When you reach breaking point within your relationship, thoughts will flash through your mind about your children, your house, your financial commitments and what the future holds. All of this is painful enough without the stress and anxiety that inevitably follows with regard to legal proceedings. At Hylton-Potts, we’ve helped hundreds of couples through this turbulent time, and people have even come to us on a consultation basis before having the initial conversation with their spouse about filing for divorce. Although we would urge you to come to us for a discussion as soon as possible, we’ve put together a…
According to recent reports, the government will phase out the current Tax Credits system in favour of a new, single scheme called Universal Credits. On the surface, this may sound like a good way to cut confusion, but in reality it means that some 3.2 million families will be worse off as a result. So, with experts warning everyone to act now if they think they may be entitled to Tax Credits, or risk being added to the statistics, what’s all the fuss about? Who does this affect and how by how much? Why is this something to be concerned…
We receive thousands of emails, letters and phone calls to do with suspected benefit fraud. In our experience though, it is often the case that when claims are investigated, mistakes have been made and errors have occurred rather than any malicious intent being found. It should come as no surprise then, that recent research by Ipsos MORI, an independent research organisation commissioned by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), found further concrete evidence of this to be true. The research, published just last year, explores the ways in which Local Authorities tackle fraud and error within Housing Benefit. In…
Those international medical graduates wanting to work in the UK will find the roads a little tougher to navigate from now on, after it was announced that the General Medical Council (GMC) is set to overhaul the testing system. For those newly-qualified doctors who want a fresh start abroad, they will face “strengthened” tests from September of this year, following the results of an independent review of the current testing methods. While plenty of people are starting to become nervous at the thought of these changes, we at Hylton-Potts would like to advise you all about the benefits to them,…
Going through a divorce can be one of the most difficult emotional struggles you will ever go through, so it’s important that you start off in the best way possible. Although there is no easy way to ask your spouse for a divorce, there are a few guidelines that you can stick to if you want it to go as smoothly as possible. Here at Hylton-Potts, we’ve assisted countless couples in their divorce proceedings, and we know that it is often that first discussion with your spouse that can determine the rest of the conversations you have, and there will…
At Hylton-Potts, we deal with a lot of concerns surrounding divorce proceedings and what people are entitled to. One concern which crops up on a regular basis is whether their partner has a right to any of their pension, and how exactly this is valued. We would always prefer people to get in touch with us, as every situation is unique and so are the proceedings, but below are the main things you need to know about, where pensions and divorce are concerned. What do pensions mean in a divorce? It might surprise you to learn that a pension income…
Hundreds of people each day are invited to an ‘Interview under Caution’, and immediately start to panic. Most people are unaware of why they could have been summoned, but at Hylton-Potts we know that there may be several reasons. Primarily, it’s because they are suspected of a criminal offence relating to their benefits claim, and the interview is to try to investigate any fraudulent activity. However, you should never underestimate your rights in this situation, as many ill-informed and nervous members of the public have been incriminated over issues they are completely innocent of. As with any legal investigation, seeking…
With government plans in place to make significant changes to the benefit tax system, the impact could extend to millions of working households. According to recent research, more than three million families could be left worse off as a result of tax credit changes, with the average family likely to lose around £1,100. Here at Hylton-Potts, we help those either being investigated for suspected benefit fraud or dealing with tax credits on a daily basis, so we understand just how much stress this issue causes millions of families across Britain. In fact, a poll conducted by ITV found that 51%…
Every year, thousands of people receive letters from the government informing them that they will be investigated for fraud, and every year, we get thousands of emails from the same people who can’t imagine why they are being investigated, and wonder who would accuse them of it. What’s more amazing than this though, is that 85% of those people have been falsely accused. This is according to new information disclosed due to a freedom of information request. Sent to the Department for Work and Pensions, it has uncovered that between 2010 and 2015 the government closed 1,041,219 alleged cases of…
The NHS employs thousands of foreign healthcare professionals every year, yet the upcoming referendum on the UK’s place within the EU has many doctors, nurses, dentists and others concerned. If you’re a medical professional, you could well be asking yourself questions over whether practicing in the UK is a good idea, or whether it would be harder to enter the country. There are a lot of key facts you should understand if you’re considering a career in the UK, so keep reading if you want to be the one in the know. Why there’s no need to panic First of…
