Incorrect Claim - Help needed

Newbie1982 · 4 July 2018 at 11:56AM

I'll try to keep this as short as possible, I've made a huge mistake and could use some advise if anyone can help.

I've been with my partner for nearly seven years, two years ago he sold his property and moved in with me. Up until them I had been claiming child & working tax based on my being single with two children. I had planned to end my claim but just never got round to it. We had a fall out and parted company a couple of weeks ago, during an argument I ended my claim saying my partner had moved in. After he moved out I started a new claim. My partner was never on the electrical register at my house but had his car insurance bank, work, ect at my address. A few people have been gettign involved in our break up and I've worried some one is going report me for claiming. what are my options?

Darksparkle · 4 July 2018 at 12:02PM

The obvious thing to do would be to report it yourself.

Newbie1982 · 4 July 2018 at 12:08PM

I'm going to be honest here, I'm really struggling as it is without putting my head above the fence unnecessarily. I'm trying to understand how the system works and what chance this situation has of blowing up, if my partner wasn't on the electoral register would they know he was here?

Darksparkle · 4 July 2018 at 12:11PM

Yes they would. They have access to credits reference agencies. I don't condone benefit fraud under any circumstances so my only advice to you is to be honest.

marliepanda · 4 July 2018 at 12:25PM

Newbie1982 wrote: »

I'm going to be honest here, I'm really struggling as it is without putting my head above the fence unnecessarily. I'm trying to understand how the system works and what chance this situation has of blowing up, if my partner wasn't on the electoral register would they know he was here?

You are acting like the electoral register is the be all and end all. It is not, there are many data matching exercises which can be done to link this together.

Newbie1982 · 4 July 2018 at 12:28PM

It's all a bit of a mess. I spoke to my ex and asked if he would help if it had to be paid back, he has said no as he had told me to cancel it, it isn't in his name, and he says it isn't anything to do with him.

soolin · 4 July 2018 at 12:32PM

Newbie1982 wrote: »

It's all a bit of a mess. I spoke to my ex and asked if he would help if it had to be paid back, he has said no as he had told me to cancel it, it isn't in his name, and he says it isn't anything to do with him.

If the claim was in your name alone then you will need to sort something out, anything from your ex partner would be goodwill alone, and it sounds like there is no goodwill to be had.

It really would be best to come clean now, make arrangements for any overpayment to be repaid in instalments, rather than risk the lot when they catch you out later and start suggesting benefit fraud. It might be tough for a while, but ultimately at least you won't have the worry hanging over you.

Also, this forum is not the place to start suggesting fraudulent behaviour.

Newbie1982 · 4 July 2018 at 12:41PM

Thank you for the feedback. Me and the ex didn't split on good terms, I've been in touch to see if he'd help out but as I've said he's said no as it has nothing to do with him. He's moved house and I know when he got his new property he told the local borough council that he'd been living previously at my address, don't know if this will cause anything to flag up, I guess I need to have a long think about what to do next.

cantcope · 4 July 2018 at 12:50PM

i think the best thing to do next is call up hmrc and tell them you've been claiming as a single person when you werent. If you were getting single persons discount on council tax when he was living there then they'll need telling too.
better to put your hands up willingly than be forced to

TELLIT01 · 4 July 2018 at 1:05PM

OP, you knew you should have informed HMRC when your partner moved in and you failed to do so. That is fraud however you try to sugar the pill. The likelihood is that HMRC will find out about it sooner or later and it will be far better for you in the long term if you are the person who tells them.

kingfisherblue · 4 July 2018 at 1:14PM

Newbie1982 wrote: »

I guess I need to have a long think about what to do next.

What is there to think about? You can either try to ignore it and know that you have done wrong - and worry about being caught, and then dealing with the consequences. Or you can be honest and tell tax credits that you would like to set the record straight.

Personally, I couldn't live with myself knowing that I had acted fraudulently. I would always be worried about the post, waiting for a letter inviting me for an interview under caution. I'd definitely rather be honest and know that my conscience is clear.

Presumably you want to bring your children up to be honest, decent citizens. You know that you need to sort this out, so for me there is no other option but to own up. Also, if you tell tax credits, there is hopefully less chance of prosecution than if they track you down first.

You won't find posters saying ignore it. Do the right thing and contact tax credits. It won't be easy for you, but at least you won't be worrying yourself sick that someone will inform them.

Incorrect Claim - Help needed

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