A mum from Bracknell has been paid back after her child benefit was cut by the government following a trip to Morocco with her son.
Priscilla Holness, 51, Warfield, took her son Mason to Morocco on a joint celebration for their birthdays last year.
But more than a year after their trip, the child benefit Ms Holness received for looking after Mason was cut.
She receives £26.05 per week of child benefit, which is the amount any family can claim for a single child.
Ms Holness and Mason’s passports were stamped both on entry and exit from Morocco and on their return to the UK.
After the absurdity of her story was raised to the government, Ms Holness has been repaid by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
She said: “I am pleased to report that my child benefit was reinstated the same week that the article came out and I did receive the owed amount, which was £182.”
National reporting states that more than 23,000 families that receive child benefit have been targeted since a government crackdown in September.
HMRC began the crackdown on suspected child benefit fraud, primarily by targeting those who have moved abroad but continue to claim.
The government hopes to save £350 million over the next five years.
HMRC staff who review claims are using international travel data from the Home Office to identify ineligible claims.
However, some payments have been incorrectly suspended for legitimate claimants, such as Ms Holness, who has had her payments restored.
Following the incident, a spokesperson for HMRC said: “We’re very sorry to those whose payments have been suspended incorrectly.
“We have taken immediate action to update the process, giving customers one month to respond before payments are suspended.
“We remain committed to protecting taxpayers’ money and are confident that the majority of suspensions are accurate.”
After reviewing its processes, HMRC will check claims with customers first, by writing to them before suspending any payments, giving them one month to either call or write back.
The quickest way claimants can reinstate their payments is by calling the dedicated phone number found on their letter.
HMRC has also streamlined the information it asks from claimants to prove their continuing eligibility, so they are able to respond promptly.
A family can receive £1,354.60 for a single child in child benefit each year.
Only one person can claim child benefit in a family, with the claimant expected to be the main person responsible for their care, such as buying food, clothing and providing pocket money.
The benefit increases to £43.30 per week for two children, £60.55 for three children, £77.80 for four children and £95.05 for five children.
