Tax credit phone interview

[FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop]

Tax credits have written to me asking for a phone interview next week about my childcare costs from April 2020 to now.

Anyone had one of these before? Are they random or will there be a reason for this? What are the interviews like?

I did a few years ago...
I cant remember why, if it was random or not.

Have all your info to hand. Childcare costs for last 12 months or maybe longer, your ( and partner's) earnings.

When I told the man on the phone that we both work shifts, therefore our weekly / monthly earnings and also childcare costs varied each week, I could hear the despair in his voice....

I rattled off all the figures. ... and it worked out, that over the year or time period specified, that the childcare costs didn't vary more than whatever the limit was...
We were not diddling the system, or being over paid.

I was delighted. I again detected the defeat in his voice

Didn't hear again... then covid hit and my childcare closed down so that was that.

I had a few of these when DS was small but in person rather than phone. As above make sure you've all your costs to hand. I had to show all receipts, invoices etc.

I remember talking to the nursery about it when I'd been interviewed for the 3rd time and they said it's normal and nothing to worry about. I thought they were trying to accuse me of fraud or something but apparently not.

there was a lot of upheaval last year due to covid and certain things were allowed and certain things not, for example you could claim a nursery retainer fee as a childcare cost until a certain date in the autumn, I assume it'll just be running through to check it's all as it should be.

The strange thing is it just says about childcare costs for my DD not DS - which essentially amounts to after school clubs and holiday childcare

I thought they were trying to accuse me of fraud or something but apparently not.

That was my first thought, I really panicked I do actually think this has happened before though Except I had to post in nursery statements when DD was a toddler so about 7 years ago!

I’ve also had a letter to complete a telephone interview. Would like to hear what they are like & what do they expect. Is it just verbal confirmation or do they want proof posting to them?

I’ve also had a letter to complete a telephone interview. Would like to hear what they are like & what do they expect. Is it just verbal confirmation or do they want proof posting to them?

Hello, OP

I received a letter and had a telephone interview about a month ago.

It was to do with my daughter's childcare. They wanted to make sure that the right amount was being paid... When I questioned why the interview, she said it was to do with Covid, due to a lot of people not needing to go into work and, therfore, not needing childcare.

She was really helpful, actually.

I wouldn't worry, too much.

Is it just verbal confirmation or do they want proof posting to them?

No, I was verbally able to tell her the average days, per wk, my daughter attended.

She seemed more interested in the number of days, rather than the amount.