Tax credit and income support benefits

[Beebee94]

Hello, so a few years ago I was in receipt of working tax credits with being a lone parent. During that time I stopped working as me and my partner reconciled but I never informed HMRC. Lately me and my partner have been going through a rough patch and I put in claim forms for tax credits and income support just yesterday, tonight we have decided to try to reconcile and now I'm panicking about the fact HMRC may open a case against me for fraud if they open my claim. If I inform them it's no longer needed will it erupt to anything or will they just shred my claim without looking at it? I don't know what to do and I've not slept all night for worrying about it 😭

I should probably add working tax credits automatically stopped going into my account at the beginning of August.

So did you stop claiming last time got back together? Or did you keep claiming as a lone parent and do you and your partner live together?

No I let it run it's course we desperately needed the money 😭 it was always in my mind to phone them but I never did. I've just had my 2nd baby she's only 6 weeks old and the prospect of being taken to court is pushing me to the edge. I feel so embarrassed, ashamed and a failure. I haven't stopped crying. I put my forms into the job centre yesterday but I'm going to go back today and ask if they've sent them because I want to retract my claim. I just don't know whether HMRC will actually look into it even if I inform them im no longer claiming. I feel like I've opened a can of worms and I just want the world to gobble me up.

How long did you originally claim for fraudulently? How long ago?

It was from July 2017 to the beginning of August this year. I've figured out it amounts to just over 6k. My relationship is volatile and toxic, I left him and applied for these benefits because I can't even work due to having a small baby . I just want to give my children some quality of life but I'm in such a mess.

Was it just tax credits or did you claim other benefits like income support housing benefit? I think it’s unlikly it would go to court that all depends on the amount. As it’s causing you this much worry would it be best not to just come clean now

It was just working tax credits. I don't know whether to retract my claim in hope it doesn't open a can of worms and stay with my children's dad or let it run it's course. Will they definitely investigate Me? I just don't have that kind of money and I've seen local cases of being prosecuted for 2k nevermind 6k.

I would come clean with them and offer to pay it back over a long period. They will find out and prosecute you.

Will they still prosecute me if I come clean? I'm so scared of being taken to court. I also work in early years having that on my pvg would ruin my career 😭

Why are you back with your volatile partner? You have a six week old baby to protect ? Yes that sounds judgy I am aware this wasn't your question but why!

I don't know but if you show you are sorry it would work in your favour surely. I couldn't live with waiting for the knock on the door.

He's not volatile towards them in any way. He's emotionally abusive and controlling towards me and now I feel trapped with this looming over me. If I knew I could pay them back without being prosecuted I would come clean. I'm just so scared.

You are best off coming clean as that will always work in your favour. Nobody can say if you will be prosecuted or not. But but you will have this worry anytime you want to reclaim. You will be able to make an arrangement to repay it.

Sorry for no paragraphs it won’t let me use the return button

I'd be more concerned you are back with your abusive partner and have had another child. That's why you feel trapped. Time to sort yourself out financially and personally.

Come clean

Can you live with being scared every time there's s knock at the door??

It would be difficult to disprove if you have had a baby while you declared you had separated. Is it really worth reconciling? Contact Womens Aid for support. You also need to speak to dwp and explain you have been under stress but realise you made a mistake. If it means so much to your job all the more reason to come clean than get caught out.

I wouldn't say anything but I would leave my abusive partner.

If you do ring them and own up they will let you pay it back over a number of years if necessary. Years ago when my eldest 2 were in nursery HMRC did a check on me (probably because my nursery costs were quite high) and I couldn't prove how much I had paid the nursery in the last year and they made me pay it all back. It was probably about £6000. They said I had claimed the nursery costs fraudulently but I actually hadn't.

Anyway, they didn't prosecute me they just reduced my weekly tax credit payment by maybe £30. I think I'm still paying it now and my eldest is 12 today!