Family Break Up (AG)

Then

• If you can continue with the case, go to step 2

• If the family you are ending is a

• Single claimant, make sure you have

• The claimants new address, if applicable
   
• Are they still working?
   
• Have they started working?
   
• Are they still responsible for child(ren)?
   
• Are there any other changes to the claim that they have not already told us about?

• Joint family, make sure you have

• The claimant’s new address, if applicable
   
• The ex-partners new address, if applicable

Note: If the claimant does not know this do not ask them to find it out

• Is the claimant still working?
   
• Has the claimant started working?
   
• Is the claimant still responsible for child(ren)?
   
• Are there any other changes to the claim that they have not already told us about?

• If you

• Have all of the information you need, go to step 6
   
• Do not have all of the information you need, go to step 3

• If the family you are ending is a

• Single claimant, make sure you have

• The claimants new address, if applicable
   
• Are they still working?
   
• Have they started working?
   
• Are they still responsible for child(ren)?
   
• Are there any other changes to the claim that they have not already told us about?

• Joint family, make sure you have

• The claimant’s new address, if applicable
   
• The ex-partners new address, if applicable

Note: If the claimant does not know this do not ask them to find it out

• Is the claimant still working?
   
• Has the claimant started working?
   
• Is the claimant still responsible for child(ren)?
   
• Are there any other changes to the claim that they have not already told us about?

Then

• Record that you have requested the information from the claimant

• For a pre award claim, use Function AMEND APPLICATION choosing the Change of Circumstances option to record the action taken and information received on the Free Format screen
   
• For a post award claim, use Function MAINTAIN HOUSEHOLD NOTES to record the action taken and the information received

Notes:

You must follow the guidance in How To Correctly Complete Application And Household Notes when you record the note

And also

Follow the guidance in Application Notes

Or

Follow the guidance in Maintain Household Notes

• If necessary, follow the manual reminder cycle. Follow the guidance in Manual Reminder Cycle
   
• After a response has been received, go to step 4

• If the claim is pre award

• You will be presented with the Free Format screen
   
• Check the details already entered, if applicable and enter any new information you have obtained from the claimant including the household end date and the reason for the household end
   
• Take no further action

• If the claim is post award

• Go to the Applicant Details screen where the Signals screen will automatically display
   
• Click on the [OK] button in the Signals screen. The Signals screen will disappear and you will be taken back to the Applicant Details screen
   
• Select ‘View’ on the toolbar menu
   
• Can you select ‘Apply Free Format’ from the options available?

• No, go to step 6
   
• Yes, select ‘Apply Free Format’ from the options available. You will be taken to the Apply Free Format screen. Go to step 5

• On a form TC648, make a note of the details held in the Change Details box
   
• Click on the [Cancel] button
   
• Go to step 6

• If you have not been given the partner’s new address, go to step 7

Note: This will only apply if the family you are ending is a joint claim

• If you have entered all of the changes, go to step 8

Note: If claimant 1 is reporting the change the partner will be claimant 2

• Click on the [Address] button. You will be taken to the Address Change screen
   
• Select the RLS checkbox
   
• Click on the [OK] button
   
• Select No when the warning message displays
   
• Go to step 8

• If ‘Apply Free Format’ is available

• Select it from the options available. You will be taken to the Apply Free Format screen
   
• Review the details entered and make sure that you have applied all of the changes listed

• If you have not applied all of the changes, go back to step 6
• If you have applied all of the changes
   
• Click on the [Applied] button
   
• Select Yes when the warning message displays
   
• Go to step 9

• If ‘Apply Free Format’ is not available, go to step 9

• Enter the family end date in the Household End Date field
   
• Select ‘Household breakdown’ from the Household End Reason drop down menu
   
• Click on the [OK] button. You will be taken to the Amend Finish screen
   
• Go to step 10

• Enter the date the notification of the change was received
   
• Enter the source of the change
   
• Enter the reason for the change
   
• Click on the [OK] button. The computer will now automatically accept the change and will apply the change at the effective date

Note: The changes you have made in this function will not be applied until you complete the Amend Finish screen and click on the [OK] button

• If the message ‘S18 Refinalisation Rules – Potential inappropriate refinalisation for CCYY–CCYY. If you have the authority to refinalise under S19, S20 or S21 of the Tax Credit Act 2002 or due to an appeal decision. Press OK to process the change or Cancel’ displays

• The changes you are making will re-finalise the claim, follow the guidance in Establish If A Change Can Be Made before making any changes

If you can make the change

• Click on the [OK] button on the message

Then

• If you have altered the partners address, where applicable go to step 13
   
• If you have not altered the partners address, where applicable go to step 11

• If the message ‘S18 Refinalisation Rules – Actual Income for CCYY-CCYY is required. This change will not be accepted’ displays

• You will not be able to make the change because the PY actual income is required, follow the guidance in Establish If A Change Can Be Made before making any changes

If you can make the change

• Click on the [OK] button on the message

Then

• If you have altered the partners address, where applicable go to step 13
   
• If you have not altered the partners address, where applicable go to step 11

• If the message ‘S18 Refinalisation Rules – You do not have the authority to refinalise CCYY-CCYY. This change will not be accepted. Please refer to the appropriate team’ displays

• The changes you are making will refinalise the claim
   
• Click on the [Cancel] button. You will be taken to the Amend Application Details screen
   
• Click on the [Cancel] button
   
• When the message ‘All changes to the application will be lost for this session, do you wish to proceed?’ displays, click on the [Yes] button
   
• Pass the case to a Level 2 User or your manager. For more information on Level 1 and Level 2 users, see Level 1 and Level 2 User Roles
   
• Take no further action

• If none of the above messages display, then

• If you have altered the partners address, where applicable go to step 13
   
• If you have not altered the partners address, where applicable go to step 11

• If the claimant is still eligible for tax credits, go to step 12
   
• If the claimant is no longer eligible for tax credits, go to step 14

• Advise them to make a fresh claim for tax credits with the new circumstances

And

• Ask them to attach a note to the back of the claim form requesting backdating to the day after the family break up

Follow the guidance in Invite Fresh Claim

Then

• Go to step 14

Note: Use the Word document TC821 to issue to the ex-partner. Do not use the LFC TC821 as this will show the claimant’s NINO

• In Function MAINTAIN HOUSEHOLD NOTES, enter the following

‘TCMZ TC821 issued DD/MM/YY to confirm supplied address’

Notes:

You must follow the guidance in How To Correctly Complete Application And Household Notes when you record the note

And also

Follow the guidance in Maintain Household Notes

Note: There is no requirement to set a reminder cycle

Notes:

You must follow the guidance in How To Correctly Complete Application And Household Notes when you record the note

And also

Follow the guidance in Maintain Household Notes

• Link together any documents and send them to storage. Follow the guidance in Preparing And Sending Documents For Storage