Help! I have to pay Ex’s overpayments

Michele2711

My husbands ex girlfriend failed to tell tax credits that he left the family home untill a month later, this was back in 2011, we have recently received a letter stating he has to pay half of it back as it was a joint claim? Surely if he wasn’t in the house and she clearly got the money in her bank it’s her debt?
He is paying it back monthly but I still don’t think this is right as he didn’t get any of the money. The amount owed is £1600 and he has to pay half of that.
Any advice would be great.

KatrinaWaves

Joint claim joint responsibility, joint necessity to tell them that he had left.

he needs to pay half. He can try to pursue his ex for the £800 if he wants.

Mrsn

£1600 for one month seems excessive, especially as they allow 30 days for a change in circumstances . do you have a breakdown of that that’s been worked out to be sure that’s correct.

Unfortunately when it comes to HMRC I would always advise that you make sure everything is promptly reported even if it means both parties have done it

Comms69

An overpayment because she told them he left a month later? usually it's the other way round?

sheramber

He could have told tax credits when he left.

KatrinaWaves

Comms69 wrote: »

An overpayment because she told them he left a month later? usually it's the other way round?

The joint entitlement ended yet continued to be paid, which doesnt have any impact on the single entitlement.

Yes it may be that she started to get TC in her own right in that period that overpayment is for, so she now has LOTS of extra money as she has two lots of tax credits and is only paying half of the overpayment back, BUT if it was all going into the leaving partners bank she would be left with nothing if they took that into account.

tboo

Michele2711 wrote: »

My husbands ex girlfriend failed to tell tax credits that he left the family home untill a month later, this was back in 2011, we have recently received a letter stating he has to pay half of it back as it was a joint claim? Surely if he wasn’t in the house and she clearly got the money in her bank it’s her debt? that's the way it goes - 1 person gets the money
He is paying it back monthly but I still don’t think this is right as he didn’t get any of the money. He stil claimed for it though The amount owed is £1600 and he has to pay half of that.Joint claim
Any advice would be great.

For the period they were together and claiming tax credits they will have both received awards, so they are both jointly liable to update any changes to their circumstances

Michele2711

Thank you all for your replies, yes he does still have to pay it back even though he didn’t receive any of it as he should of reported that he had left,

KatrinaWaves

Michele2711 wrote: »

Thank you all for your replies, yes he does still have to pay it back even though he didn’t receive any of it as he should of reported that he had left,

It can be quite confusing if two people are using the same log in. Might be best for you and your husband to have one each.