tax credits - fraud or not??

alwaysonthego_2

Bestspud, if she trys the cab they have a duty to report any fraud to do with benefits. Yes, everything does remain confidential apart from fraud. The cab can not condone fraud, just a warning! (I work at the cab). They will be able to advice on what will happen etc.

piggy123

Well i made the first step and called the helpline, they told me they would not be able to advise me as it was being dealt with by the compliance team. I just confessed about him moving in and that i panicked as i (genuinly) thought i had 3 months but apparently its only 1 month i said what if i have to pay it all off, she said i could do this in installments and if i am entitled to any tax credits then they should be paid out to us when we claim as a couple as normal. I read through the letter they sent and on the guidelines the worst that will happen is i will be charged a penelty fine - but they said if you comply then they will be lenient.
I will be caling them first thing to confess they have put my mind at ease a little though .
Thanks for everyones help, at the end of the day its my own fault and theres no-one to blame but me:( i will be back to let you know how i get on!!

spinks

piggy123 wrote: »

Well i made the first step and called the helpline, they told me they would not be able to advise me as it was being dealt with by the compliance team. I just confessed about him moving in and that i panicked as i (genuinly) thought i had 3 months but apparently its only 1 month i said what if i have to pay it all off, she said i could do this in installments and if i am entitled to any tax credits then they should be paid out to us when we claim as a couple as normal. I read through the letter they sent and on the guidelines the worst that will happen is i will be charged a penelty fine - but they said if you comply then they will be lenient.
I will be caling them first thing to confess they have put my mind at ease a little though .
Thanks for everyones help, at the end of the day its my own fault and theres no-one to blame but me:( i will be back to let you know how i get on!!

You've done the right thing, good on you :T

Have a good nights sleep knowing that your conscience is now clear, I wish you well, let us know how you get on.

bestpud

alwaysonthego wrote: »

Bestspud, if she trys the cab they have a duty to report any fraud to do with benefits. Yes, everything does remain confidential apart from fraud. The cab can not condone fraud, just a warning! (I work at the cab). They will be able to advice on what will happen etc.

Thanks for pointing that out. I was thinking more in terms of the highlighted bit. The OP seemed scared about the process and what they could or couldn't do etc, so I thought it would help if someone could take her though the ins and outs of it. I meant this to be after she had ket them know and while she was waiting for a response.

OP - good for you! I hope you get something sorted soon.

[Deleted User]

dizzyliz wrote: »

I used to claim as a single part time working mum of 2. and got help with childcare i think about 70%. also tc cant remember how much but a lot more than now.
now I live with my partner, i dont get any help with childcare and only get £20 week TC.

I think its awful to think i would be better off alone or not even working to be entitled to much more! government have got it all wrong. they make it easy to stay at home and do nothing

You would not be better off living seperately really as you and your partner if you live seperately would have 2 lots of bills.

eg
Rent/Mortgage x 2
electricity x 2
gas x 2
etc...

WTC is there to help those on low income get in to work or stay in work.

I agree there is a lot wrong with benefits and the goverment but dont try to make out that it is a better quality of life "On the dole" as it were as I am sure many others who have been in that position for a long time will disagree.

[Deleted User]

Hi piggy123,
I work at the helpline and I need to confirm that you have done the right thing.
Admit you were wrong - it will save any sort of court proceedings and criminal record.
They will work out how much you have been overpaid by and make you pay it back. As was explained they will be willing to let you pay in installments. Usually it is over 12 months but as it is quite a large sum they can extend it further but will go through an income/outcome expenditure plan with you and decide what you can afford.

Again, you were correctly informed by the helpline that at this stage there is no point in calling then regarding the investigation as they cannot make any changes on your claim whilst the investigation is taking place. You are always better speaking to the compliance officer.

Once it is sorted you can make a joint claim which is usually treated totally independant of the single claim (however they may look a bit closer due to this incident).

I hope everything goes ok.
Any further advice needed either ask here or PM me.

Chris

piggy123

Thank you everyone for your help:beer:
I called them up this morning and explained everything, they said there will be an overpayment and i will have to pay it back in installments, they also said they have ended my current claim and they will be sending out a pack for a joint claim today.
Feel so much better now its all out.

bestpud

Well done you - it can't have been an easy thing to do!

Glad you feel better - relax now and just deal with it as it happens. No sense in worrying about right now imo.

real1314

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

Hi piggy123,
I work at the helpline and I need to confirm that you have done the right thing.
Admit you were wrong - it will save any sort of court proceedings and criminal record....

...I hope everything goes ok.
Any further advice needed either ask here or PM me.

Chris

I'm not trying to scare the OP, but how can you be sure that an admission will stop any court proceedings or criminal action? Without knowledge of this particular case, can you really give that advise with any guarantee of accuracy?
Also, if you reply to a PM it's possible that your advice could be construed by the OP as official advice, which could put you in a difficult position, as I'd suspect that HMRC do not allow their staff to give advice on an ad hoc basis?

[Deleted User]

I would be giving my advice as a "friend" the same as I would if any friend or family member ere to ask. I only suggest PM if it is something important someone wished to ask for advice on as it would guarantee I could see it when I logged on here.

**In the interests of being open, any PM's received/answered will be posted as a new thread by myself or the person asking for advice**

It is not "Official Advice" as this is not an HMRC guidance website it is a public discussion forum.

From my experience, HMRC dont tend to follow through with court action in this type of case when the applicants have admitted at an early stage and agreed to pay the amount back. It is a waste of public money and resources.
as long as it is a one off incident and there is no history there is no real point in trying to make an example of this case.