Immigration status question in Tax credit form

[valsad]

Can someone please help me with my questions in filling tax credit form as a fresh claim.

My background. Me, my wife and my son(born in UK) got ILR in Feb'09. Now I am filling in Tax credit form TC600.

Question 1.8 says ' Have you been subject to immigration control in the last three months?' Answer in Yes or No.

What should I write? As this is a fresh claim, how does Tax Credit office verifies immigration status. Do they ask to send original passport at some stage of claim (I am just worried about our passport getting lost by Tax credit office and how long they would keep it) and would they backdate claim from date of ILR automatically.

I have also applied for Child Benefit last week and waiting for 'CHB' number.
In question 2.8. what shall I write as my claim is in early stage.

Will it be a good idea to write 'YES' in question 1.8 above and attach a letter mentioning date of ILR, Home office reference number also stating that I am waiting for CHB number and asking them to backdate the claim.

[John]

Me, my wife and my son(born in UK) got ILR in Feb'09.

Given what you write, the answer to Q1.8 is pretty obvious really. The truthful answer is obviously "yes"!

The implications of the question are this. Ordinarily it might be possible for the Tax Credits claim to be backdated for 3 months. However, for you, the backdating will now only be back to the date the ILRs were issued.

Answering "no" to Q1.8 would amount to benefit fraud, and clearly that is something you would not want to get involved in.

I have also applied for Child Benefit last week and waiting for 'CHB' number.
In question 2.8. what shall I write as my claim is in early stage.

Yes indeed. Do exactly that.