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Original poster

help about income support desperately needed!!!

116 replies

coco2303 · 15/11/2014 16:40

Hi, I went to the jobcentre today for an appointment. I have a 16 month old daughter and u am due another daughter in 4 weeks time. I have been on income support since March of this year.
Every time I have gone to the jobcentre fir their review on my income support I have always stated that me and my child's father are still together although not living together. He stays 2-3 nights a week but does cone to see his daughter regularly. This gas NEVER been an issue before.
So I am now extremely stressed as today I saw someone different and told them the EXACT same things that I have always told the previous person interviewing me and I have been told I am committing benefit fraud!!!!!!!
That although my partner us registered at a different address because we are 'together' and expecting another child he has to support us. But i cannot understand why this has never been an issue before and how he can be expected to be able to afford to run 2 households? ????
Basically they have signed me off income support from today without checking my partners income or anything.
Please tell me they have it wrong and I can appeal. I am very very stressed at the moment wondering how I am supposed to pay bills and buy food etc. And like u said this is the first time my partner staying a couple of nights a week or coming to see his child had been an issue. Thank you for reading xx

OP posts:
ArsenicSoup · 15/11/2014 21:10

FWIW, there has never been a rule about 2-3 nights a week, or any rule based on 'nights per week'. The rules are in Chapter 11 of Vol 3 of the Decision makers guide link here

ArsenicSoup · 15/11/2014 21:13

I'm afraid it does sound like you are committing benefit fraud.

FFS. Exactly how many posters are going to add their completely unqualified legal opinion?

Original poster
coco2303 · 15/11/2014 21:16

Yeh I will always be honest whether I think it will be reinstated or not. And if I have been committing fraud i did not no. As like I have said it was the neighbourhood office who informed me of 'what I was entitled to'. I also had a council support worker who even made the phone call to income support for me. So as far as I was aware it was a benefit I was entitled to until i return to work.

OP posts:
ArsenicSoup · 15/11/2014 21:17

Bear the falaming OP has had wasn't based on her last post (which also mentions some concerns btw), it was based on the earlier post and supposition. The kangaroo court flavour of this thread is a bit disquieting.

Bearbehind · 15/11/2014 21:18

arsenic people are adding an opinion based on the facts given.

Other people are offering contrasting opionions based on their previous experiences and what might be.

Only the OP knows the reality and she'll have to prove it in order to claim any benefits.

Original poster
coco2303 · 15/11/2014 21:18

And yes when he had been able to sort out his income we can then discuss him paying more towards his daughters. But I just don't no how much to ask him for as the first week he worked 5 days and the next week only 2

OP posts:
ArsenicSoup · 15/11/2014 21:20

As like I have said it was the neighbourhood office who informed me of 'what I was entitled to'. I also had a council support worker who even made the phone call to income support for me.

That sounds really hopeful. Get all the relevant information like that together and ask your BF for proof of his rent or tenancy, his council tax bill etc. You'll need to do something quickly on Monday to avoid being left without money.

Original poster
coco2303 · 15/11/2014 21:20

But obviously he will have to step up or I really will be single

OP posts:
coolaschmoola · 15/11/2014 21:22

If he's staying over three nights a week that's nearly five whole months of the year. That is more than enough reason for an investigation, and while they investigate they stop benefit.

Original poster
coco2303 · 15/11/2014 21:24

And yes I was going to go to CAB on Monday after hospital appointment. Not even so much to appeal but to see who 2 as right and who was wrong. As the 'professional' people 2 hours first helped me with benefits told me something completely different to what I was told today. And the council support worker used to cone to my house when she was helping me and she saw my partner on more than one occasion and still told me i was entitled to income support.

OP posts:
Bearbehind · 15/11/2014 21:24

But obviously he will have to step up or I really will be single

I know it's not the reason you posted at all but it might not be a bad thing in the long term if it makes you re-evaluate your situation.

You and your daughters are entitled to the support of this man- whether it suits him or not.

ArsenicSoup · 15/11/2014 21:24

Scarlett and I were both quite specific that we were offering examples Bear, rather than trying to second guess OP's circs.

The whole thread is rife with disinformation and unqualified pronouncements (how cohabitation is defined, what the rules are, people announcing she has commited fraud), however.

scarlettsmummy2 · 15/11/2014 21:24

Op- where about are you? If you are in Scotland, One Parent Families Scotland are really helpful!

Original poster
coco2303 · 15/11/2014 21:25

And they aren't investigating me they never have. I literally went fir a routine appointment today. Answered the questions I was asked. They just said my income support will stop not that I will be investigated

OP posts:
Original poster
coco2303 · 15/11/2014 21:26

And I am in Birmingham scarlett

OP posts:
scarlettsmummy2 · 15/11/2014 21:28

Ok- you could phone 'gingerbread' 0808 8020925, they will be able to advise and provide whatever support you may need.

Bearbehind · 15/11/2014 21:30

They just said my income support will stop not that I will be investigated

I'm not pretending to know the system but surely it follows that they will investigate this if they've stopped the payments.

They're not going to accept anything claimed based on non-compliant information is just written off are they?

ArsenicSoup · 15/11/2014 21:31

I was going to go to CAB on Monday after hospital appointment. Not even so much to appeal but to see who 2 as right and who was wrong.

Why not to appeal? Have a look at the link to the decision makers guide above. You'll probably have to appeal to get a decision. It isn't even clear that a proper decision maker looked your case at the jobcentre.

Unless of course, your BF is going to immediately move in.

Original poster
coco2303 · 15/11/2014 21:32

As far as I no yes. Literally he just said as of today I am signed off and free to go. And that 2 as just on what I told him which I have always told the jobcentre the same circumstances from day 1. I even asked if I was in trouble and if it will be backdated and he said no.........
This us another reason I am confused

OP posts:
scarlettsmummy2 · 15/11/2014 21:32

Do you think they have time to investigate every case?? What would they investigate? It's not like she has been making up fake forms or actually been working and claiming. Honestly.

Babiecakes11 · 15/11/2014 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
coco2303 · 15/11/2014 21:36

Because after going to the jobcentre today and asking on here it has made me doubt whether I am/ was entitled in the first place. If CAB say I am entitled I will appeal but would rather no all the information first.

OP posts:
ArsenicSoup · 15/11/2014 21:38

Babie do you understand what 'hypothetical' means? There is a difference.

And there was never a rule about 2-3 nights a week for a partner staying over, being permissible. The full guidance is in the link I posted above and has been virtually unchanged for eons.

Original poster
coco2303 · 15/11/2014 21:44

And its ok everyone has a sob story mu first born being born sleeping was one of them situations you don't expect to happen to you. And when it does it us life changing. But since things that happened around the time of having her me and my partner haven lived together. I literally moved out and a week later found out I was expecting my now 16 month old daughter. 10 weeks after giving birth to my angel.
But yes it would be nice to be a family unit properly and yes if my partner isn't compliant with that then he can still see his children but I will have to end the relationship.
At the end of the day my children come first and my partner may suprise me and we could be good living together again. So like someone has said although the original post wasn't about my relationship it probably is a good thing because now I can really see if he is a good father or not.....

OP posts:
ArsenicSoup · 15/11/2014 21:45

I was going to go to CAB on Monday after hospital appointment. Not even so much to appeal but to see who 2 as right and who was wrong.

Honestly, ignore all the Daily Mail frothing and made up 2/3 night rules and the rest of the nonsense.

(There was a thread not long ago where a Buy-to-Let landlord wanted to buy an investment flat, rent it to her DC and get Housing Benefit paid to the adult DC to pay the mortgage. Posters queued up to help her. By contrast the 'support' you've had is sickening)

The rules are what matter and the rules are in Chapter 11 here;

www.gov.uk/government/publications/decision-makers-guide-vol-3-subjects-common-to-all-benefits-staff-guide

You'll be able to get a good idea yourself of where you stand, but there is an element of subjectivity and judgement in how they are applied, so CAB support in dealing with the Jobcentre would make it all much easier.

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