An appeal to the financial gurus on here... Can I get any tax relief due to supporting my fiancee? She's not well enough to work but ATOS (don't get me started) gave her a clean bill of health and she's not mentally strong enough to deal with DWP letters let alone an appeal so we've dropped her out of the system for the sake of her health. I'd guess we're disqualified from everything due to not being married but thought I'd ask (HMRC website not helpful). Thanks, Matt
ATOL waste of space and when appealed in the legitimate cases the appeals panel are quick to get support going. I have assisted a few peeps in the past in my old job so dont give up.
Cheers guys. Renault - I agree we'd have a decent chance at the tribunal (we did actually do the first appeal and they ignored all the flaws in their processes and glaring omissions) but I saw what the letter telling her she was "fit and able to work" did to her and simply can't and won't take that gamble.
Matt, I'm sorry to hear that you have these domestic difficulties to overcome but, as the other contributors have already intimated, there are no tax concessions available to address your current situation. It would appear that your only two courses of action are to either suffer the financial impact (as you have admirably been doing to date), or go through the appeals process. I cannot comment on your fiancee's state of health - that is none of my business - but perhaps you might take some legal advice, some of which may indicate that she can have somebody else represent her through the process. This may help alleviate to some extent the stress that she is under. If your financial resources can run to obtaining an independent qualified professional opinion as to her health, this may prove invaluable too. It would be advisable to keep hold of any such costs incurred as there'd be a possibility of winning these back through the appeal as well, assuming it found to your fiancees' favour. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
CAB can offer advice or look for your local benefit advice centre. I used to do it as I was a support coordinator for differing housing associations and part of that was attending with clients to ensure they explained their case properly and gave them reminders on what they may have forgotten to say about their case. The appeals centre are crafty and will ask how you travelled, how far you parked away, what chair you sit in if you use lift or stairs etc. I only ever supported those who needed it so this was never a problem. In the appeal they will talk about your appeal and why you have done and will score you on both physical and mental illness and score you. The importance of telling the panel everything cannot be underestimated as one person discussed problems which affected her which had gone on for 20 plus years. I know some people to try and reduce their problem as they are embarrassed but that is not what they want.
unless your married then No, You cant simply live with your girlfriend and claim tax relief if you was not paying the right tax in the first place. If you had declared at the beginning that you were living together as common law and you both were bringing home a wage your tax would have been adjusted as if you were a married couple and then you could claim. watch what you say pal because rather than you getting a tax relief you could well end up owing them money and they wont give a toss about you they will deduct from your earnings.....good luck...
Are you employed, or self-employed/running your own company? If the latter, if she's been declared fit to work you could look into her being employed by you. She obviously has her personal allowance which would reduce either your earnings for income tax (self employed) or your taxable profits for corporation tax (if running a LTD company). Providing she was legitimately doing something for the business, however menial it was it would be legal and would act in the same way as a tax relief would. (having said that, if that is the case I'd be disappointed in your existing accountant not having suggested it to you before). I don't want to sound like I'm patronising you by stating the obvious, but have you also looked into the Council Tax situation? Again get some proper advice as te system is different up here to in England, but you might have an entitlement to Council Tax Benefit for her. I don't know if as two people are there you'd get it as equivalent to half the tax due, or just the 25% you get for single occupancy, but as it's a benefit not a reduction I would have thought it would be half. If you're not receiving perks of being a couple you shouldn't be handicapped by being treated as one now. You're both due to pay the tax, so it should be split two ways and then they pay her share. Other than that I can't think of anything you could do if she's been declared fit for work.
As above ask the CAB for advice. One cannot be too careful with HMRC, I speak as someone who got done for a massive amount by them three years ago. Huge penalties and interest, Local Compliance and more and am still paying them nearly £3,000 a month on top of normal income tax and living in poverty in consequence. Was guilty and can't moan.
Cheers one and all. This forum throws up many things and a caring and knowledgeable group is most certainly one of them. Lots to think about and lots to do. Matt
Matt, may i ask what is wrong with your fiance? ATOS does not take into consideration any fluctuating illness or disease and therefore recommend those that may not be fit to work to infact be able to work. They are a disgusting organisation who reap more stress and anxiety on ill people backed by a typical Tory attitude. my wife has ms and some days she is fine while others not. we turned down the medical with a so called health professional as if she was well enough to attend then she would have passed. her neurologist and gp both sent supporting letters stating her issues and diagnosis stretching several years yet apparently she has to shamefully prove her illness to an unqualified person. the stress of having to justify a life changing illness/disease is humiliating and should not be allowed to happen! the ironic thing is, my wife would love to be able to work and live life normally but life has dealt her a different hand. who would honestly employ someone if you didn't know if they would turn up from one day to the next?
Indeed, nearly gave me a breakdown. They were like a cross between the Spanish Inquisition and the Stasi. Enough to make anyone paranoid, I check the house daily for bugging devices and use white noise blocking devices just to make sure, also changed to high security passwords like this: QXF%|0%KjqbxgIiBrYy!N;!XE5c,6u{V:ZrR)?Xl!?eAokq)_[dUpfGv0qK"f<{ One can never be too careful.
Blimey bob I'm sorry to hear that and it just goes to show how we sometimes don't realise what other people are going through. I've got the upmost respect for you mate as I know how hard that must be
