Child tax credits...i should have told them

melliec

Can anyone help me with their knowledge of child tax credits?
I was claiming income support as a single parent and recieved £81 per week child tax credits. My new partner moved in with us in the summer and we made a joint claim for job seekers. I never got round to telling the tax credits about the change in circumstances...not because I was trying to withhold information....just because knowing that my partner was also on job seekers it shouldnt affect the amount of child tax credits and thought i would just let them know at the review.
Anyway...I have just had a new baby and phoned the tax credits and said i wanted to claim for new baby and also to say my partner had moved in in the summer. Now they are saying that because i didnt tell them about the change of circumstances at the time, I owe them all the child tax I have recieved since he moved in... even though if I had told them we would have still recieved the same tax credits??? So what is that? I owe them over £2000 so in effect they are punishing our children because i didnt phone them... I have to appeal now I think but how can they say I have to pay back what we should have got anyway if it wasnt for the phone call.

any ideas anyone?

[Deleted User]

Because it is the law.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the chances of you winning the appeal/dispute are slim to none.

Regardless of whether or not you would receive the same amount is irrelevant. You MUST inform TCO of the changes. What if he got a job during the year and you had a higher income? Your entitlement would change.

You would be best to call up the overpayment helpline, 0845 302 1429 and advise them that you cannot afford to pay it straight away. They will try to get you to pay it asap then try to get you to pay it within 12 months, but as you are on income support you could request that they spread it out over a much longer period. They will ask for an income/expenditure for the household and decide what you will pay back.
They do not charge interest on the amount you owe.

Have you applied for a joint claim? Make sure you request that they backdate it for the maximum 3 months,

hotblu

Hello mellies,

Subsoniccoyte is right, it is very unlikely TCO will remit the overpayment as you were late in notifying a coc's. You could try another way though, when your joint claim is in payment and you recieve your 3 months backdate, wait for the joint award notice to come through and appeal the award notice on the joint claim requesting full backdate to when your partner moved in and offer for it to be offset against single overpayment.
Also, you don't have to phone overpayments helpline just yet. Only do so when you recieve a notice to pay- which you wont whilst your on benefits. When your single claim was ended, aslong as the IS wasn't ended on it a suspension is put on recovery as your on benefits.

HTH

Hotblu

[Deleted User]

Hotblu is also right, your o/p recovery would be suspended whilst you still claim IS/JSA but you have the choice to leave it as it is or you can make voluntary payments.

And yes you could appeal for further backdating, not always successful but it may be worth a try.

melliec

thanks for all the help everyone...wish i had known before...i just thought i would still be on the same so it wouldnt matter...learnt the hard way....yet again:mad:

tinkerbell84

melliec wrote: »

thanks for all the help everyone...wish i had known before...i just thought i would still be on the same so it wouldnt matter...learnt the hard way....yet again:mad:

I bet every single piece of paper TCO ever send out says "you must tell us immediately if your circumstances change"

it's hard to believe you 'didn't know'

melliec

do you believe in fairies?

melliec

Actually TOM SAUNDERS... my partner is going back to work next week and has worked all his life except the past six months due to circumstances which are none of your business. I am also studying for a degree with Open University, in Health and Social Care so when my child starts school I will be able to carry on working with people in need of care, as I always have, but in a more managerial role. I hope you have the misfortune of circumstances meaning you have to rely on the state for a while. And I already feel like sh*t being on benefits with a new baby so thanks very much for your input...:T

pepsicola_2

Surely though if he has only been out of work for the past six months then he must have been earning when he moved in with you last summer as I thought it took 9 months to make babies?

believe in fairies, no, do you

melliec

Blimey! didnt realise i had to answer to you lot? Only came on here for some advice...at least there are a few helpful people....and then the ones who just go on all the threads moaning and trying to catch people out (yes, I have looked at other threads you posted on...Yawn!)...Go back to watching Jeremy Kyle and stop trying to make yourselves feel better about your sad lives by putting me down... I already was down enough thanks but if your pointless comments have made your own little worlds a bit more exciting, then congratulations:T

Tom_Saunders

answer his question tho, 6 months or 9 months what is it ? and very responsible getting pregnant whilst living of the state. Like I said, shall I get my cheque book out ?