"Tetiana fled the war in Ukraine in 2022 with some of her family including her brother, Roman, who is paraplegic, for whom she is now a full-time carer, and baby who was born in 2021. In October, she was shocked to receive a letter telling her she could be liable to pay back 3,706.35 in child benefit because she had moved to Ukraine permanently. I didn't understand why."
"When we called HMRC they said: We have information that you left the country in 2020, which is why we stopped paying you.' I said to him: But I wasn't even pregnant in 2020.' There was a pause, then he just said: Oh.' How did they get the information that I had left the country for more than eight weeks? After all, I am officially the carer for Roman, which is also recorded in the system."
"It turned out HMRC had sent its letter on the back of incorrect Home Office data, which showed Tetiana had flown out of the UK in 2020 but did not, apparently, return. This was, in fact, the return leg to Ukraine after a short work training trip. HMRC has admitted the mistake after mandatory reconsideration but Tetiana said: I was scared I wouldn't be able to provide the evidence they wanted. We have suffered so much stress already because of this war."
Families have faced demands to repay thousands of pounds in child benefit after HMRC relied on incorrect data suggesting emigration. A Ukrainian carer was told she had permanently moved abroad despite remaining the registered full-time carer for a paraplegic relative and having a baby born in the UK. HMRC later admitted the mistake after mandatory reconsideration. Another parent was flagged as having emigrated because of a flight she did not take after a serious illness and lengthy hospital stay. Complaint handling and the emotional impact of errors have been reported as indifferent and deeply distressing.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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