I became a single parent 3 years ago, before this we were on a joint claim with the tax credits obviously claiming as a couple.
So when he moved out I put my claim in as a single parent and waited...and waited....and waited...after going for 3 months with NO money from them at all and having to live on £30 a week I went into the tax credits office and they gave me emergency payments...eventually after a month of this I was told that they were having "computer problems" and I would be paid manually. So pleased that I was actually recieving money I didn't contact them for a while...however 6 months went by and I phoned and asked if they'd sorted my claim out yet, I got told no but they were working on it . Anyway its been 3 YEARS and I am still recieving manual payments, probably less than I am entitled to (as obviously my payments have remained the same for the past 3 years despite everyone elses rising) and they still have not paid me the money they owe me from the 3 months when I went with no money at all.
The help line are useless, I have written a letter of complaint and it was ignored. I was then told by someone on the help line that my request for the backpayment had been declined, I am not entitled to it .
Please, what can I do? there must be something I can do??