The guidance at
CCM4000 onwards and
CCM5000 onwards tells you how to open and
work an examination both pre and post award.
The guidance at
CCM12010 to
CCM12690 tells you how to open and work
an enquiry.
Child Benefit cannot be claimed jointly so only the opening
letter referring to child benefit should be sent to the Child
Benefit claimant. However the same information, in respect of the
child/children should be requested from both tax credit claimants
as you need it to consider the eligibility for tax credits.
You should always tell the claimant the date by which you
expect them to have sent the details requested. You should use your
judgement in deciding how much time to allow, taking into account
the nature and volume of the information; but the period should
never be shorter than 40 days. Always be specific: don’t ask
for information “within 40 days”, but say “by 31
August 2004; by 15 December 2004, etc.”. This way the
claimant will be left in no doubt, and you will be better able to
track the progress of the case.
If the claimant does not respond with the information within
the period you have set you will need to consider whether to use
the available powers to press for the information.
You should use the standard letter templates at :
CCM21500 – post award
CCM21510 – post award including childcare
CCM21520 – pre-award
CCM21530 – pre-award including childcare
CCM21040 – TCC17 - Change of
Circumstances
The text of these letters must not be varied.
You should enclose a copy of leaflet WTC/FS1 – Tax
credits enquiry – or WTC/FS2 – Tax credits examination
– as appropriate.
