Child tax credit fraud

[starys]

Hi everyone just wanted some advice really. I have been a single mother who worked and had my money topped up by child tax credits. I am very grateful for this as we wouldn’t have been able to survive without it. I used the money the way I was supposed to - looking after my kids which is why it makes me so angry when I see someone abusing it. There’s this woman I know who is claiming it - she is separated from her husband but he still pays for absolutely everything including her shopping!!! So this money she is getting from tax credits is basically just pocket money for her which she has been using on herself- having plastic surgery done and everything! It just makes me so angry to see someone use this money which I depended on to live in such a way. So my question really is is this benefit fraud? Do you have to declare if your ex is still paying for everything? Or is she just allowed to do this? Thanks c

Yes they are abusung the system but don't forget he could withdraw this cash at any time and she would be stuck. It's why maintenance isn't included as income as so many men are poor at paying it.

Tax credits were my lifeline for four years and I am glad to no longer need them.

I would rather your friend got them than be reliant on a man not living with her who could withdraw the support he gives at any time.

It's not right and it's not fair but legally she is doing nothing wrong. Morally it's more questionable.

Would you be less interested if the bills were all in her name and he gave her cash to pay for them?

@areyoubeingserviced yep 😐 it’s such a messed up system. I was very grateful to have tax credits when I split with my ex, I could not have afforded to live without them. I no longer claim as an remarried and work full time also. It just seems a massive abuse of the system which should be there to support those who genuinely need it

Shopkinsdoll - years ago CM was means tested.
What happened is that thousands of families were put into poverty because on paper non-resident parent was paying say £50 a week and most of this was deducted from the benefits. The reality was the money wasn't paid. Even with evidence to show that money wasn't paid was not enough for the system to pay back the deductions.

He could be doing it this way as a means to control the finances. Threads pop up all the time from posters whose exes what a detailed about of what their money is spent on. So rather than giving her the money to manage the household, he is deciding well X goes on bills and Y you can have for food shopping. Would be interesting to see if she has to provide the receipts for this,

@HighsandLows77 I prefer to support my children myself thankyou. I pay my taxes and am happy for the money to go to those who genuinely need it. Not to those who don’t

You don’t declare savings for tax credits only the interest and ISAs don’t count.

Everything is in my name. Everything.

Other than mortgage, which we are both named on until 2021, at which point he will be released

@Kikipost this is what I mean. Surely you have to have the bills in your name to claim and show you are living independently?? If all the bills are in your ex partners name then how can you claim??

@Kikipost my question about everything being in her name was to the OP

She will have a nightmare if Concentrix send for her info. My ex-H used to pay for Sky & a contract phone for DD and they stopped my TC for a while for that. He had to write a letter, send all his own proof of where he actually lived & I had to change the bills over into my name to prove he wasn't still living here. Quite a nightmare since he is an abusive twonk and took ages to do it cos he liked seeing me squirm. I've actually lost out now too because he doesn't pay any extra maintenance to cover the bills he had agreed to pay previously. Anyway, I digress. Not sure if they are still doing those checks now that UC is taking over but it sure got me in a pickle in the past.

@singleascheeseslice. Ahhh bless you. My ex is also an idiot who made everything incredibly hard for me at the beginning x

She could change everything in to her name

And then he stills pays for it and calms it child maintenanxe

She would still be entitled to precisely the same tax credits

No fraud as far as I can tell

What's the fraud?

It's not fraud but it's pretty crazy that someone in a pp position can claim tax payers money on top of over £2,000 a month.

That's the kind of thing people resent and surely contributes to the anti benefits sentiments in this country.

@Noeuf I agree. I think it is morally wrong. I actually was entitled to claim housing benefit and council tax benefit but never did. I needed tax credits to get me on my feet after I split with my ex but I got myself sorted and work to take care of my children. There really is no excuse. I was never brought up to be a scrounger and could not live like that. Benefits should be there for people who need them - not for people like this. The whole system needs looking at as there are to many people taking advantage

I'm not sure I understand your issue. He pays the bills and food. If he gave her the money as maintenance and then she paid them would that make you feel better? Why shouldn't her income be spent on her?

@Neverunderfed

The issues is jealously but disguised as moral indignance.

Jealousy

Sounds like fraud to me. Report her and if it's not fraud nothing will happen.
If it is fraud then we, as taxpayers are funding it.
Report her

@Coppersulphate

Genuine question
Where’s the fraud?

No fraud. Maintenance is not counted. Strange thread to start op