In a recent article, we gave a step-by-step guide to what happens when a benefit fraud investigation letter lands on your doormat. We mentioned then about the possibility of appealing a tax credit decision, and today we’d like to explain this in a little more detail. Benefit fraud and tax credit law can be difficult topics to understand, as the rules seem to constantly change. We at Hylton-Potts prefer to strip back the complicated language and leave you with the facts, but of course, if you find any of the following information confusing, please don’t hesitate to give us a…
With the new year brings a new raft of emails landing in our inbox from people who have been accused of benefit fraud. Many of them have had their benefits suspended as a result, and the year has gotten off to a worrying and unstable start. Many of them are concerned that they will not be able to pay bills or even feed their children, and if this sounds all too familiar to you, take comfort in the fact that it’s our priority to help you. While we give very specific, tailored advice to each of our clients and their…
While everyone else has been eating until they burst and drinking until they’re merry over the festive season, we at Hylton-Potts have still been keeping our ear to the ground when it comes to bringing you the latest news from the complex world of family law. At this time of year, when people look to the future and possibly reconsider their current situation in life, it is known widely as a time when divorce rates spike. However, it appears that 2017 is already off to a good start for couples, as the Office for National Statistics revealed a huge drop…
At Hylton-Potts, it’s important to us that you see us as your go-to source for news and advice within the legal profession, and over the last month, we’ve seen a couple of cases relating to divorce which have left us concerned. Every day we are faced with families who are being torn apart by divorce, and whether it’s mutually felt that the split is needed and the pair treat one another with civility, or whether it is a daily battle of hostility, it’s vital that we are there to diffuse the situation, and provide calm, unbiased advice. We separate ourselves…
As the year races to a close, here at Hylton-Potts, we’ve been reflecting on everything that has happened this year, and what it’s meant for families up and down the UK. While we have helped thousands of households who have had their benefits cut or suspended, and finding themselves struggling to survive, we’re aware that there are still many out there still fighting to make ends meet. In today’s post, we’re going to take a brief look back over the last 12 months, and consider what we can expect from 2017. The challenges from 2016 Over the course of this…
Christmas is a time when the whole family can come together over a delicious meal and spend time whiling away the hours, full of laughter and rich food… or at least, this is the dream. Unfortunately though, this is something that many families won’t get to experience this year. As we at Hylton-Potts also gear up for the festive period, the clients we meet with each day remind us that not everyone can have the kind of Christmas they want. In fact, with the rising rates of shoplifting towards the end of the year, we are shown how desperate some…
Every day, we receive a huge number of enquiries regarding divorce. Be it those who are thinking about beginning proceedings who want to know where they stand, or those who have already begun the process and need advice, here at Hylton-Potts we find that the bulk of questions we get relate to an individual’s financial needs. What are the financial needs that are considered by the courts? How is everything calculated? These are questions we get asked on a daily basis, and we understand that there may be many more people reading our blog who are also looking for these…
Recently, we’ve provided you with plenty of blog posts regarding the current developments within the benefits system. We’ve looked at the ever-growing debates surrounding Universal Credits, the nightmares that many members of the public are having due to Concentrix, and a few case studies that highlight how easy it is to get caught up in a benefit fraud scandal. At Hylton-Potts, we believe that giving people as much information as possible is the best way to help them avoid being investigated for benefit fraud. Whether you’ve made a simple error or just didn’t know what you were doing was against…
You might think it goes without saying that, once you separate from your wife or husband, their debts go the same way, and you’re no longer answerable to the collectors attached to them… but you would be wrong. In our long career in the legal profession, we have come across far too many individuals who didn’t protect themselves financially when they decided to separate from their partner. This is demonstrated most recently with Trinny Woodall (of the famous Trinny and Suzanna fashion duo), who found herself centre-stage of a tough legal battle. According to reports, Ms Woodall is being pursued…
A few weeks ago, we brought you the news that the government contract with Concentrix was bring scrapped. To refresh your memory, Concentrix are the multi-billion-pound American business, currently contracted by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), to investigate alleged benefit fraud. Having received hundreds of complaints about the company from members of the public, regarding everything from their brutal investigation tactics to their questionable methods of “discovering” fraud, the HMRC decided not to renew their contract. However, thanks to a new report released by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the HMRC and Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have once…
