Any tax credit experts out there please?

[sittingupstraight]

I'm a single parent with one young DS and my ex-H moved out to live locally last summer. I'm currently self employed, and my earnings are low, around £12k a year. Financially I've been keeping afloat-ish with some lodger income but things are v tight and I could really do with claiming WTC and TC to make ends meet.

I haven't made a claim yet as my ex-H and I have a joint mortgage, and some of the bills are still in his name - gas, electricity and water. I pay council tax, tv, phone etc. It's how we divvied things up when we were married. We are currently selling our house and I've been holding off making a claim until I move out, as things will be more clear cut, but I could really do with some extra income now.

My question is: can I still put in a claim for WTC and TC if he's still contributing to bills? Do I have to tell them this, or can they check? I can prove he's moved out, provide a tenancy agreement etc, he pays council tax in his new place and all his post goes there.

I haven't put in a claim so far because I was worried about the bills thing, and I don't want to receive TC etc and then get landed with a large overpayment bill. But I am on a low income, I have a young child, and I've been told I am entitled to some financial support.

Any advice would be great, thank you.

I'm no expert but as far as I can see your xh would have to pay you maintenance for your dc and that's not taken into account when you claim tax credits, so I can't see that him contributing to bills is any different? You could always ring hmrc for advice but I think I would be claiming if I where you.

Thanks Mrsj70. Yes, you're right about the maintenance, but we've agreed that he will start paying it when the house is sold, in lieu of his paying the bills for now.

I'm not sure we're doing things the best way really - he pays our (biggish) mortgage, I pay his monthly rent with the lodger income - and he covers some bills, I do the others. I was reluctant to put the bills all in my name as I'm worried he won't pay me any money :(

To open a single tax creids claim you will need to seperate your finances as much as possible. I think they allow a while for you to sort things out. You need to be average at least 16 hours of work as alone parent to claim working tax creidts.

I was going to say go to your nearest tax enquiry office as I have always found them very helpful. However I've done a quick search and they seem to have all been closed although there is a helpline. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/tax-credits-enquiries
I always think that if you are straightforward and honest with them which you certainly seem to be, they are very helpful.

In theory, no it shouldn't matter that he is contributing to the bills.

You need to show you are separated and it is in circumstances likely to be permanent.

In practice, if you look at the other posts on here about concentrix letters that are investigating people with tax credit claims, HMRC are likely to investigate your claim and assert that you are still together as a couple. It will be very hard to provide evidence to show them otherwise if he is still paying and has things in his name unless you can provide his new address and show new bills in his name (which people often can't do as their ex-partner may be staying with family or friends).

I would suggest you change the bills to your name and et him to make a formal maintenance payment to you for a fixed amount each month which will cover the bills.

Cleo

I have a similar question I hope you don't mind me tacking it on to your thread. I am in the process of splitting up with my partner. I would like to move out of our owned home with dd but retain a stake in it and rent nearby. STBXP would pay the mortgage from this point on. Would I be eligible for tax credits? Or would we be considered not properly split up if we still owned a home together? Thanks.

Write to Ian Duncan Smith at [email protected]
and Louise Boyle of HMRC on [email protected]
Complain, complain, complain. Concentrix are a very dodgy outfit.