TCM0204160 - Passported benefits - Healthy Start vouchers: Healthy Start vouchers - manual issue of queries
Background
Manual backdating occurs when the tax credits computer has failed to backdate the ‘CTC’ claim to the child’s date of birth.
If the claim was received on or before 05-04-2012 and was made more than three months after the child’s date of birth, you can backdate the claim up to 93 days.
If the claim was received on or after 06-04-2012 and was made more than three months after the child’s date of birth, you can backdate the claim up to 31 days.
Once the initial award has been set up on the computer, you can not override it.
You will receive a ‘Manual Backdating’ form for each case where manual backdating to the start date of the ‘CTC’ award has occurred. This will be received through the ‘Passported Benefits’ mailbox.
Following receipt of the form, you must check the tax credits computer to
- confirm the date that the award has been backdated to
- determine that the customer satisfies the ‘Healthy Start’ vouchers criteria.
Note: Customers who are entitled to apply for ‘Healthy Start’ vouchers must complete an ‘HS01’ application form, which is available from some GP surgeries or by phoning 0845 607 6823.
Claims that are paid on a continuous manual basis by ‘TCO’ do not automatically receive their ‘Healthy Start’ vouchers from the ‘Healthy Start Issuing Unit’ (HSIU). ‘HSIU’ will produce an ‘Excel’ spreadsheet every four weeks, after each cycle, confirming the details of customers who are paid manually by ‘HMRC’. You must check if the customer has ongoing entitlement to ‘Healthy Start’ vouchers and identify the ones who are no longer entitled.
The spreadsheet will only contain details of the customers that have received ‘manual’ vouchers. This will be broken down in to three alphabetical splits
- A to G, the first month
- H to N, the next month
- O to Z, the third month.
Following receipt of the spreadsheet you must check the tax credits computer to
- confirm that the customer satisfies the Healthy Start vouchers criteria
- determine that the customer is still being manually paid tax credits
then
- you should return the spreadsheet to ‘HSIU’.
Checklist
Before you follow this guidance, make sure
- you follow the guidance in TCM0138020
- you have the correct user roles to follow this guidance. Use the B&C Roles and Access Catalogue. You can find this by going to the Benefits & Credits homepage, selecting ‘R’ on the B&C A-Z index, selecting ‘Roles and Access Process’, selecting ‘Roles & Access Catalogue’ from the Related links menu
- you are in the correct MU. Use TCM0322460 for the correct MU number.
Guidance
Step 1
If you are dealing with a backdating form, go to Step 2.
If you are dealing with the ‘Healthy Start’ manual payments spreadsheet, go to Step 3.
Step 2
Check that the form has been correctly completed
If there are any omissions or mistakes
- return the form to the originator to be correctly completed
- take no further action.
If any other circumstances apply
- check for any backdating notes in order to confirm the new entitlement start date. For how to do this, use TCM1000067
- make a note of this
- go to Step 4.
Step 3
Check for any payment notes in order to confirm the date manual payments started and, if appropriate, the date the manual payments ended. For how to do this, use TCM1000067
- make a note of this
- go to Step 4.
Step 4
Check if the customer is entitled to receive ‘Healthy Start’ vouchers. Follow the guidance in TCM0204020, then return to this guidance
- go to Step 5.
Step 5
Check that ‘CTC’ only is in payment. For how to do this, use TCM1000102
Note: If WTC is in payment it must only be because the customer is receiving it in the four weeks immediately after they stopped working 16 hours or more weekly.
- check that any earnings do not exceed the income threshold. For the income threshold, follow the guidance in TCM0204020, then return to this guidance
- go to Step 6.
Step 6
Selecting the version with the issue date nearest to the ‘Healthy Start’ voucher entitlement start date
- check if the children are aged under four at the new entitlement start date. For how to do this, use TCM1000400.
If you are dealing with a manual backdating form, go to Step 7.
If you are dealing with the ‘Healthy Start Manual Payments’ spreadsheet, go to Step 8.
Step 7
If the customer satisfies all the ‘Healthy Start’ voucher eligibility criteria
- forward the form to the ‘Healthy Start Issuing Unit’ (This content has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)
Note: When returning the form, you must select ‘Forward’ and not ‘Reply’ as the form won’t otherwise be included in the email.
- go to Step 9.
If the customer does not satisfy all the ‘Healthy Start’ voucher eligibility criteria
- return the email to the originator explaining the reasons why the customer is not entitled to ‘Healthy Start’ vouchers.
Step 8
Complete the spreadsheet, indicating whether
- the customer is still being paid manually and is entitled to ‘Healthy Start’ vouchers
or
- manual payments have ended and payments through the tax credits computer have resumed
- go to Step 9.
Step 9
Update Household Notes with one of the following messages MH01 or MH02 from TCM0162080. For how to do this, use TCM1000001
- take no further action.