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 !!

[Joules68]

Look you've only had to go in once! And they came to your house the first time. So providing proof twice is hardly excessive is it?

[Normalisavariantofcrazy]

If you can't afford the unpaid leave don't take it

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

How can you claim income support while on Mat leave? You are still employed.

If you can't afford to be on unpaid mat leave then you need to go back to work.

[Joules68]

I don't understand how come you get that option either!

[Sirzy]

If you can't afford to be on unpaid mat leave then you need to go back to work.

this!

and them checking things are legit is nowt to do with you being a single parent anyway

[whois]

If you can't afford to be on unpaid mat leave then you need to go back to work

Really this. Can't believe you can get income support for the unpaid bit of ML.

[daisy0chain]

Don't see what it has to do with being a single parent.

However, you are claiming benefits which is government money. They are entitled to make sure it only goes to those who really need it and qualify.

I am in receipt of HB, WTC and CTC and regularly have to provide bank statements, fill in forms etc for them. I don't see how it's intrusive to be expected to supply information to prove you are entitled to something

[daisy0chain]

I've got to say I agree with those saying you should return to work too.

[Mumoftwoyoungkids]

It does seem excessive for 6 weeks of benefits - the home visit must have cost nearly as much as the benefits!

However, I think mothers are entitled to income support until their youngest is five (???) so presumably you are being checked with the assumption that it could be over 4 years of benefits rather than 6 weeks.

[NoodleOodle]

Agree with Dahlen, penalised for being poor rather than single. The paperwork of benefits is a complete pain-in-the-arse, you have my sympathies.

[pianodoodle]

Yes it all sounds pretty normal - it's a faff.

Not sure why people seem to think they've been asked whether or not the OP should return to work earlier. I don't remember the OP asking that question?

[MoominsYonisAreScary]

Its a bit like every year when it comes to tax credit renewal time and they send you the same information out 5 or 6 times.

[daisy0chain]

piano it's just an observation from the post though. It's not like we're asking what shampoo she is using. It's relevant to what she has written.

I think it's sad personally that people who really need DLA really struggle to get it and actually have to jump through hoops for it but someone who has the option of going back to work or not will choose to use these benefits because they fancy a few more weeks at home.

[Mumoftwoyoungkids]

Really this. Can't believe you can get income support for the unpaid bit of ML.

Why wouldn't she? A single parent is entitled to Income support until their child is 5.

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

I thought income support was only for those who are unemployed. That's why I can't believe you can get it while employed but choosing not to work by being on mat leave.

[pianodoodle]

I thought income support was only for those who are unemployed

No you're entitled to take unpaid leave and if you need help doing that you can get income support.

[innisglas]

Sounds like awful treatment designed to put you off ever asking for this entitlement again. And don't return to work until you are ready to. Why people think you should return to work so soon, I don't know. Maybe they were happy to do so, to each their own.

[NurseyWursey]

YABU because it's nothing to do with being a single payment, and they have to do these checks so no fraud is going on. There's enough fraudulent claiming as it is. I understand it's a pain though but it's the least you can do if you want the money.

I too am shocked you can claim it, I don't think you should be able to as it's your choice not to go back to work earlier.

[Pumpkinpositive]

I've got to say I agree with those saying you should return to work too.

What if she can't get childcare in place until a certain date?

We have no idea of OP's circumstances.

[WooWooOwl]

How can you possibly feel penalised for being a single parent when it's your single parent status that is getting you free money?

I too think it's ridiculous that you can claim this just because you are having a baby and you don't want to go back to work when you should.

[daisy0chain]

I wasn't happy returning to work when my DD was 9 months but I would have been less happy at taking benefits when I was fully capable of working and actually had a job.

[daisy0chain]

With regards to child care, I would have thought it was one of the first things you organise if you know you're going back to work

Obviously if there are reasons she can't work till a certain date it would be slightly different. For example she wasn't intending going back but now she's a LP she will need to. But she hasn't alluded to anything other than her not wanting to return atm.

[bella411]

Wished I had know I could have potentially have had income support for the last 3 months of maternity leave. Wouldn't have needed to save them so hard!

Though think with all paperwork whether for benefits/ mortgages/banking etc I think things do need to seen a number of times as often Peter doesn't know what Paul is doing.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

If you want tax payers money then you have to comply with the rules. If you dont like them then dont claim.

The checks are probably stricter for those that have a new baby and claim to be single.