I recently found a letter from HMRC addressed to my partner at his previous address he lived with his ex dated from around the time he moved out. It refers to tax credits and has his name and his exes name and national insurance numbers. It is simply notifying them they have been withdrawn from tax credits and the awards have stoped. I was aware she was out of work and thought it must be relating to working tax credit. However on the reverse the statements of account says it relates to child tax credit. To my knowledge neither of them have a child, he certainly couldn't have had one with her as she was not at a child bearing age during the time he was with her. However- surely you cannot claim for child tax credit without proof of a child existing? I have questioned my partner who is just taking the 'I know nothing' approach. I have said in that case he should contact HMRC immediately as it is looking like she has commuted a benefit fraud! Yet he shows no interest. He didn't even show a reaction she may have a child in existence. He didn't even ask to see the letter. Please put aside the fact I read this letter- morally right or wrong I felt I had to at the mention of 'children' as I am anxious and worried about the relationship I am in and thought I knew this man. Can anybody please shed light on exactly how you claim for child tax credit and what circumstances/channels it would have had to go through.... can he really not have known? Could she have done all this without him knowing? Or does that seem impossible to people who do get tax credit and how hard it is to cheat the system? I appreciate any information which might give me clues as to what has gone on here. Thank you.