I'm a self-employed childminder, with my husband. Our income fluctuates - lots....
We put a claim in for HB back in July 2009, and were awarded full, due to the way the work out childminding income. At that time I had to provide 6 months bank statements, tax return, accounts record & tax credit award - which I did (otherwise I presume they wouldn't have proceeded with our claim.)
In Oct 09 we had a baby, so I had mat leave whilst hubby took some time off with me, and then worked with an assistant.
I (very stupidly) did not realise that mat benefit counted towards income. Why....???? I don't know!!! Anyway, in Jan, somehow I came across it on web. So I e-mailed benefits office, advising all new figures, and saying I thought I might possibly have been overpaid??? Had an automated response,saying it had been received.
E-mailed again Feb, as husband went back to employment. Again - automated response confirming receipt. Another e-mail July/Aug time saying husband returning to childminding, another automated response! Unfortunately, these were all on an old e-mail address/provider, and although I keep emails forever, 2 old computers got viruses & lost everything - so no proof of that - so guessing I'll have to lump it????
Nov 2010, receive a letter (which I have) saying annual review due and requesting 6 months bank statements, end of year accounts, and tax credit award. 1 month, or benefit may be affected. 8 days after the letter is dated I posted all info recorded delivery, and have it written on the letter received by council offices 2 days later. Never heard anything, payments continued, so I assumed they'd assessed, and as no changes, no new awards etc.
I'm sure I told them end of year accounts details in early 2011, but as old e-mail - no way of checking.
New e-mail address, proof I sent them an e-mail Jan 2012, with income for 2011/12. Detailing tax credit details too. Automated response (still have it)
Just e-mailed them in May 2013, with end of year accounts etc for 2012/13. No automated response this time. I was concerned it hadn't been received, so I'd printed stuff off to post, but had an e-mail today saying they've suspended our benefits because they have questions over our entitlement.
Asked for info. When did hubby become SE, and all his SE earnings. He started in Dec 2008, but we didn't claim until July 2009, so not sure why they need info before then, as it's irrelevant. (Have got it together though) Plus the fact they had all that info originally when i submitted the claim.... and then again in Nov 2010.
Anyway, I'm worried that we've been overpaid, despite me telling them, and providing whatever they requested (although not as often as I would've thought it would've been)
What will happen? I don't know how they calculate SE earnings.... I was never told to inform them of every change, as that would have been constantly!!! (and clearly they are not good at updating details) Parents paid different amounts each month depending on holidays, care needed, kids leave, start, increase/decrease hours.... I assumed it was like tax credits, and they took an overall yearly figure, but from what I've read elsewhere it seems not....
Overpayment could potentially be in the lots of thousands if my original ignored e-mail meant it should have been reduced..... :-(
How will we pay it back, and pay rent/CT as well?????????
We put a claim in for HB back in July 2009, and were awarded full, due to the way the work out childminding income. At that time I had to provide 6 months bank statements, tax return, accounts record & tax credit award - which I did (otherwise I presume they wouldn't have proceeded with our claim.)
In Oct 09 we had a baby, so I had mat leave whilst hubby took some time off with me, and then worked with an assistant.
I (very stupidly) did not realise that mat benefit counted towards income. Why....???? I don't know!!! Anyway, in Jan, somehow I came across it on web. So I e-mailed benefits office, advising all new figures, and saying I thought I might possibly have been overpaid??? Had an automated response,saying it had been received.
E-mailed again Feb, as husband went back to employment. Again - automated response confirming receipt. Another e-mail July/Aug time saying husband returning to childminding, another automated response! Unfortunately, these were all on an old e-mail address/provider, and although I keep emails forever, 2 old computers got viruses & lost everything - so no proof of that - so guessing I'll have to lump it????
Nov 2010, receive a letter (which I have) saying annual review due and requesting 6 months bank statements, end of year accounts, and tax credit award. 1 month, or benefit may be affected. 8 days after the letter is dated I posted all info recorded delivery, and have it written on the letter received by council offices 2 days later. Never heard anything, payments continued, so I assumed they'd assessed, and as no changes, no new awards etc.
I'm sure I told them end of year accounts details in early 2011, but as old e-mail - no way of checking.
New e-mail address, proof I sent them an e-mail Jan 2012, with income for 2011/12. Detailing tax credit details too. Automated response (still have it)
Just e-mailed them in May 2013, with end of year accounts etc for 2012/13. No automated response this time. I was concerned it hadn't been received, so I'd printed stuff off to post, but had an e-mail today saying they've suspended our benefits because they have questions over our entitlement.
Asked for info. When did hubby become SE, and all his SE earnings. He started in Dec 2008, but we didn't claim until July 2009, so not sure why they need info before then, as it's irrelevant. (Have got it together though) Plus the fact they had all that info originally when i submitted the claim.... and then again in Nov 2010.
Anyway, I'm worried that we've been overpaid, despite me telling them, and providing whatever they requested (although not as often as I would've thought it would've been)
What will happen? I don't know how they calculate SE earnings.... I was never told to inform them of every change, as that would have been constantly!!! (and clearly they are not good at updating details) Parents paid different amounts each month depending on holidays, care needed, kids leave, start, increase/decrease hours.... I assumed it was like tax credits, and they took an overall yearly figure, but from what I've read elsewhere it seems not....
Overpayment could potentially be in the lots of thousands if my original ignored e-mail meant it should have been reduced..... :-(
How will we pay it back, and pay rent/CT as well?????????