Tax credit fraud 😩😩

[Needhelp30]

I’m in a right state.

I live with my partner and 3 kids. The older two are from my previous abusive marriage.
I have claimed as a single parent. My defence is that I left an abusive marriage in tens of thousands of debt and have borderline personality disorder and can not be safe with money. The tax credits I was getting was for my debt and my older two children. I have a spending addicted and I can’t be trusted to pay bills etc so absolutely everything is in my partners name. The house is his.

He has no idea. He gives me an “allowance” once a month and he thinks I live on that. He will leave me if he finds out, Iv already had bailiffs to the house. My mental health has been awful the last few years and my psychiatrist is fully aware of my spending problem.

I stopped claiming tax credits last month as I started a part time job. I earn £300 a month.

I had a letter today saying that they have linked my partner to his house. They want a telephone interview next week but also all bills etc that are in my name. Nothing is. Literally nothing apart from my bank account.

I’m so scared. The letter has asked for details from March 2019 - July 2019. Why only these dates? !!!!!! do I say. If I admit everything surely they will look further back? I honestly feel like this is the cherry on the top and I’m not sure can survive much longer. I have so many debt collectors after me. Partner refuses to help as it’s technically ex’s debts.

I’m so nervous about the interview. I don’t want to go to prison. I don’t even want to go court. I’m so scared.

Huh? The bailif letters were from debt the last few years.

I’m close to ending it all. I’m such a drain on everyone.

FGS Solicitor
Before you do ANYTHING.

Was your previous home owned in joint names? Is there any equity in it?
How much tc were you receiving each month?

Are the debts from your marriage joint debts or solely in your name? Have you seen a solicitor regarding a divorce?

God some posters on here are bloody vile.

This is Money Matters, not AIBU.

No, the previous home was rented. All debts are in my name sadly from exh. He’s walked away with no debt at all.

You need to make the call and be honest. In all likelihood it will be a case of arranging to repay the money. Worse case scenario they do prosecute, but that is where your bipolar etc will be taken as mitigating circumstances You cant run away from this so take a deep breath on Monday, talk to them and move on.

As to your other debts have a look at a DRO, it may be the solution to your problems.

Op. I have EUPD. I still would not claim tax credits as a single person, kneeing that I live with someone. Sorry. It's wrong.

If you are worried about your partner not understanding your difficulties with money, and you feel you cannot talk to him about them, then you have bigger issues than just your tax credit fraud.

Oh right.
Sounds like you're having a rough time op.
I'd advise you to contact a solicitor on Monday and take it from there.
I think (not sure though) that most cases of tax credit fraud don't result in a custodial sentence. Obviously depends on the severity of the fraud.
Do you have anyone you can talk to irl?

Ok, so where were you declaring you lived?
Have you accrued additional debt to the previous debt from your marriage? On top of the allowance and tax credits and money? If so, you need some therapy and fast!
Can you stop spending money?

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're going to move this to our Mental Health topic now.

AFAIK if you were claiming as a single parent, you have to change your claim to a joint claim by closing the old account if you are also starting To claim working tax credit as a family. As you never ended the claim, any amount you may have received as a family for an honest claim for WTC and CTC will not be offset off that amount. If you would still be eligible a claim would only be backdated 31 days for a change of circumstance, whether it has been 10 years, 10 weeks, or 10 days. This stops people getting loads of back pay, and means that people who don't know about the benefit miss out. With UC though most people are not even covered by this 31 day window, due to the 5 week period at the beginning where you don't receive any money (unless you borrow some). Therefore the amount will be for the full time you have been living with your new partner. Do not try and lie about this, now that you have been exposed as it were, then it's better to be completely honest about the money owed, and that whatever else has gone on you are guilty of committing fraud. Their may have been mitigating circumstances, and they may chose to be lenient in court, but the first step is admitting you are wrong and taking that guilty plea. A guilty person does not argue about whether it's 9.5 years or 10 years, just take it and apologise. Regardless it will be a larger sum than you can realistically pay back (especially with any speed). I would get supporting letters from your psychiatric team as well, though, explaining what has gone on. Not as a reason, you understand, but as background.
Ultimately, you are a vulnerable person but also somebody who has committed a crime over a long time. In the eyes of most courts, the longevity of the crime cancels your vulnerability out to some degree (or maybe completely) so you need to be remorseful. If you struggle with that (I know people with BPD sometimes do struggle with these kinds of situations and have the feelings others might deem 'wrong') then instead of thinking how sorry you are for the crime think how sorry you are you are in court. Doesn't matter so long as you come across as contrite.

Truth is, it sounds like you used the benefit system to pay for the damage left by your abusive ex. Intentionally. You thought "fuck him, leaving me in debt, paying no maintenance to the kids (usually goes hand in hand). I'm not going to let myself or my kids suffer for their dick of a father. I'm going to do what I've got to for my kids and fuck the consequences." I've had the same thought, but I didn't act on it because those circumstances were too scary for me. But because of your BPD you didn't have the same stop mechanism. I couldn't have lived your life for one day, my conscience wouldn't have let me sleep. But that's because I am programmed differently to you. I think the real problem is the abusive prick exes tbh, so I'm not judging you, but others will. Because not everyone has the capacity to understand other people's processes. Especially people who are drawn to the law! They like ideas about right and wrong, innocent and guilty. They don't understand the grey area we can be driven to as desperate, abused, poverty stricken, debt ridden mothers and survivors. And the argument between what's good for us, our kids, our conscience, our present and our future. I get being more afraid of the bailiffs on your door step, than the fraud courts of the future, because neither is a good scenario. It's just which set of wolves you're throwing you and yours too. This is the wolves. This is all the wolves you've put off for all this time coming with force. It's really shit, and it's ok to be scared. Lots of people break the law for lots of different reasons, but most don't do it because they have lots of good choices and think it will be fun, no. People make their mind up which bad option to chose from. Do you deprive your kids or do you break the law? Nobody should be in that fucking scenario. The family in the food bank 3 x a week and the family shoplifting nappies? They have the same struggles, they just have different responses.

Try not to panic. You will get through this. I would agree with others- being honest is probably best. But just answer questions about the period of time they want to know about at first. This is not the end of the world. You may feel better once you’re not being dishonest about something. I’m not judging you it’s just that it’s not a nice feeling when you’re afraid of being caught out.

OP, I can absolutely relate to how you're feeling. As others have suggested, contact a solicitor (I recommend a criminal lawyer) who will give you an initial consultation for free or for a nominal fee. Be 100% honest with them, they'll help.

You're not the first nor will you be the last to be in this situation but you must look after yourself and your mental health. Get legal advice first and foremost and then you'll be better prepared.

It is never as bad as you think it'll be. The worst part is not knowing - ie: this time right now. When you know the outcome then you can deal with it.

Previous TC worker here.
Please don’t panic @Needhelp30

You call them Monday. You say you’ve been claiming incorrectly and that you suffer from mental health issues. That you will provide whatever they need and that you will arrange a payment plan to begin to repay the debt.

How long are we talking? When did you move in with your partner?

With regard to the debts your abusive ex has left you with: this was economic abuse and is common in domestic abuse relationships. Typically the abuser will procure loans, credit cards etc...in their partners name. When the relationship ends the perpetrator walks away debt free, while the victim has the financial burden as well as the all the emotional and mental health consequences of being in an abusive relationship.
Op you could speak to survivingeconomicabuse.org who may be able to help/offer advice. They have just released some research "https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/coerced-debt-the-invisible-marker-of-domestic-abuse/" which is about victims just like you.

So is your intention to pay back the money you took fraudulently?

@cyclingmad

So is your intention to pay back the money you took fraudulently?

You got deleted before, didn't you?

So if someone reported my post and it got deleted then so what.

Its a legitimate question though....? Someone fraudulently claims money so are they going to pay it back? Or expect to be let off the hook?

Is it right that the only we go to work for and hand over as taxes is misused and then those who missed it are let off?

I appreciate the honest comments.
I do need someone to help with regards to money. I can’t be trusted with it.He has no idea about my debts as I hide the letters, eVen when a bailiff turned up and his dad had to pay it.
I’m so scared. I actual can’t cope, I’m such a drain on my family.

Do I ring them on Monday and just admit everything? Or do I wait for the interview? do I just be honest and say this is the date I moved in, all bills etc are in his name. Then what happens? They send me court?

Thank you,

Iv just worked out for the first 2 years partner was earning £31k Before tax. Would we hAve been entitled to something? If so will it be less owed than I originally thought? Iv worked it
out that every penny Iv had will be paid back, so roughly £25k.

You got £1000 a month tax credits?

No youbwoupdnt have been entitled to tax credits on his wages after the first year because tax credits go on last years earnings

No, around 550 a month.

Op I’ve PM you