Feel suicidal. Losing everything because of the HMRC.

[hatethehmrc]

The HMRC have decided that as I didn't tell them about my new job in July, I owe them over £5000 and they will not be paying me again until April.

Every day, they tell me something different regarding whether the fact that I'm going to be in severe hardship will make a difference. Today, the answer is no.

I'm a young single parent, I work, I'm in my final year of a degree. My living costs (rent/ Nursery bills) are high - £1800pm just for them. My tax credits equal £1100pm. Without this money, me and my 2yo will be homeless, I won't be able to go to work (I owe last months Nursery payment of £600 due to this). I won't be able to finish my last term of university and graduate, which I have worked so bloody hard for.

They say the appeal will take up to 44 weeks. I begged them to just listen to the phone call in July and this would all get sorted out - every day, the answer to whether they have this phone call logged changes. Even on the days when they do, they say the note just says that I renewed my tax credits and that's it. I beg them to please take the 5 minutes to listen to the entire call, then all of this mess will be sorted out. They refuse. My MP tried to help but couldn't get too far.

Now the clincher: I got the awards notice from them today saying I would be paid £647 as a final payment between now and April. I've just phoned them up and they say that that is a mistake that has now been corrected. I ask for a new letter saying that I won't get paid anything, so can try and receive some childcare help through student finance or my university. They say no, they won't do that, as their calculations are based on me paying childcare for the rest of the year with no help. But there's no way I could do this!

I'm going to lose my home. I'm going to lose my job. I'm going to have to drop out of university. All in the next week or two.

Three years ago I escaped from an extremely abusive and violent relationship whilst pregnant. I was 21, homeless and jobless and had nothing. I've built me and my daughter a lovely life, and now it's all going to be taken it away from us through no fault of my own.

I can't cope. I can't stop crying. I've exhausted every avenue. What do I do?

Have you been paid money you weren't entitled to? If not, why are they stopping the payments?

Is the job that you started in July much better paid than the previous job? And did HMRC know about the previous job?

No, it's not better paid. They did know.

I've not had experience of the HMRC, but when dealing with other Government agencies I have learnt to do nothing on the phone. The people manning the phones don't have a clue what they are doing, and will just say anything they can to get you off the line. The people who can actually help you, or at least sort the mess out will not be anywhere near the phones. Letters (registered) for important stuff, or emails so that there is a definite trail (I again suggest cc-ing in someone, for instance your MP, or even several someones, so that they can't pretend it wasn't sent).

This is very true, and obvious now I think about it. The people on the phones don't have a bloody clue.

I don´t know if it will make a difference in this case, but I have always found that HMRC respond far more quickly to a well drefted letter than emails and phonecalls.

Also, you can find out the name of the boss of the department who is dealing with you and write to them.It should be online. I have done this and got prompt service including a personal letter and phone call from them.

Getting the evidence suggested by Fanny seems like a good idea.

But take advice on your position first.

They say you were over paid between 12th December to Now by £5000?!

In the meantime, you could contact your local councillor (find contact details on your area's Local Authority website) and let them know your situation. They should be able to 'signpost' childcare options, legal help, other practical support you might end up needing while you get this sorted out.

Thanks so much unlimited. That's really helpful, and I really appreciate you taking the time. Unfortunately this is the result of a mandatory reconsideration, so apparently my only option is taking it to tribunal, which I'm told takes up to 44 weeks. Do you know if this is true?

Basically, from April I'll be fine(ish). They will begin to pay me my normal payments less £50 a week. It'll be tight, but we'll manage. But coping for the next three months is going to be impossible.

Posted too soon!

You won't be homeless any time soon. Your landlord won't even issue notice until you're 2 months in arrears, then you still have another 8 weeks before the notice expires. In 2 months, your tax credits should start again. Please speak to your landlord and explain that you haven't quite got the full rent this month because HMRC have stuffed up your tax credits. You may find they're more understanding than you think.

Definitely see if there is a hardship fund you can apply to. Do you have any family or friends who might be able to help with a short-term loan to cover the nursery fees?

It's not. They're saying it's all to do with not having my new job's details.
Are you sure. You say you've been investigating and they only partially overturned they decision when they stopped your money in December.

From what you've written, it makes a lot more sense that this is to do with this investigation, not the change of job. It sounds like they've concluded you've committed some fraud, which is very different. That would more explain why they are not agreeing to a repayment and why your MP has stopped helping.

Your situation is very scary, so I do feel for you, but it very much depends on the situation. I do hope you get things sorted.

They say you were over paid between 12th December to Now by £5000?!

Sorry, no. That's the period of time they're 'letting me off'. The £5000 comes from the rest of the year.

So you have been over paid by £5k over the year?

When did you start the new job?

You definitely can pay back overpayments! I paid it back £10 a week after I was over paid after my split from ex. I ended up only having to pay back half. They tried to get me to pay the full amount cause they couldn’t get hold of ex.
Told them to do one, that it was a joint claim and so I will only pay half.

So they definitely twist their procedures to suit them. I would try to do it in future all by post. I’d scan them before they are sent also and file the copies safely.

Also you can print off the social fund/loan application off yourself.

*Are you sure. You say you've been investigating and they only partially overturned they decision when they stopped your money in December.

From what you've written, it makes a lot more sense that this is to do with this investigation, not the change of job. It sounds like they've concluded you've committed some fraud, which is very different. That would more explain why they are not agreeing to a repayment and why your MP has stopped helping.*

That's what they've told me. I certainly haven't committed any fraud. They haven't used that word. They've just said that it is because of failure to inform them of the new job. I think if it was fraud it would say that in the letters I've received.

The letter says 'we have no record of being informed of this change (new job) prior to your letter that we received on the 16th january'. Nothing else.

My MP has said if there's anything more they can do then to please tell them. I'm just not finding them very useful. It's a complex case and I'm sending him very long emails, and he's calling them and just repeating back to me what they're saying.

"Thanks so much unlimited. That's really helpful, and I really appreciate you taking the time. Unfortunately this is the result of a mandatory reconsideration, so apparently my only option is taking it to tribunal, which I'm told takes up to 44 weeks. Do you know if this is true?"

Are you certain there was a mandatory reconsideration. Only what you described sounded like they were doing a compliance review of your claim, which is something different.

A mandatory reconsideration is something you would have initiated to challenge a decision you don't agree with. You would probably have used this form.

Yes, an appeal can take that long but its well worth doing because you will get an independant judge who knows what he's doing, carefully trawling through the paperwork.

In the meantime- you should be pursuing hardship grants from your uni to see you through.

I am no expert on tax affairs, but I do know that your university will be able to help -they should have a hardship fund and they may assist with childcare and accommodation too.

Letters and emails and copy and record everything. It’s far too convenient for them to say ‘you never told us’ when basically they are incompetent and have not recorded the information.

"It's a complex case and I'm sending him very long emails, and he's calling them and just repeating back to me what they're saying."

I'm sorry your MP isn't much help. MP's caseworkers have to jacks of all trades and, sadly, they often don't have the technical skill to deal with very complex tax credits cases.
Does your student advice centre have anyone that specialises in benefits and tax credits?

Hello OP, we are really sorry to hear you are feeling this way.

We hope you don't mind, but when these threads are flagged up to us we usually add a link to our Mental Health resources. You can also go to the Samaritans website, or email them on [email protected]. Support from other Mumsnetters is great and we really hope you will be able to take some comfort from your fellow posters, but as other MNers will tell you, it's really a good idea to seek RL help and support as well.

We also like to remind everyone that, although we're awed daily by the astonishing support our members give each other through life's trickier twists and turns, we'd always caution anyone never to give more of themselves to another poster, emotionally or financially, than they can afford to spare.

We are going to move this thread to the Mental Health section shortly.

Haven't rtft got to do school run.
Ask your council for a nil income form. That SHOULD pay your rent and council tax. Hth

This is really not making sense. A change of job is nt something you must tell them about it's the income earned and hours that have the impact. I think the problem is that they font get the payslips/nuresery bills in time. I worked an extra job last year, they knew about it through PAYE as at the end of the year it was added to my other jobs income.

With regards to your rent can you talk to your landlord and explain your situation? I know it may not seem like it but they may be ore sympathetic than you think. I have been in a similar situation years ago when my son was a baby and it seems insurmountable but you will get through this. Also there are some grants available sometimes for people in your situation take a look at the turnto us website

You need to contact the ombudsman. They have a whole team of investigators dedicated to sorting out HMRC’s crap behaviour. Www.ombudsmsn.org.uk

I had a situation involving a 3k overpayment when I had told them about my husband's pay rise and they hadn't logged it. I took everything to the cab and a lady there dealt with it completely for me as my advocate.

Have you made a written complaint to them highlighting the practical and emotional impact this is having on you and your child? Also,remember you were strong enough to get out of a hellish situation before,you'll get out of this one too :) They have to reply to your complaint within 30 days,state how you have numerous occasions asked/begged for the phone call in July to be listened to(apparently all calls are recorded).