Name changed
Writing for a rant and to inform others. Sorry this might be a bit long.
I applied for tax credits in Oct after returning back to the UK and my husband leaving. I have 3 DC. We worked for the government. Currently we are separated and going through a Divorce.
It took over a month for the form to arrive. The DWP stated you could only get the form if you have 3 children. I filled in the form and sent it back. A month later I get a letter saying that I have to apply for Universal credit. The thing is at the time if you had 3 children you could not apply for UC either. The letter was phrased in a tricky manner as in 'you can apply for UC' . So I went to CAB and sent them a letter for mandatory reconsideration. They received it in Dec and did not reply.
Managed to get online and put in a complaint. By the way, when the DWP write to you they do not tell you that you can contact them in this way. I worked it out using Google. If you call their help lines they will not talk to you unless you have a disability premium.
The DWP call me today and say apply for UC, because I listed only 2 children. She then blurts out how there is only space for 2 children on the form. What really? They design a form so that they can delay you deliberately. Obviously I do not remember exactly what I wrote and I ask her why I am being given wrong information as they state on the UC website that you should not apply for UC until you hear back from the mandatory reconsideration. So I called her out on it. She was like oh sorry I will talk to my manager and get back to you.
The policy on claiming UC changed at the beginning of Feb to allow families with 3 children to apply for UC. I believe they waited over a month to get back to me because of this deadline. I am surviving but the person on the phone wanted me to end up with nothing. She was more than happy for me to apply to UC so that I could end up with no money for 6-8 weeks. Plus not have a claim for any backdating.
I am so outraged. I feel so sorry for the people being tricked out of money and into hardship. They are unable to defend themselves. What is happening?