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Stopped income support for false reasons

I have had a letter from the dss today saying that they stopped my income support. They said I had not provided a bank statement. 2 days ago I got a letter from the dss with all my statements and a note attached with a thank you.

I rang the man at the dss and he just kept re-iterating that I had not provided a statement. I said Ive got them in my hand whilst talking to you out of the brown envolope that the dss sent me 2 days ago. I just found it crazy that he wouldnt listen to me.

He also said I hadnt informed the dss that Id had a baby. One of the security questions was the age and date of the baby!! which I found ironic. He said Id told incapacity but not them!! I said if I told them then why wouldnt I have informed you. In fact I sent a letter to everyone.

I havent got proof as I didnt send them recorded delivery. He also said I hadnt told them I was getting maintenance off the father. The csa said they would inform them and also told the dss man I intended to go for it and I also told the lone parent advisor I had applied. I only got paid £15 off him as hes gone on benefits and with 1 son he wont have to pay maintenance.

They also said they had sent letters asking to send a statement in November which I hadnt received. I ashed him if they had sent it to old address as id moved in September and he said no.

I told him that id had previous experience of the dss and they said they hadnt received something from me and 2 weeks later said they had got it. I just think they mislay things in the office and then lose them or find them again. Like what had previously happened to me.

He said we dont lose things you havent sent the evidence =which was hysterical as I had the statements in my hand which they had returned.

I cant prove I have sent things apart from the statements. They say im not entitled to income support for the above reasons and are they legally entitled to do this when I have 2 children and have done what they asked.
If you find something irritating in my post or that you disagree with,then please don't jump on me ,just please ignore my post.I have come to the site for useful information and not to argue. thanks.
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Comments

  • missmontana
    missmontana Posts: 1,994 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Can you not go into your local job centre and see if they can help sort it out? they'd be able to take copies of your documents for you.

    When did you have your baby and had you been getting the extra money of baby? You must have been getting the extra CB, they really are useless sometimes!!

    What a horrible situation to be in.
    Be who you are, say what you feel, those who mind don't matter, those who matter don't mind.
    They say that talking to yourself is a sign of mental illness. So I talk to the cats instead.
  • actionman_3
    actionman_3 Posts: 142 Forumite
    Yes ive been getting child benefit but as soon as baby was born i informed everyone. im going to make sure I send stuff recorded and photocopy everything.


    My support worker says the dss are always doing this. Basically messing up and blaming the claimant. Its just that man at the dss just kept repeating this thing he was reading and I couldnt get him to just listen and respond logically. it was basically the computer says no. I was standing there with the evidence they had received in my hand -i ended up losing my temper with him and putting phone down.

    I have to send in an appeal and my worker will help me when she visits Its just wasting my time when ive done everything Ive asked for and been without income support.

    My support worker says they will re-instate( I hope) it so why ask for appeals and stuff.I am just worried that i wont get it re-instated for their inefficiency and mislaying stuff which has happened before.

    I know things go missing in the mail,2 have recently but things go more amiss with this organisation then any I have come across.

    What got me when I said this "he said we have not lost anything you have not sent in the evidence. When i replied i sent stuff to you before that you said you hadnt received then you said youd got it 2 weeks later -he just wouldnt respond.
    If you find something irritating in my post or that you disagree with,then please don't jump on me ,just please ignore my post.I have come to the site for useful information and not to argue. thanks.
  • real1314
    real1314 Posts: 4,432 Forumite
    Ask for the persons name, note the time and date of the call, and the number you phoned.

    Put a complaint in writing, send a copy of the complaint to your MP.

    It's the only way to get things changed. 1 case won't do much but eventually pressure may have an effect. However the end result will be higher taxes to pay for better service.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,323 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I do seriously appreciate this is very stressful for you but try phoning again. I know from my experience, it took three phone calls to get someone who hadn't got 'no' tattoed on their brain who was prepared to help with a benefits situation I had.., and it was all sorted out very quickly then with no further hassles (I'd been given wrong information which would have meant doing without any money for 6 weeks, which I couldn't afford).

    Failing that, go to the DSS with the envelope (and most importantly the note saying thanks) and forms in hand and hope u will be seen (they do seem to prefer to deal with things on the phone but u could possibly explain that as a single mum with kids u need the situation sorted urgently). Just remember that many staff at the Jobcentre plus are going to be the same as the guy with 'no' imprinted on their brain.., and keep requesting that someone listens to you rather than just keep saying no.

    I wish u success.
  • I had to send my building society book off to IS, they sent it back recorded delivery & then stated they hadn't recieved it!!
    I was lucky i spoke to a nice man who believed me & never heard another thing about it
    I'd just ring again & hope you get someone helpful
    Comping again - wins so far : 2 V festival tix, 2 NFL tix, 6 bottles of wine, personalised hand soap, Aussie miracle conditioner :beer:

    Married my best friend 15/4/16 :)
  • actionman_3
    actionman_3 Posts: 142 Forumite
    Thanks for the replys. My baby has been in hospital today and i feel so down.The letter said im not entitled to Income support anymore and i keep thinking is this for good!
    ive written to them. I find it nerve racking dealing with these people and im hoping my support worker will sort it out. its just the worry its caused. At least a written letter is a start then there is an appeal form I will have to fill in unless they take the letter as an appeal.
    If you find something irritating in my post or that you disagree with,then please don't jump on me ,just please ignore my post.I have come to the site for useful information and not to argue. thanks.
  • actionman_3
    actionman_3 Posts: 142 Forumite
    I went to the citizens advice bureau. Volunteer rang DSS. Now they were asking for work slips when I hadnt been working. Said I hadnt informed them of the baby that had been born. I had been receiving child benefit!! and can remember returning form they sent. CAB said Im sitting here with a brown envelope with the evidence you requested and a compliment note saying thank you attached. She said they had clearly messed up my case.

    She spoke to the decisionmaker on the phone,which she said was rare, and they will reconsider their decision.

    However the DSS wrote to the council telling them theyve stopped my income support and now Ive got a letter from them saying they have stopped my housing benefit. now due to the !!!! ups of the DSS Ive lost my housing benefit. so will have to fill in their form and go to council on Monday. I am in private accommodation and the agent is very strict. If i miss one payment I am out.
    If you find something irritating in my post or that you disagree with,then please don't jump on me ,just please ignore my post.I have come to the site for useful information and not to argue. thanks.
  • actionman wrote: »
    I went to the citizens advice bureau. Volunteer rang DSS. Now they were asking for work slips when I hadnt been working. Said I hadnt informed them of the baby that had been born. I had been receiving child benefit!! and can remember returning form they sent. CAB said Im sitting here with a brown envelope with the evidence you requested and a compliment note saying thank you attached. She said they had clearly messed up my case.

    She spoke to the decisionmaker on the phone,which she said was rare, and they will reconsider their decision.

    However the DSS wrote to the council telling them theyve stopped my income support and now Ive got a letter from them saying they have stopped my housing benefit. now due to the !!!! ups of the DSS Ive lost my housing benefit. so will have to fill in their form and go to council on Monday. I am in private accommodation and the agent is very strict. If i miss one payment I am out.

    you have to be in arrears of two payments before a ll can serve you notice (assuming you pay monthly), i'm sure CAB can help you with this point if it does go this far

    good luck sorting this out x
  • actionman_3
    actionman_3 Posts: 142 Forumite
    edited 6 April 2010 at 11:43AM
    thanks. I think theyve stipulated in the tenancy agreement just one late payment. The housing are sorting it. Ive had to send in details of child,benefit,tax credits to them.They are going to make a decision in 2 weeks. As my sypport worker said Ive got less money now so that should be even more reason for them to give me housing benefit. Then I dont understand the logic of these organisations. The DSS seem to lose mail like no other org and then blame the client for not filling in forms when we havent received them.

    Surely the DSS could give people a quick call or text and ask us if we have received letters they have sent.Especially letters that we are not expecting. they know how much gets lost.
    People are starting to think its just an excuse for them to stop benefits. the dss man was trying to find any excuse to justify their decision even that I havent sent in work slips when I havent worked. Crazy
    If you find something irritating in my post or that you disagree with,then please don't jump on me ,just please ignore my post.I have come to the site for useful information and not to argue. thanks.
  • hermum
    hermum Posts: 7,123 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Just read your thread. If you're worried about being given notice, you will need to be given 2 months notice & if the agents are going to do it on none payment of rent, section 8 it has to be 2 months in arrears, if paid monthly. Try your Housing advice officer at the council, they should chase up the HB payments & may also sort out for you the IS, as their job is to prevent homelessness.
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