Tax credit overpayment isues

[atjjj]

Ill try to keep this simple but its hard isnt it, i need advice, im going crazy...

 

I have 4 children with my x, 2 are disabled, on had CP Other and other had Autism.

 

Weve been split awhile, he travells with building sites so moves around alot, more recently living with his brother until he moved earlier this year, he was staying with a friend or away for work until his brothers new place went through.

 

He stayed with me from March which i neglected to report, i didnt know it was gonnna be a longer term thing, i wasnt coping well with kids and needed help, i had even asked him to take them as i needed a break so he stayed, one week turned into 2 our d was very ill in this period and long story short hes still around.....

 

anyway i was planning on telling them when i knew it was gonna be a more formal thing, im self employed and i only esitimate my income so i thought i could do it at the annual review which hasnt come yet if he was stillaround (im suprised, he is hes helped a lot and im coping now much better no longer on verge of breakdown)

 

anyway i got a notice from Tax credits saying they had credit file data showing him here and asking for records bewteen feb and may , all sorts a whole list, not clear if they want a selection or them all, or theyll stop my money.

 

Its says to ring number on letter and only that number but there isnt one????

 

 

He had applied for a mobile for our son to use thats the only new credit hes had here for a long long time, we have a few old jointbillswere paying back but nothing else, hes always helped with kids and bills and been very good helping us, all the bills are in my name but he did used to pay a couple of them for me instead of maintance, ive always been crap with money and run up huge debts in the past so he helps with this.

On paper i think it looks bad, although he wasnt living her until march.....i did ask him to take the kids for a while as i couldnt cope thats how he came to stay

 

Im going to hold my hands up and say hes been here and i should have done it , my big worry is how do i prove when he came to stay, he was only living with his brother and away on site , previously renting a room (hes not in one place long cos of work), will they belive me.....?

 

how much detail do i go into?...do i just write and say yes here here from this dates im sorry please can i repay, or do i explain everything about the kids and how i needed help and we didnt know it was gonna be longer term?...will they even be intrested in that??

 

What if they look into other years, i dont think i could cope, i need this to be over.

im already feeling fragle with the kids and this feels like its pushing me over the edge, im worried sick ill lose my kids and go to prision, and every one will find out what i did.

 

Ive never been in trouble before , my son is Autsitic and i cant leave him, and my dd has mobility issues and is a wheelchair user, she needs me around.

 

Im freaked out, i cant eat, i cant sleep......

Edited May 17, 2013 by atjjj

[jadeybags]

Forget about prison for a start, you can pretty much forget about prosecution as well tbh. Just supply what they ask for, & you'll likely owe some money, but I would be gobsmacked if they prosecuted.

If they are asking from Feb, it sounds like that's all they want proof of at the moment, they usually do find out the truth with these things these days, so they likely know it's only been since a certain time anyway.

[atjjj]

Forget about prison for a start, you can pretty much forget about prosecution as well tbh. Just supply what they ask for, & you'll likely owe some money, but I would be gobsmacked if they prosecuted.

If they are asking from Feb, it sounds like that's all they want proof of at the moment, they usually do find out the truth with these things these days, so they likely know it's only been since a certain time anyway.

 

 

Really, my big worry now after reading a few of these posts is proving what i say is true, will they ask, will they look into previous years, he works in construction and goes where the next job is, and has rented rooms , lived with his mum for a while after his dad died and more recently his brother, but not been on any council tax anywhere due to the informal arrangment, he always meant to get his own place where kids could stay and has worked hard rebuilding a credit history from a poor one, and until recently wouldnt have passed a credit check anyway, he has a few accounts but all paperless so never changed address, and theres 1 credit card we ran up ttogether from years ago that is at this address in both names being paid back, I have all utilities in my sole name, his name is on our tennancy here but its been like that since i moved in and ive never bothered to change it, (should i ?)

 

hes not a problem Dad hes always been ther for me and the kids, we just couldnt live together before, he had abreakdown after his dad died and that was when he moved out, he mother was a alacholic so he stayed and sorted her out.,it wasnt even planned that he would stay this time, i just reaised i need more help, ive been coping not living and i need to get back on my feet but couldnt bare to be away from my kids so this is how it will work for the time being.

 

what do i put in a letter, do i put everything i put here or just, i made a mistake and hes been here since march and can i pay it back please on a repayment plan>?

I have tried to ring before, a few weks now but the line is always busy.

Shalli ring now or just write....theres no number on the letter even though it says only deal wih the number on this letter?

should i just ring and notify them of a change and not mention the letter?

Ive also been getting some help with rent and council tax so i guess ill have to sort this too.

 

Ive been sick again today i just cant deal with this on top of everything else......do i need a solicitor?

[jadeybags]

Ok, housing benefit are the ones I would be most concerned about. I didn't know they were involved too.

I would just be honest with them about being from March & hope for the best. Not sure if they let it go if you ignore what they are asking for.

If he hasn't got any proof at all of living elsewhere, it can get tricky.

It's quite a common problem on here though so hopefully others that have been through & are going through the same thing will be able to offer support.

Tax credits will be the lesser of the 2 evils though you'll find.

[atjjj]

there not involved yet, ive cancelled my claim with them now , they havent written to me or anything, although i guess either i or tax credits will let them know....its only since march and its not till recently we even agreed to it being just a longerterm thing, it was just meant to be till i was feeliing better and to help with The current situation with kids, he didnt even spend everynight here.

 

 

 

From what ive read on here its best just to be honest.......

do yo think calling would help...should i ring anyway and stop the payment, they havent stopped, and i havent touched them either since i got the letter, i have tried calling but cant get through.

 

Are they likely to inform the DWP?

 

I know ive buried my head in the sand over this but i feel like i just want to die......its the nail in my coffin.

[jadeybags]

DWP aren't involved are they? Tax credits & the council do talk though but they don't talk very well! Housing benefit let me know yesterday I was to now get full housing benefit because tax credits told them I get £50 a week less now, um, no, my tax credits haven;t changed in a year! Thankfully I questioned the housing benefit increase because they seem to like over paying me for some reason.

Probably not worth worrying about the council though if you aren't claiming from them at the moment.

[atjjj]

no letter from anyone other than tax credits , stopped h/b the same day and council tax, havent replied to tax credits letter yet have 4 weeks to answer, id it best to wait or to anser asap......im not touching any money from them from now.

 

You know the irony, haveing a previous breakdown he doesnt do stress and this may push him to move out anyhow, and this may all be a waste of time, and ineed help, im not coping.....i could end up with a single claim anyway,,,,so silly, hes helping with kids but cos were married, or was were a couple,....tax credits must realise life isnt so cut and dry.....i dont want him to take the kids that why hes here.

 

sorry for lodsa posts im so stressed.

[jadeybags]

It is a terrible time hun, have been there myself with being over paid, only not with a relationship reason or with tax credits, but I know the things that go through your head, it is a scarey time. But seriously, try not to stress too much about prosecution, that is extreemely unlikely to happen with tax credits.

If it was me I would reply to them as soon as you can. They will possibly get really ratty otherwise & just decide you weren't entitled to any tax credits for x number of months or years at all because that's how they work & that would be a shame if it is only since feb hun & you could have told them that & paid back any over payment over time. Which they usually will accept anyway.

[atjjj]

Hi

well i sent them off information weeks ago, a month now or more and have not heard a thing, the date has come and gone for which they said it would be stopped by if i didnt reply, im still going mad, ive made myself ill with the stress of it all, i just want to be care free again, doc has had to upt me on medication.

 

I even had to call last week to update my employment details as new job and not a mention of this going on at all there end....?

why is it taking so long!

 

no number on the letter , even though it says please ring number on letter if you need to discuss more.....anyone have the complaince number????

 

Am scared to ring anyhow imcase i say something i shouldnt if they talk me round in circles....wanna know the crazy bit, hes not even here anyore again now, moved in buth as barely even been here , even went on holiday without me!

 

i did think about cancelling it just so i dont have to worry but first person said someone else was dealing with it so couldnt....? then new person let me update details for job so who knows whos telling truth~!