ESA to UC Forced Migration

On the 20th July this year my wife left me, I immediately contacted the DWP to advise them that my wife had left and of the change in my circumstances and that only myself and his son now lived at our family home. At this time they advised that I did not need to contact any other government agencies and that the change in his circumstances would be passed on to the relevant government departments, this was a godsend at the time as I suffers from epileptic seizures and extreme levels of anxiety and stress and other physical and mental issues as well as the considerable amount of medication I take with all their side effect that goes along with it, the fact that I was told that the change in circumstances would be passed to the relevant government departments was a huge relief and weight off my shoulders in what was already a highly stressful time for me.

Today I received correspondence from HRMC stating that infact I did not inform them of the change in his circumstances, they have threatened me with a fine, told me I will be liable for all the tax credit from July until now as it was me who received the money into my bank and also told me because I never informed them in July of the change in his circumstances and that my area has now changed to Universal credits on the 19th September I won't be able to claim tax credits anymore, I will be transferred to UC without any migration protection and as a result will lose his severe disability premium. If I had instead contacted all the relevant government departments myself at the time as he had intended none of this would have occurred


I realise everybody will need to deal with the issues relating to Universal Credits, but I will have to deal with all these extra issues because he was incorrectly advised by somebody at the DWP, this surely can't be fair that I am being punished to such a degree when he was only following instructions.

These issues are now having a severe effect on both his mental and physical health, he feels like he is being punished when he has done absolutely nothing wrong.

I either loose me SDP and transfer to UC with all that entails or loose my Tax Credits, what a choice.

If anyone has any advise it would be most appreciated.

Thanks for your response Graham, it is Child Tax Credits not working tax credits.
What they said is because I never told them about my change in circumstances in July and my area changed in September, Therefore I am no longer able to make a Child tax credits claim and will be forced onto UC. All because I was miss-advised by DWP.

No they were in my name.
Thanks
Mark