tax credits - fraud or not??

piggy123

Hi, can someone help please with this situation. There very worried.
They have been claiming child tax and working tax as a single parent for about 12 months when infact it should of only been 6 months. The inland rev have sent a letter saying they want bank statements etc for last 12 months. They say that the ex partner is still connected to her address and thats why they are looking into the claim. explained that the mortgage is in his name and the statements still come here for him and he helps pay half and helps out with the council tax. They are waiting for a call back later on today to speak to the other person who is dealing with it. They are really worried, what will they do if they find out that he has been living there for last 6 months? given them his dads address as he was living there for the first 6 months of the claim. They were due to call them up this month to come clean but looks as though they have beaten them to it.
What should they do??
Very worried

shellsuit

If she has been claiming as single but her partner (ex, whatever) has been living there for the past 6 months, then Yes, it's fraud I'm afraid.

I don't know what they can do now they've been found out ~ I suppose they will have to wait to hear from TC to see what they are going to do about it.

piggy123

Can they not just say that the ex is not living there but still helps out with bills etc and the only reason why the mail comes here is because the split was only ever meant to be temporary?
What will happen? surely they cannot proe that he has been living there? can they?
is it best they come clean or carry on with the story, just want it to end with them

shellsuit

piggy123 wrote: »

Can they not just say that the ex is not living there but still helps out with bills etc and the only reason why the mail comes here is because the split was only ever meant to be temporary?
What will happen? surely they cannot proe that he has been living there? can they?
is it best they come clean or carry on with the story, just want it to end with them

They could ask him for proof that he has been living elsewhere for 6 months.

piggy123

But all the bills come to the house and they told the inland rev this this morning. They did say does he have a driving license or something with the other address on? he dosent. What will happen? sorry fot=r all the questions. When we were claiming together we were gettin exactly the same amount as iam now? so what difference will it make

shellsuit

piggy123 wrote: »

But all the bills come to the house and they told the inland rev this this morning. They did say does he have a driving license or something with the other address on? he dosent. What will happen? sorry fot=r all the questions. When we were claiming together we were gettin exactly the same amount as iam now? so what difference will it make

If he was meant to have been living elsewhere for the last 12 months, he would have paid something for keep or rent, this is maybe what they will ask for proof of?

Do you have any children and do either of you work?

piggy123

Well he was living with his dad for the first 6 months, yes we both work, have 2 children i do 20 hrs he does 35 hrs, i claim child care costs and working tax credits - no housing council tax or anything else. I have always called the IR up and told them about changes in work child costs etc......its just the partner thing which i havent. TBH when i first told them i wanted to claim as a single parent it took 2 months of through investagation - bank statements etc b4 they paid me, i was left 2 months without a penny from them. Thats what put me off telling them about partner moving back in 6 months ago, because i really struggled for money for 2 months.

piggy123

If we were recieving the same amount of credits when we were claiming as a couple to what i am claiming now (give or take £8 - £12) as a single then surely it shouldnt be a big deal?

fattyrae1

piggy123 wrote: »

If we were recieving the same amount of credits when we were claiming as a couple to what i am claiming now (give or take £8 - £12) as a single then surely it shouldnt be a big deal?

I think it is more that you have lied - not the amount of money.

The chances are, you will be made to pay back the money, or if that is not possible, they can take legal action against you. They could also just give you a warning. Depends on who you get sometimes.

What on earth possessed you to lie if the amount of money was about the same?

DaisyFlower

Are you sure its only £8 difference, his income would affect your TC and even on the minimum wage doing 35 hours his salary would make a considerable difference.

They will have to await the outcome of the investigation, benefit fraud is serious and has various outcomes. They may just be ordered to pay all the monies back or it may be taken further.

The fact that they "intended" to call this month and come clean means they knew they were doing wrong. They would be better off being honest than lie and dig themselves in further.

shellsuit

Are you sure the difference was £8 - £12??

I'm living alone with 2 children and I get £30 towards childcare each week.

When I was living with my OH and were claiming as a couple, we weren't entitled to childcare costs, so that in itself was £30 less in TC a week.


(Just to make it clear for anyone who is wondering, me & OH split up in May 2006, got back together early 07, but are still living apart, and Yes, we both have proof that we live apart! )