? The list is endless. Then it could be his payslip is not readable. I can share your anguish but we cannot give you the answer only the Inland Revenue. Sorry....

Debtfreeandlovingit

Ky-An wrote: »

It would be the compliance team. You can only wait for their decision. It could be anything. Has your partner claimed benefits before? Is his niño correct? Is he the father of your child, if so was you ever receiving benefits as a lone parent and you didn't advise where he lived? The list is endless. Then it could be his payslip is not readable. I can share your anguish but we cannot give you the answer only the Inland Revenue. Sorry....

Hes never claimed tax credits before but i think he went on jobseekers while he was between jobs. His national insurance number is correct now as the computer read one of the numbers wrong to begin with and so they couldn't find him on the system but its been corrected. Also hes not the father of my child.

One of the tax credit advisers said to me that we have both been verified as genuine claimants and all the other details were all good so I just dont know what it can be now? Its really stressing me out the not knowing :-(

pmlindyloo

Debtfreeandlovingit wrote: »

That comment about a partner having no recourse to public funds was made by somebody else not me. My other problem a few years ago was tax credits not matching up my son as hes had 2 different surnames. And yes my partner now is a new one and a far better one that that one lol

thankyou for your answers :-)

My apologies - read the thread too quickly.

If you are really struggling for money and since you will get the claim backdated (not a real help at the moment I know) is there anyone (family/friends) who can give you a loan/anything you can sell/speak to the bank for a small overdraft.

Your priorities are rent/council tax/food. Let anyone else know your situation and see if they will give you some breathing space until this is sorted. Always better to let people/creditors know that you are struggling financially and it is just a short term problem than to get interest added on/'red' letters etc.

Keep telephoning at regular intervals so your claim is being 'flagged' up.

Debtfreeandlovingit

pmlindyloo wrote: »

My apologies - read the thread too quickly.

If you are really struggling for money and since you will get the claim backdated (not a real help at the moment I know) is there anyone (family/friends) who can give you a loan/anything you can sell/speak to the bank for a small overdraft.

Your priorities are rent/council tax/food. Let anyone else know your situation and see if they will give you some breathing space until this is sorted. Always better to let people/creditors know that you are struggling financially and it is just a short term problem than to get interest added on/'red' letters etc.

Keep telephoning at regular intervals so your claim is being 'flagged' up.

Thankyou for the advice :-) Im currently scouring the house for things we could sell. Thankfully Ive managed to keep up with rent and council tax payments and we are doing what we can food wise. Like you said the others can wait but I will inform them of my situation at present.

Appreciate all the comments, I don't know how we survived Christmas but I'm glad that period is over. I just hope this gets resolved soon...

Debtfreeandlovingit

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Keep telephoning at regular intervals so your claim is being 'flagged' up.

Also regarding this, the lady I spoke to has now said do not ring within the next 4 weeks while its with the specialist team Shall I keep ringing anyway?