Proving he's moved out when he's renting unofficially

[RiaOverTheRainbow]

Hope this is the right section.

My dad moved out in August and dm has been claiming working tax and child tax credit (for dsis) since. Yesterday she got a letter saying her tax credit was being cancelled because they think df is still living with us, despite dm sending bank statements to show she is paying all bills. There are a few bills and a joint account which still have both their names on which is being corrected, but the big problem is df has no formal rent agreement with the couple he is lodging with and pays in cash.

There seems to be very little information on how to prove you've separated, dm and df aren't married so divorce isn't an option, and obviously they won't just take their word for it. As df isn't overly generous with maintenance and dm can only find part-time work tax credits are essential. Can anyone advise?

Has your father registered on the electoral roll at his new address and asked to be taken off the electoral roll at the old address? Does he have post sent to his new address or pick it up from the old one? It's all those kinds of things that get checked out.

I think it is probably best if she speaks to CAB or similar and gets some advice on appealing the decision and possibly getting emergency funds (such as crisis loan) whilst it is sorted. When I worked in benefits we took notice that someone had moved out at face value, as it is very difficult to prove otherwise! When someone is known to have lived at a property for a period of time and is claiming that they don't anymore being on the electoral roll etc means absolutely nothing and would never be used as the basis for refusing her claim.

Having seen a few cases like this before they have only been caused by one thing. The people he is lodging with are also claiming tax credits and have not declared the rental income. Tax Credits would have contacted them due to their change in circumstances and the couple don't want them to know about the extra income and have denied that he lives with them and claimed he is still back with your mum. Ask him for a signed letter from them stating that he is lodging with them, they will likely refuse, as which point you anonymously report them for fraud to the council, tax credits and the JobCentre and your mum continues her appeal. If they happily provide the letter then it is possible that a numpty at tax credits has made a monumentally stupid and ill thought out decision which will soon be reversed, but I'll bet on it being the former scenario.

Get some proper advice though as I always found the tax credit office to be the most useless bunch of muppets that ever existed.

Thank you both.

Cogito he's not on the electoral roll here or at his new place, but that's a good point about post, some of it comes here but I'm sure some of it goes straight to him.

Tricksy So the couple have probably already been contacted about df? We'll ask for a letter and take it from there.

If they are claiming Tax Credits and your mum has given their address as his knew one then they should have got a fairly standard letter asking about their changes in circumstance, they have then denied the change. The other reason could be that they were not claiming anything, their circumstances have changed and they are now getting credits and have stated he does not live with them but this is just a variation of the 1st situation. This is the only reason I have ever seen for a claim being refused like this.

Ask for the letter and go from there, that is the most important step at the moment. If they refuse it may take a while to sort out but your mum should get her money in the end as they will have no proof that he lives there. .