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.

Otherwise known as EUPD - certainly in my part if the U.K.!

That’s the official name of my diagnosis on my paper work. It also says on their uncontrollable spending.

Is it just tax credit? Try not to worry. If it's just tax credit I think they might just let you set up a payment plan to pay back. Hope all goes well tomorrow and do keep us updated

Please let us know how your interview went.

So I had the phone call this evening. The woman was SO nice. She’s referred me to a case worker so I can have help so I don’t have to speak to all different people when I ring.

She said I will just have to pay it back, which I knew anyway. They said they will work out how much I owe and then send a letter and sort out an arrangement to pay.

I'm glad you've got the ball rolling. Hope you feel a bit less stressed about it all now. Enjoy your evening.

So they've said no legal action? God you must be relieved! I was convinced they would pursue it more aggressively than this.

You sound like you have been through a really hard time OP
I’m glad you were treated nicely by the worker.
About your other debts, do get in touch with stepchange or CAB, and they will help you.
They’ll write to the debtors and get them to stop hounding you so you can breathe and make a plan.
I think it sounds like you need extra help for your spending too.
Best wishes x

And I agree please, please, please call Stepchange to discuss your options moving forwards.

Did you tell your partner so you can both decide how to move forwards?

I do not know if it has been suggested but talk to step change charity

Good. Now, have you spoken to your partner? And what help are you getting to stop yourself from overspending again?

Thank you. Yes Iv spoken to my partner. Obviously he’s very upset and angry, but he’s agreed to help me get help.

Excellent, hope everything works out for you OP. Whatever tough times you are facing there is always a way out and people who will help

Good news op, glad you have managed to sort it, good luck with everything

I’m so glad you have a way to move forward, I knew that it wouldn’t be as bad as you’d feared.

OP I'm not sure you're understanding the position you are in. BPD, diagnosed or not, is not an excuse that will be accepted by the courts. If you are very very lucky you will have to pay it back plus a huge fine. Otherwise you are looking at prison time. You get up to 7 years for fraud plus fines up to £20000.

You need proper legal advice to deal with this, your partner leaving you is the least of your worries. You are very very likely to serve time for this.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut I think reading the full thread would have gone a long way on this comment. The time for verbally beating the OP has passed.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut Read the thread! Then educate yourself, prosecutions for benefit fraud are a last resort, and mental health issues will be taken into account when making a decision. I wonder if you posted just to scare the OP, with no consideration of the hurt you could cause.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut
How wrong were you!!

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut
RTFT

Hopefully you can avoid court and can come up with a long term repayment plan.My cousin received thousands in benefits after her 4 kids were put into foster care.

She didn't tell them her children weren't in her care anymore;she's also been caught out twice having a man living with her twice when she's been claiming as a single mum.She didn't go to court.She didn't commit fraud because she has MH issues it was because she's dodgy (she's done loads of other stuff).

My point is if she's managed to avoid court then fingers crossed so should you.I'm keeping an open mind here;my DH has MH issues and is shocking with money;we've now nearly cleared the debt he's created (mainly credit cards) I'm guessing this might be where a lot of your debt may be tied up.

Well thank god for that. And I wasn't beating her. I wasn't nasty just warning her to get proper legal help rather than sit on it and hope it goes away as fraud carries a prison sentence. All of which is true.

Help me I want to end it all......I’ve been so silly and need help.....I’m in serious trouble

I want this to be over