Hi, I had an IUC last week as I had not informed the benefit office that I was claiming child tax credits after I had my baby. I genuinly forgot to tell them as I was living alone as a single parent at the time, suffering from Post natal depression etc... things were hard! This was back in March 09 and they only sent me a letter a few weeks ago, I was in termoil for weeks! I could'nt go to the first interview as I had no childminder and then the second interview came around. It was'nt as bad as I thought but I will tell you this, take a bottle of water with you! I was so nervous that my mouth dried up and I could'nt even talk! There were two people interviewing, well one spoke more than the other! Just be honest with them, they would rather this than futher investigating and a date in court etc. Just tell them you are sorry and that you are happy to pay any money you owe back. They won't give you a decision there and then. I still havent heard. It could be months so why waste your time being worried. It will make you feel worse. Good luck!

Hey busymum, I am in a similar situation as yourself due to not reading paperwork properly! I have an Interview Under Caution tomorrow pm and have been dreading it for 2 weeks! Basically I have been overpaid housing benefit and council tax benefit for my previous address. They wrote to me a few weeks ago stating that I failed to notify the benefits office of my child tax credit award after I had my baby in Jan 2009. However looking through all of the paperwork that they have sent to me, it does note under the 'Information you told us about' section, that I was earning tax credits!? So they must of been told this information! (even though I dont remember telling them) Also to add to this mess, they seem to think that I failed to notify my change of circumstances (address) when I moved in with my partner in October 09. They have now said that I owe them HB from June 2009!!! I know that I definetley phoned the benefit office on October 16th as I noticed that my HB had not been paid in and while on the phone I requested a NOC form. They told me that my HB had been suspended due to my tax credits.... and needed to be checked out. As I knew that I would be moving out at the end of the month anyway, I basically thought that 'ill tell them im moving out' and that will be it. I would'nt need to show them my tax credits award as they would be changing soon too. So I just left it at that, moved out etc. Now I have all these letters saying I owe them £XXXX when I havent even been for the interview yet? Plus If they think that I have been living in my new address since June 09 then how do they know to write to me here? I am very confused!!!!

Ok thanks for your advice, I will ring up in the morning to see if I can defer the interview and seek advice from the CAB. They are only open on friday mornings where I live. I am kicking myself now for not telling someone about this problem sooner but I suppose I was in shock. I havent really got any paperwork to support myself as I did'nt think any of this was round the corner. As far as I was concerned, I left that property and there was no going back so why keep loads of rubbish relating to it. It was all shredded

I was not recieving WTC while working as that was quite a while before I moved into the bungalow and before falling pregnant. I was made redundant in May 2008 and claimed JSA from June 2008. I think I filled in a notice of change from as I had about a dozen of them floating around but I really can't be sure. I definetly need more time to sort this out but I am afraid to phone them in the morning and defer my interview as It will make me look guilty. If I go to the interview not knowing or understanding what I have done then I am even more afraid that they will make me feel guilty by asking me questions that I simply don't know the answers to?

Hi, I am sorry my last post is misleading. While living in the bungalow from October 2008 Until December 2008 I was recieving HB and Job Seekers allowance. The DWP advised me that I could apply for maternity allowance from December 2008 and cancel Job Seekers as I had paid enough national tax in my previous employment as an estate agent. (before I was made redundant) I was 8 months pregnant and very unlikely to get a job!! So I took this advice. I was still getting housing benefits at this point and was told that I would not need to contact them again unless there was a change in circumstance. They knew I was pregnant and knew my babys due date. I had my baby on January 8th (10 days early) 2009 which is when I started to claim child tax credits. I must of told the benefits office about this change of circumstance as its listed on the pages of papers that they sent me last week. Only it says 'working tax credits' not 'child tax credits' plus I can't remember telling them???? There is a section in the letter that goes as follows: Income of which you informed us about: Housing benefit - £XXX Maternity Allowance - £XXXX Working Tax Credits- £XXX I only recieved Maternity allowance from December 08 until August 09 which is when I started to think about moving out of the property anyway. I moved out of the property in September

hi, yes it definetly states that the interview will be under caution. I am really confused as to why I have already recieved these two seperate invoices amounting to £2,300. Why I am having this interview afterwards baffels me? There must be some mistake somewhere along the line. Just could do with knowing my mistake in this??

Hi thanks for the reply, I asked that question about the evidence as I had read somewhere that its what you can do in writing. Asking for an explanation is what I think I am going to do. I will have to phone the office first thing to defer the appointment to a later date. I can't understand how I owe over £2,000. I take full responsibility for failing to notify the council of my change of address right away when I moved but this amount of money is crazy! I am worried now incase I did make a mistake when filling out the application for HB. I had never claimed before, I was alone, depressed and pregnant when I did complete the forms. I was even going to counselling sessions. I was certain that I filled them in properly and declared all my income. For some reason, they have got me down for recieving working tax credits at £64.00 per week and not child tax credits? Are they the same? Either way it adds up to around the same as child tax credits would anyway so I cant see a fault apart from the name of the benefit. I am not and was not in reciept of any other benefits such as income support or job seekers during or after my pregnancy and still not now even though I have not got a job!! Although I am currently waiting to hear about a job within the NHS. I hope this mess does not ruin my chances. Its not as if I have deliberatley done this. Its a genuine mistake!

Hi Peeps, just been reading these threads and I can relate... last week I recieved a letter from the local council informing me that I must attend an interview under caution as I was being investigated for 'fraudulent' housing benefit claims. I am 24 years old and have a 1 year old son. I am currently living with my partner (babys father). However before September 2009 I was living alone with my son in a bungalow down the road. I had been a private tennant in that property from October 2008 up until September 2009. During this time myself and my partner banged our heads together and slowly started seeing eachother again and now we are great! When I left the bungalow to move in with my partner I admit that I did'nt report the change of circumstance straight away. This was due to the fact that I did'nt give my landlord a great amount of notice and basicly moved out of the property within days. When I finally realised that I needed to report my change of address I was told via phone on 16th October 2009 that my payments had been suspended already due to my child tax credits or something. I was confused because I had been getting tax credits for a while and I had declared this to the council when applying for housing benefits after having my child. So I told the woman on the phone that I had changed my address aswell as filling out a Notice of change form (as I wanted it in writing). Now I have this letter plus two invoices saying that I owe over £2,000 1) For failing to declare how much child tax credits I had been recieving. 2) For failing to notify my change in circumstance. and another informing me that must go to the interview.... to be honest I have been so worried about all this, I havent even told my partner! I have no idea what to say or do at interview??? should I delay my interview so that I can get legal help and can I find out what evidence they have against me. thanks x