Child benefit, they are having a laugh right?

CaraFawn

Ok so I am at home and the wife is gone on holydays with the son to her parent's in France.
Happy enough to have a contract so I am working (Freelance)

So about 3 weeks ago I got a letter from the Welfare asking if situation has changed etc.
I signed the letter on the behalf of my wife with my PPS etc stating she is currently on holydays and will be back in August.

Today I received another one, thanking me for providing the information, so but now they are asking to provide proof that my child is travelling.

"Copies of your travel documents confirming the date you and your child left Ireland and the date you both returned to Ireland".

I mean WTF!!

Like if sending such queries during summer time while many famillies are off the island on holydays was not mean enough (I am sure many famillies will have a bad surprise when they will return...), but then asking proof of travelling, like if?

I don't not see what is the point of asking this, well I see, they simply want to cancel as many benefits as possible, but for me this is abuse here.

The wife is back end of August anyway, so I can probably sort this out by getting copies of flights papers etc...But that is so stupid.

Not their business dates of travelling anyway, we live here, son at school etc, they have those details.

/rant over, well almost :mad:

snubbleste

Is there a question?

This came up before on this forum, imo it's good that the DSW are doing stringent checks on child benefit payments.

CaraFawn

snubbleste wrote: »

Is there a question?

This came up before on this forum, imo it's good that the DSW are doing stringent checks on child benefit payments.

Woa, the smartest comment of the evening without a doubt.
Thanks, much appreciated.

The point is not that they do checks, the point is that they now do it during summer holydays and ask proof about holydays whereabouts.
This is the first time ever they have had asked such things and during such period.

snubbleste

I'm honoured
They don't shut down during the summer holidays.

This is the other thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055615309

chasm

Did you write on the form that your wife is away until the END of august, because this may be what has rung a few alarms for them?

Mrs OBumble

CaraFawn wrote: »

Not their business dates of travelling anyway, we live here, son at school etc, they have those details.

Absolutely it is their business! Summer, between school years, is when lots of families would choose to relocate overseas for good, and "forget" to cancel the benefit, so this is absolutely the time when they should be asking.

If you object to providing the government with the information, feel free to not claim the benefit!

FreedomJoe

Shame they dont do checks on all the non nationals who are claiming for kids not even living in the country!

chasm

FreedomJoe wrote: »

Shame they dont do checks on all the non nationals who are claiming for kids not even living in the country!

They don't have to be living in this country-

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/social-welfare-payments-to-families-and-children/child_benefit

Child Benefit and EU Regulations

EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals working in Ireland, satisfy the habitual residence condition for Child Benefit.

If you are an EU/EEA citizen or a Swiss national and work in a country covered by EU Regulations, the country you work in usually pays Child Benefit even if your family is living in another country. However, if your children are living in another EU/EEA country you should still apply for any Family Benefits you are entitled to there.

If the Family Benefit you get in the country your children are living is less than the Child Benefit payment here, your Irish Child Benefit payment will make up the difference. For more information on how EU rules affect Child Benefit, contact the Child Benefit Section (see 'Where to apply' below).

Countries covered by EU Regulations are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (excluding the Channel Islands).

yourmano

What is the issue here? They're checking, that is good! Means we won't be paying through the nose for children who no longer reside here. Just forward on the documents and there'll be no problems! I think it's great they're checking to be honest.

The Big Red Button

I'm delighted to see that they're making an effort to prevent SW fraud. If you've nothing to hide, why are you so bothered? Is it really that difficult to forward a copy of the travel information?

ChuckCork

yourmano wrote: »

What is the issue here? They're checking, that is good! Means we won't be paying through the nose for children who no longer reside here. Just forward on the documents and there'll be no problems! I think it's great they're checking to be honest.

Great they're checking, yes, but having left Ireland in January with the family and written to them to advise the fact I'm still waiting for a response, during which time they've been making regular payments into the Mrs bank account!

I wouldn't mind except a) we can't claim child benefit in the UK until this is resolved b) we'll have to pay the money back anyway (and have never pretended we wouldn't; c) the buggers will probably expect us to pay interest or some penalty even though we've done the right thing and its them that have failed in their bureaucratic duty.

Nolanger

Those CB people are based up in Donegal so that's why they're so spiteful.

yabadabado

ChuckCork wrote: »

Great they're checking, yes, but having left Ireland in January with the family and written to them to advise the fact I'm still waiting for a response, during which time they've been making regular payments into the Mrs bank account!

I wouldn't mind except a) we can't claim child benefit in the UK until this is resolved b) we'll have to pay the money back anyway (and have never pretended we wouldn't; c) the buggers will probably expect us to pay interest or some penalty even though we've done the right thing and its them that have failed in their bureaucratic duty.

did you keep a copy of the letter you sent them?if you did its an departmental error and you wont have to repay anything.i would resend it i doubt they would still be paying you if they recieved the letter.there will be no interest or penalty either.