I've been sick all day.
I was a single mum on ESA due to poor health and last year my partner moved in.
On the day she moved in I called
My housing association
Housing Benefit
Child benefit
DWP
I am on ESA due to extreme anxiety and it took a lot out of me to make all these calls. I was so stressed.
My partner didn't work and was added to my ESA claim.
She moved out last month and I called Tax Credits as they sent a letter about her.
I called them and they said I never informed them she moved in
I was in tears
I never realised.
They said that my claim is now fraudulent and stopped it.
I got a letter today saying I owe them the whole 8k I received that tax year
But my partner didn't work a single hour in that time so when I go on HMRCs calculator it tells me that I was entitled to EXACTLY the same whether I was single or in a joint claim
So I haven't had a single penny more than I would have if I had declared her living with me.
I would have got the exact same amount.
Also I said how could I be defrauding them when I called EVERYONE else. Obviously I wasn't trying to hide the fact. I added her to my housing. To my DWP ESA claim. To everything
I don't know how I didn't even think of tax credits
It was in June last year so I can't remember at all
I am on medication and have memory issues so I really don't know how I could have done this
My partner moved out last month so I'm once again single. On ESA. Scraping to get by and facing £8k debt
I've been told I can appeal but I'm terrified
Has anyone experienced this
I'm not a benefit fraudster. I didn't get a single penny more by not declaring her here. It was just a massive fuk up:(