Government clamps down on welfare waste by sending letters to every single tax credit claimant

Don’t anger the Tax Credit people at HM Revenue and Customs.

They are reminding tax credit claimants to report changes in their relationship immediately if a partner moves in or out.

Deliberately failing to let HMRC know could ‘constitute criminal fraud and result in prosecution.’
 
The warning comes as part of a Government clampdown on error and fraud in welfare.

As part of the cutting back on waste, letters will land on the doorstep of every claimant asking them to contact HMRC if personal circumstances have changed.

David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, waffled: “There has been too much error and too much fraud for too long in our benefits and tax credits systems. It is unfair, unaffordable and unacceptable. Today we are shining a light on the problem across the system and setting out a radical, cross-Government solution. We simply have to make every penny count – and that includes going after the cheats at every level.”

To report a change in circumstance, help and advice is available from the tax credits helpline on 0845 300 3900, operating from 8.00am to 8.00pm, seven days a week.

Chopsy Baby finds an average waiting time on hold of 30 minutes when trying to get through to an advisor.