Argh why do benefits take so long to come through?!

[NoNamesLeft86]

As a recently single Mum i applied for everything I could 3-4 weeks ago. Child benefit, tax credits, income suppory, housing benefit etc.

Have still not heard anything from any of them and reading online it could still be weeks. I need to pay £2k in rent in 1 week time and feed my family and furnish a house (which will be done via freecycle as much as possible).

I dont understand why it takes so long? What are people supposed to do in the meantime?! Just not eat?! I am grateful that the system is there and feel very lucky that hopefully we will get enough to live on once benefits come through but this is so stressful and hard. Child benefit takes 12 weeks?! They are my children, i sent birth certificates etc and I have no income other than carers allowance.

[therealpippi]

On mm the word 'benefit' has the same effect that blood has to sharks