benefits went into frozen bank account today

eklynne

Any advice on what I can do and is it likely I'll get them back? It's only £43 ctc but I could be doing with it right now!!! Aargh! Thanks.

tigerfeet2006

Phone your OR and ask him to fax the bank and ask them to release the benefits to you. It might take a couple of days but you will get them back.

suegoo

You need to tell your OR at once, he can make the bank give them back, they are not allowed to keep benefit payments anyway.

skylight

And have you opened a new account? Make sure the benefits are in future paid into another account - get this done today as well!

eklynne

I'm in Scotland, don't have an OR as of yet. It was a forced sequestration as of last Monday and supposedly the AiB is going to get in touch with me, but I still haven't heard anything.
I opened a co op account last week and informed the tax credits but alas they have went into my RBS account.
Looks like another day on the phone for me! Thanks everyone.

skylight

It may be a bit naughty, but have you tried to withdraw the money?? I know that the account is technically frozen at the point of BR, but as its a short time frame then your bank may still not know about the BR or haven;t managed to get around to actioning anything yet.
You can tell your OR that you withdrew the money as it was essential to your day to day living, as in no food in the house and the kids needed feeding. They are not going to get in a huge paddy over £43 CTC that they would have released to you anyway. Its not the "right" thing to do according to the rules, but sometimes needs must. Have a go and see if you can take out the money at an ATM. Its worth a go and the worst that can happen is the bank says no.

eklynne

Thanks skylight but I've already tried. I can check my balance and get mini statements but there's a big red X next to the "withdraw" button (god, my heart sank when I saw that!! lol).
Oh well, spaghetti hoops for tea!
On another note, will my co op account be frozen automatically as I have had no contact with the AiB yet to ask him to keep it open? Bit worried about that.

tigerfeet2006

Do you know which office is dealing with you? If so give them a ring and ask who your trustee is and can you talk to them as a matter of urgency. Then as for the bank to be faxed.

fermi

I think there is only one office for the AIB?

Get in touch with them ASAP.

philnicandamy

AIB helpline

0845 612 6460