CCM18170 - Child Benefit and Tax Credits: Opening The Review - Child Benefit Only At Risk

You should use the letter at CCM21550.

You should always tell the claimant the date by which you expect them to have sent the details requested. You should use your judgement in deciding how much time to allow, taking into account the nature and volume of the information; but the period should never be shorter than 40 days. Always be specific: don’t ask for information “within 40 days”, but say “by 31 August 2004; by 15 December 2004, etc.”. This way the claimant will be left in no doubt, and you will be better able to track the progress of the case.

If the claimant does not respond with the information within the period you have set you will need to consider whether to use the available powers to press for the information.