Benefits problem

[lonedad]

On the 10th October my ex partner, and mother of my now 8 week old child, attempted to commit suicide at her home. She has been dealing with depression for some time, years in fact. Previous to this my ex partner even kicked out my daughter, my daughter was only 2 weeks at the time, saying she never wanted her in the first place. I took my daughter home and have looked after her and given her all the love she needs. because of this, I had to give my job up my job so I could care for my daughter on a full time basis. I applied for various benefits and grants.
To this date, I have still not received any benefit and have not got any money at all. After making many many phone calls, I have found out the following: This is a list of excuses from each benefit office that Ive received:
Income Support - To qualify for Income Support I must be in receipt of child benefit. Until I receive this, my application will be put on hold.
Child Benefit - A duplicate claim was made by my ex partner but was not cancelled when my daughter was put into my care. Because of this, the matter needs to be looked into to prevent benefit fraud. (My ex partner has written them a letter explaining the situation but the person I spoke to today at the call centre said he cannot tell me if this letter has been received and even if it has, the claim will still take a further two weeks to process).
Child Tax Credit - They need proof that I have my daughter. I called them on the 17th October and they said they were sending me a form to fill out and I should return that along with my daughters birth certificate and any other proof. Ive still not received this form. Ive also been told that once they are in receipt of proof of residency, this will still take a further 2 weeks to process.

I have carried on this question below...

[aims1202]

I am so sorry to hear what you have been going through. i am glad things have started to happen and hopefully you will get some money very soon. you are doing all the right things, its just a matter of keeping on at them and spending a lot of time at the benefits office! You sound like an amazing Dad, your daughter is a lucky girl because she has you.
I wish you both the very best x

[Ice-Maiden]

I can't add anything more to what all these people've said to you. It must be a nightmare for you, but if you can take some deep breaths and stay as calm as possible during this awful time, I'm sure there'll be a light at the end of the tunnel. It's true that having your local Councillor on your side can often help to get things moving, and I wish you all the best for the future.

[lonedad]

Hello all, thanks again for all your helpful and lovely messages.
So, let me fill you in on the latest of my saga (I should write a book about all this, lol).
I went to the DWP today and sat there and refused to move. I met a very nice a man who worked there and we worked on the child tax credit claim I put in. We got it confirmed that my daughter is me. The computer said that my claim is clear, which apparnatly means its ready for payment. The thing the man said that was strange, was that the screen still said suspended. He has said that this may say this for one of two reasons. The first reason is that it just needs to take time to process (usually 48 hours) or the 2nd reason is that another department may be stopping this, i.e. child benefit. To me, child benefits system and policies need to be urgently reviewed. For what is a mere �18.10, it is stopping much more money coming my way. The child benefit office does not even have a drop in centre!! They are rude and they really dont care about individual cases. I will contact the counsillor again tomorrow but I think its time I got my MP involved.
On another note, I contacted The ROyal British Legion on the weekend. I used to be in the RAF and I remember that for years I paid into several Forces charities namely the Legion and RAF Benelovant Fund. Someone is coming out tomorrow to see if they can help me get by. A very kind friend of my has loaned me my rent so hopefully my landlord will be off my back for another month. I just hope the complaint I made about his conduct hasnt ruffled his feathers too much.

[4GS]

SSAFA should be able to add some clout too (i'm ex Army) get in touch with them, here's a link:
http://www.ssafa.org.uk/

I was reading your post and was going to suggest seeing your MP but I see you've already thought of that.
Good luck

[lonedad]

4GS - I originally wrote to SSAFA who got The British Legion involved as they had no case workers available. SSAFA are excellent too be honest. They helped my Grandad just before he passed away by getting him an electric wheelchair. I did try and arrange for someone from his old regiment to attend his funeral a couple of years back but unfortunatly I did it too late. Its nice to know us ex servicemen and women are still appreciated and not just left to rot.
Im not too sure how I should contact the MP. I did send an email to his address at parliment but I havent had a reply. I will ask the counsillor tomorrow.
I just cant wait for all this, and the rest of my problems to end so I can enjoy this special time. You never get this time again and all of this is just ruining it. I think this experience will definately make me go back to work in about a year. Lets just hope I dont get all this trouble when I go off to do some training for a new career which is what I really want to be doing right now

[pitstop77]

Hi Lonedad, what a nightmare.

Definitely contact your MP (as Wendy suggested) about writing to the various benefits if your situation hasn't been sorted out yet, the DWP have a strict timescale to stick to about replying to MP's letters and within them they have to outline what the plan of action is to rectify the situation. I really hope things are sorted out for you now though.
Good luck x

[lonedad]

ok, so here is how we stand at the moment. Child Tax Credits have paid as has Sure Start Maternity Grant. The back pay and the grant will go a hell of a long way and Im already planning a great first Christmas for my little one. Housing are paying me on an interim basis until the rest get sorted so Im going to keep the flat so thats excellent news (although ive just discovered that this flat can get unbearabley cold in the winter). Chiild Benefit are still plodding along and are ruder than ever. I spoke to a "girl" yesterday who was very very rude. She answered my questions as if she was asking one back but wasnt really. You know, like some dumb american high school queen. The counsillor has promised to work on them. Once child benefit pay up, then income support will and we can get on with our lives. I have this damn dangerous driving thing still looming over my head. Even though I know for a fact that the cruise control would not come off when I tried to get it off, the police are saying that there is nothing wrong with it. Once the income support is in place, I can get legal aid and i'll fight them all the way. My ex partner had a relapse last weekend. Apparantly she sliced at her wrist with a huge kitchen knife and cut an artery. A lad tried to take the knife off her but she cut his hand and now he needs an op cause its torn tendons and ligaments. Can I get her sectioned because I do not want her anywhere near our daughter at the moment? My little one is becoming harder to manage if im honest. She cries alot and always seems hungry. Things are getting better in one way but harder in another.