20 January 2005

Michael Howard Helps Constituent To Get Child Tax Credits Reinstated

Folkestone and Hythe MP Michael Howard has intervened to help Miss Jennifer Green of Robin Hood Lane, Lydd and her partner to get their Child Tax Credit reinstated.

Miss Green wrote to Mr Howard in November because she had received no Child Tax Credit since receiving a letter in August from the Inland Revenue saying that her Child Tax Credit was being stopped because she doesn’t have any children. Miss Green, who has two sons, called the Inland Revenue and was told that the letter was an administrative error which would be corrected. When Miss Green did not receive her next credit she called the Inland Revenue again and was told that, because she has no children, she had been overpaid and therefore her credits had been stopped. Miss Green then received a form from the Inland Revenue detailing how to repay following overpayment. Miss Green once again called the Inland Revenue on 2 November and was assured that the mistake had been noted and would be corrected. On 8 November Miss Green, who had still not received her Child Tax Credits, decided to write to Mr Howard for help.

Following Mr Howard’s intervention Miss Green received her Child Tax Credit and, in response, the Inland Revenue apologised and awarded Miss Green £10 compensation and £5 expenses. The Inland Revenue’s Customer Relations Group 

Manager apologised for a technical fault which had prevented the Inland Revenue’s computer system retaining information relating to Miss Green’s children.

Mr Howard added: “I was pleased to be able to help Miss Green and her partner to resolve this problem with the Inland Revenue. The amount owed to Miss Green was increasingly causing difficulty. It should not have taken several attempts to resolve this problem. I have been assured by the Inland Revenue that their technical team is aware of the problem and is working hard towards a solution.”