DWP Arrrggghhhh - Tell them just one thing and....

justinbarrow

My wife gets child benefit for our 2 children and received a letter to say that the payments for the eldest (who is 19) will stop on 2nd September which we knew would be the case as he is studying for a degree whilst living at home but because its a degree course we are not able to receive money for him.

I noticed that I was receiving money for him through my income support so called them to let them know on Monday as I didn't want to run the risk of being overpaid then being chased for money. I could not get over the attitude of the person I spoke to who told me that they stopped all money for the eldest from the 31st August and have also removed payments for the youngest (who is 11) aswell as took away the family premium paid for him also :shock: I was fuming they said its because income support is no longer paid for children and I should of been claiming Child Tax credits and gave me another number where I was told we wouldn't be entitled to them as we had missed the July 31st deadline I tried to say that its a new claim and not a renewal but they were having none of it and told me even new claims for child tax credit are taking several weeks.

So I called the DWP back only to be told they haven't made a decision yet and that they may carry on paying for the youngest with the family premium but then they may not and went on to say that they have sent a letter on Tuesday, I asked if the letter was a new breakdown of entitlement only to be told that they didnt know as they could see a letter but could not read it :roll:

Why do they make it so difficult when you do your part by informing them of changes now I maybe £142 per week worse off until I know what they are doing, Its ok them saying anything you are owed will be backdated but its struggling along until they work things out at their end.

The eldest who is studying for his degree gets a grant of £67 per week to help towards his living expenses but he doesn't start getting that until 20th September.

Anyway I phoned citizens advice and got in to see them this morning and was told that they shouldn't stop the youngest child's entitlement or take away the family premium without giving some form of notice then inviting you to claim child tax credits. She also said that new claims are being processed in around 3 to 4 weeks. and put my mind at rest that I wouldn't be that much worse off which was a relief.

Its Friday now and I am expecting brown letters on the doorstep tomorrow as they always seem to arrive on a Saturday.

I cant get over how hard the DWP make things when it comes to informing them of small change of circumstances. Sorry for rambling on but im sure there are many that will relate to this or something similar.

Hope everyone is as well as can be

DebbieT

Hi,

I totally relate!! Been there n done that re child benefit etc Regarding Income Support, we got a letter a few years ago telling us of the change to child tax credits but it said to do nothing as they'd do it all on our behalf & continue to pay us as was!!! I've no idea why that wasn't done for you too

Ours are all working now but hubby had to switch to ESA earlier this year!! He, thankfully, was put in support group Ul be changed to that soon I expect :?

I hope this is sorted for you asap. They're total jobsworths, so annoying & frustrating x

villier

Sorry don't about child benefits, dealings with the DWP are always quite stressful as one department doesn't know what the other is doing. I have just won a tribunal so am waiting with bated breath as to when it will all be sorted, hope you get your mess sorted out soon...........Marie x

justinbarrow

Thanks for the replies, Hopefully it will be a case of them transferring it over without disruption.

I think these departments don't know what the others are doing because the changes have been so quick.

The lady was good at the citizens advice though and said if we needed help with forms filling in etc to get in touch as she said they can be a bit confusing :roll: