Claiming Housing Benefits/Working & Child Tax Credits

[mahasath]

Dear Everyone,

Please kindly help me on the following,

I am a permanent resident of UK since May 2015 , and my wife and elder child was under a visa restriction (as they were granted leave on Tier 1 general dependant category based on me before I qualified for Permanent residency) and their visa is finishing on 12/12/2018 and they have a restriction to claim public fund. Last year June 2015, I have applied housing benefit on my name and I received it without any issues, last week I received a letter from HMRC saying that I need include my partner also with the application for Tax credits and therefore they waiting for me to send the evidence of my partner's income. and 2 days ago Housing benefit also sent me the letter saying they need my detail as well until that my benefit will be on hold. but how can I put her on a claim , as she is not eligible to get a claim ? How should I explain this to Housing benefit & HMRC? Could you please kindly advise me the steps in detail. (My wife is currently working 16 hours per week and I am working 16 hours for the week from 1 st July due to my recent cardiac health issues, I was working 40 hours before)

Thanking you so much.

[Casa]

Tax credits must be claimed in JOINT NAMES (which won't affect your wife's immigration status). Housing benefit should have been claimed as a single person, without considering your wife in the calculation. Have you been awarded HB as a couple? Did you declare your wife having no recourse to Public funds in your HB application?

[mahasath]

Dear Casa,

Thank you for your kind reply.

I only applied HB as a single person, I didn't include my wife and when I filled the application form, I didn't declare her immigration status. How can I resolve this Casa? Please kindly advise me. Thank you.

[Casa]

I suggest you reply to the letter you've received regarding Housing Benefit and explain that you didn't mention your wife in your claim as she has no resource to Public Funds. You will have to declare her income which may affect your benefit, but you can't avoid this.
Also request HMRC to adjust your WTC claim to joint names.
Make sure you get this resolved before your wife submits her next visa application.

[mahasath]

Thank you Casa, I will inform them immediately by explaining the all information. Thanks a lot.

[mahasath]

Hi Casa, Currently I am in hospital investigations for my cardiac issues , can I mention that also in the letter? What is universal credit?