To feel penalised for being a single parent.

[trappedinsuburbia]

Ok, I am single and have 2 dc, I am currently on maternity leave and am taking the additional 3 months unpaid and I have claimed income support for 1 month to cover this period. I am going back to work in less than 2 weeks to will have claimed for 6 weeks altogether.

So far whilst being on maternity leave I have had tax credits request all bank statements, wage slips etc, no probs off they went, all fine.

When I first claimed income support, before I even knew if it had been awarded or not, I had a home visit from someone from benefits, again all fine, I could only show what bank statements etc I had as the others were with the people at income support, the person visiting confirmed that I was to receive income support.

Comes in yesterday and there is a letter waiting for me telling me to attend an interview at the jobcentre to check my entitlement to benefits and to bring these magical fucking bank statements.

AIBU to be getting a little tired of this and think its getting a bit intrusive. Is this normal!!

Of course i'll go and produce said bank statements from months before I even claimed so they can see i've spirited my millions away into an off shore account !!

[Misspixietrix]

alloffaflumble it's mad isn't it? Never heard something so sanctimoneous in all my life and I've read a fair few twattery threads on here!.

[hoppinghare]

A lot of responses seem to be suggesting you shouldn't have the unpaid leave if you can't afford it which would suggest you are being penalised for being single.

Of course you should take the full year's maternity leave.

[twizzleship]

Op - from your surprise and exasperation at the 'checking process' i assume you've never made a benefit claim of any sort before?

Your feelings towards it are not unreasonable but you are mistaken if you think it is BECAUSE you are a single parent. We ALL get penalised by the government in form or another for simply existing....

The constant document filling/sending etc is a ploy designed to deter us from claiming so don't let it dishearten you. You got a home visit?! You're lucky! In my experience no ones gets a home visit when claiming IS or any other benefit unless they're being 'investigated' or it's DLA related. Just smile and be glad you didn't have to trek to and fro the council offices each time you had to hand something in or they wanted to see you lol!

From my own experience i have now learnt to always keep a copy of any paperwork i need to hand in and always ask if a copy of bank statements etc would be accepted before i send them the original. I have paperless billing and on a few occasions i have had to pay for bank statements on headed paper (£5-10 per statement) so on the occasions they wanted the originals only i had to send a SAE so they could be returned. It was exasperating for me and made me angry but i had to do it over and over again in order for my claim to be processed...i doubt the government will make it any easier for anyone!

[girliefriend]

Also can't believe some of the nastiness spouted on this thread - it's depressing

Op I have been a lone parent since being pregnant (dd now 8yo) and although not claimed IS I have been claiming tax credits since returning to work when dd was 8 months. I have never been 'investigated' other than once having to send off some evidence of child care costs.

Personally I don't think yabu - that would annoy me as well.

[trappedinsuburbia]

I really dont feel guilty about it, its precious time I'll never have again.
I've also paid taxes for more than 20 years so I really don't give a shit about my short break.
I used to work in a jobcentre, now I remember why I left !!!

[MoominsYonisAreScary]

Have a blue peter badge. I love that.

Each to their own but personally Id take the 6 weeks income support and enjoy the time with my baby, and i wouldnt feel one ounce of guilt about it.

[trappedinsuburbia]

Thank you allofaflumble and you other lovely posters x

[Allofaflumble]

Wow. Hard to believe that people can be so unkind and judge mental towards a fellow sister. Check your jealousy meter you lot - it is abnormally high. I hope you have a lovely time with your baby trapped. Very happy for my taxes to help you out. X

[trappedinsuburbia]

I honestly dont think he would, its his choice not to be with us and its fairly (gritted teeth) amicable.

[Misspixietrix]

Trapped not prying but do you think the dad might have made a malicious report?

[Misspixietrix]

I wouldn't contact most of them for the reason that their Food Safety Certificates are usually obselete.

[trappedinsuburbia]

Yes I think I will be asking outright.

[trappedinsuburbia]

Wow need to learn to bake !
Funnily enough I contacted one of these 'factory kitchens' for a cake last year but they were too busy! I thought people were running legit business from home !!! Probably that kind of niavity has got me in this position in the first place.

[daisy0chain]

I was on my own from my DD being 6 weeks. I didn't have any issues with tax credits etc claiming as being separated. Could you ask outright if there is a problem?

[trappedinsuburbia]

I will ask, ive nothing to hide anyway, im officially re-employed 6 days after the interview !
Its maybe because im on my own with a new baby, I can see the point there, but its just basically the same information again and again, seems pointless.

[Misspixietrix]

Trapped Funnily enough, if they put fraud officers on foot around here. They'd find 'Single' working parents and their partners cars sat in the front drive. They'd also find all these people who suddenly have a magic factory kitchen in the back of their house that churns out cakes for £40 a pop. Wedding cakes for £100+ . 50x over. And not one declared. They'd find very few claimants not 'legitimate' for want of a better word

[daisy0chain]

Unfortunately the people that report for spiteful reasons still have to have their claims investigated in case it's not.

Fwiw I hope you get it sorted and hopefully is just spot checks. I don't know your circumstances but I presume you have good reason.

And definitely bring up the delay.

[trappedinsuburbia]

Yes ive been living on very little as well, I last got smp just before Christmas and never got awarded IS until mid Feb, so will be asking about that, I wasnt going to bother questioning it but I may as well when im there.

[trappedinsuburbia]

They never said it was an investigation it just seemed like a random check, they did write to tell me, the guy was really laid back, I just thought it odd as they would already have had all my bank statements, wage slips etc from putting my claim in for IS.
I find it odd that ive to go in for what appears to be another spot check? Interview when ive not long had someone out checking at the house.
I dont think ex would report me and theres nothing to report me for, hes not really malicious just kind of cant be arsed with us type.
There's plenty of people on exs side mind you friends and family that don't really like me so perhaps someone has reported me, but for what, he's certainly not here and everyone knows that.

[pyjamaramadrama]

I seem to remember jumping through hoops when I claimed IS, in fact I seem to remember that it took so many weeks to process that I'd actually returned to work by the time it went through as I remember living on very little for a while.

I think that they make it difficult due to lengthy paperwork and probably a bit to put people off doing it just for the sake of doing it.

[daisy0chain]

I find it odd they came to your house OP I've never heard of that unless an investigation is taking place. Could your ex have reported you out of spite?

[trappedinsuburbia]

Going back to the original question, if they really investigate everyone so much its pretty inefficient, I am providing information that has already been provided a few times, now that is a waste of money and resources no?

[trappedinsuburbia]

I would take them if I could, think it would scare the shit out of them though!

[HaroldLloyd]

You should be like that lady off the britass empire OP and keep your baby in a drawer at work.

Ignore them.

[daisy0chain]

I have already said I receive tax credits and housing benefit. I also receive child benefit. I am not a benefit basher but I do try my fucking hardest to reduce the amount I claim as much as I can.

If I fall on hard times I won't be ashamed to claim every benefit I'm entitled too but I won't claim just because I can.