Complex To Non-Complex Change Of Circumstances (Info)

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Some changes of circumstances will result in a complex case (including cross border / family supplement cases) becoming non-complex. For example

• The death of a spouse in a polygamous marriage / polyandrous marriage case
   
• A family break up in a polygamous / polyandrous marriage case

Note: This instruction applies even if there are more than 2 claimants remaining in the family

• A child or young person in a family of 19 children becomes no longer eligible for Child Tax Credit ( CTC) for whatever reason
   
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance ( ESA) has ended for a tax credits claimant who is also receiving Working Tax Credit ( WTC)
   
• A tax credits claimant receiving income-related ESA and WTC has become ineligible for WTC
   
• A claimant’s immigration status changes resulting in entitlement to both WTC and CTC
   
• A claimant (in a childless 2 claimant family), serving a custodial sentence of more than 12 months, is released from prison
   
• A change in residency or employment involving movement between Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA) results in the United Kingdom (UK) becoming competent to pay family benefits (that is, CTC and Child Benefit) in full

As the Complex Case signal is set, the change of circumstance will be referred to the European Economic Area (EEA) Team (This text has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)

Because it is not possible to lift the Complex Case signal, the team will

• End the family on the complex claim

And

• Capture as a new claim from the day after the family has been ‘ended’

In the case of the death of a spouse or a family break up in a polygamous / polyandrous marriage, it will be necessary to invite the claimant to make a fresh claim. For all other changes listed it will not be necessary for the claimant to complete a fresh claim form.

As the claim has been complex for part of the year, automated notices will not be accurate. The team must, therefore

• Set the Manual Correspondence signal on the ‘new’ claim

And

• Continue to issue correspondence manually until they have completed manual renewal action

Once the manual renewal action has been completed the Manual Correspondence signal will be lifted and the claim will be fully managed through the computer.