Childcare compliance interview

[anxietymax]

Hi really need advice right now I received a letter for a compliance interview for childcare April 23 to Feb 24. 

I didn't realise I was still receiving this element on my child tax credits as I thought I had informed them last March but obviously haven't and my payments changed last April automatically presumed it was that. 

There is defo going to be a big overpayment maybe 5k plus

I'm petrified I'm going to lose my son lose my job and go to prison.

I have tried ringing but couldn't get any joy from anyone

. I'm literally having panic attacks.

[honeybee13]

Hello, welcome to CAG.

Please have a read of other threads here about compliance interviews and overpayments of child tax credits. You'll see that no one has gone anywhere near prison or lost their children.

Compliance for tax credits isn't as scary as it sounds, as loads of people here have found out. They will expect you to repay what you've been overpaid, but in affordable amounts.

I'm not sure if HMRC staff are in a position to advise you if a meeting - a phone call? - is already booked, maybe someone else does. When is the call?

Best, HB

 

[anxietymax]

27th a week on Tuesday

I have not slept for 4 days

I'm having panic attacks day and night.

I'm scared of being emotional in the interview.

I'm going to be honest and obviously tell them that I thought it had ended but its getting the words out 

[honeybee13]

That's absolutely the right thing to do, be honest. I wouldn't worry about being emotional, you're being you and showing that you're sincere.

Please read some other threads here where people have found their phone call with compliance went far better than they expected.

HB

 

[anxietymax]

I have done nothing but read all the threads for the last 4 days but I cannot get rid of the feeling that this is going to end awfully as I'm going to look like I have knowingly frauded them 

 

[Sirbob00]

Please try not to worry.

I had a problem a few years ago where I was working and my husband was on the sick.  

I hadn’t realised that after his SSP ran out I wasn’t eligible to claim childcare.  

There was over a year of being overpaid.  

They worked it out for me, wrote to me and took payments from my future tax credits awards.

 It took a few years but it’s all been paid back.  

No threats of prosecution or prison.

 They just wanted the overpayment back.

[anxietymax]

But then that's another worry

if I do get the option of repayment when this universal credit comes into affect I don't think I'm entitled to anything

what happens then? 

 

[Sirbob00]

If you’re not eligible for UC then you can set up a payment plan to pay it back 

[anxietymax]

I'm hoping so and I'm also hoping it's a manageable amount 

 

[dx100uk]

they can't get blood out of a stone and they can see that already

£5k is really no big deal, and you have not done it on purpose and are not part of a benefits gang scamming £m's from the public purse.

there no possibility ever of this resulting in prison nor anything worse than them asking you to pay it back over time. some i know have been allowed +5yrs.

please its nowt to get so down about, seriously.

easily dealt with

simply be honest.

dx

 

 

[anxietymax]

I keep trying to tell myself this but on the phone are they going to believe in what I'm saying

do I just come straight out and tell the truth

I'm going to be an emotional wreck 

[honeybee13]

Well, you're not the first and you won't be the last. This is their day to day work and I'm sure they've seen lots of emotional people. As I said, it shows that you're sincere and honest.

HB

[anxietymax]

Out of interest does anyone know how they start the interview on the phone so I'm prepared 

[dx100uk]

they simply ask you a series std questions, they are not authoritarian nor bossy nor out to catch you out either . 10'000 of people have accidently done what you have, they deal with these everyday.

just be honest and dont act cagey.

dx

[London1971]

Been there, done that, worst that happens is you need to pay back a small amount monthly.

[anxietymax]

Let's hope so this is going to be tge longest week 

[anxietymax]

Night before d-day

my interview is at 2pm

I'm going to try and call in the morning see if I can get it sorted earlier.

Any last minute advice would be great as I'm feeling like I'm having a nervous breakdown here 

[honeybee13]

I don't have any further advice apart from re-reading your thread to see what people have already said.

It's worth a try with ringing but please don't be surprised if you have to wait for your appointment. It could be that the people doing the interviews have full diaries.

HB

[anxietymax]

Will give it a try worse they can say is they can't help me I suppose 

[honeybee13]

Hi.

I hope you've had your phone call now. How did it go please?

HB

[anxietymax]

Hi so sorry I am only just replying. Had my phonecall literally 10 minutes spoke to a really nice guy. Was honest with him and reassured me I have nothing to worry about as you guys did thankyou so much. Now it's just a waiting game to see how much my overpayment is. Thankyou so much again even if I didn't listen properly to half of the comments 

[honeybee13]

Well done. I hope that's a weight off your mind and that the payments are affordable for you.

As you asked yourself earlier in your thread, could you tell us the sort of questions the man asked you and what information they asked for from you please? This will help future caggers with the same problem as you.

HB

[anxietymax]

I was honest from the start, then he just asked when the childcare ended.

he filled some details in and didn't really ask anything else, just told me I would receive info on my overpayment.

A lot less questioned than I was gearing up for 

[London1971]

Are you still claiming Tax Credits / Universal Credit? They will likely take a small monthly amount off , if you are

[dx100uk]

how'd it go?

dx