Have recently completed my first claim for income support. I signed the paperwork and posted it New Year's Day. Does anyone have any idea how long from then it will take to sort itself out? Will I get written notification before any payments are made or is more likely that money will just appear in my account first? Sorry if I'm sounding desperate for cold hard cash (but that's because I am!). I'm now on my third week with zero income with 5 kids to feed. Bloody tax credits are taking their sweet time too