Christmas Help

HalfPintZo

I don't know if this is the correct area of the site for this, my friend has two small children one 8 weeks old. Her benefits have been stopped with the statement "Get a job", she's been argueing for them to restart for two months now.

She's used all her savings on emeregency gas and electricity, as well as food for the children, and now she has no money, for anything.

Does anyone know of any one off payments or charitable help she would be able to get whilst awaiting an answer on whether her benefits will start again???

Bryando

Social Work. They used to go on at me can't help as had no children. However I could see the point not to go near them to be fair.
Salvation Army, they helped me with food parcels.
As there is children there WILL be. I was left in a position with no food/electricty nor Gas and was close to standing on street corners. Yet Social work never helped me one bit.

Indie_Kid

She really needs to find out why they've been stopped. Has she done that yet?

karenx

I really doubt her benefits would of been stopped and given the excuse "get a job" I think there is more to this than what she is telling you

Bryando

Even so. If she IS sitting with no food etc and the children are going with nothing to eat. Then Social work wil more than likely help. No matter what the situation is. No doubt help her if there is a benefit problem.

HalfPintZo

There isn't she was sent a letter stating she needs to get a job as her benfits wil stop. They have now. I've contacted them and asked them why, and they've said her children are at an age, and she needs to work.

Two months, and she has to go to the job centre to use the telephones there as the number is 0845.

Thank you for the suggestions Bryando.

sandiep

Is she getting maternity allowance?
Isn't there some rules about certain types of benefit that can't be claimed whilst you're getting maternity allowance?
If youngest is 8 weeks, she should still be one this.

Bryando

The 0845 numer to the Jobcentre is charged at a local rate. From what I can mind. I used to worry regarding this.

Fran

If she is relying on benefits to live such as Income Support etc. she ought to get help at this stage if she hasn't had any luck herself. Citizens Advice will phone on her behalf with her permission and will find out exactly what the situation is. She might be able to get a Crisis Loan from the Social Fund, they will look at all her situation so tell her to take all her paperwork in (including things like Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit if relevant).

Bryando

Plus how much savings there was. Alongside a breakdown on how this was spent

bunny999

There is a lot more to this story than we are being told. She would be getting child benefit and child tax credits. SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TOLD TO GET A JOB.Where are the father/s of these children ? Has she contacted the CSA ?
She should contact SociaL Services and the Job Centre.