Child benefit stopped due to address change

Ne1878

Hi, can anybody help 
we have just discovered our child benefit was stopped 2 years ago. Apparently my wife didn’t notify change of address so when they couldn’t contact us, they stopped it.  She thinks she did by phone but it was 5 years ago. We can start it again, but I have an address for appeals.  Hopefully get it back dated, does anyone have any experience with this?

calcotti

I am surprised that you/she didn’t notice you were no longer receiving the money.

I have no experience of this but if they have simply suspended payment then they should be willing to pay from the date it was suspended. However if they closed the claim because of a failure to report a change of circumstances and you are now being treated as making a new claim then it can only be backdated for a maximum of three months. In this situation you would need to argue that the decision to close the original claim was incorrect. 

Ne1878

Hi yes, we should have but with a joint account, both weekly paid, differing amounts going in and out, we lost track. By web chat they have said they can start it again today, but won’t back date. They gave me an address to write to for appeal.
Alternatively I can start a new claim and get 3 months backdated, but maybe run the risk  of stopping my wife’s account and not getting it backdated. 

Wondering if anybody has had this before?

calcotti

I don't think you have grounds for appeal if you didn't notify them of a relevant change of circumstances.
Report changes that affect your Child Benefit - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
I know you said your wife rang them but proving that is impossible. Does she by any chance have correspondence with HMRC in connection with her tax affairs using the correct address from back then (Notice of tax Coding or letter)?

Ne1878

Hi. Unfortunately not, in fact we learnt they were still sending tax letters to the old address last year.  

Yesterday we were told we could restart the claim now and claim back 2 years. Today we have been told we have to fill in a ch2 form and re apply. 

calcotti

I think new claim with 3 months backdating may be your only option.

Found this  https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/child-benefit-technical-manual/cbtm13000
It appears that HMRC can suspend a claim if they have any doubts about it (including if they think the last address notified to them is not the correct address). They can then request information and if they do not receive that information within one month they can terminate the award.

Ne1878

Thanks for that. I think they have terminated our claim as we now have to re apply.  Then  apply for mandatory reconsideration for any back pay. 

Ne1878

This is now sorted. Had to start a new claim. Then when that was sorted applied for a manual reconsideration. Took a few weeks and a couple of phone calls but as we had been entitled to benefit all the time we weren’t getting it, they back paid.  

calcotti

Thanks for posting back to update us. Good to know your positive result.