is there any way to get the child benefit office to hurry up?

looby75

Just a quick question on behalf of my sister and bil.

As the title says is there any way to get the CB office to sort a claim out quicker than 16 weeks?

My sister had a baby in feb and a few weeks later BIL's dd from a previous relationship moved in with them, they put in a claim for CB and IS for them both (BIL is disabled and sis is his full time carer) but 6 weeks later they haven't had any money for either of them.

Sis phoned CB today to be told it can take up to 16 weeks, as you can imagine money is very tight and 16 weeks seems an excessive amount of time to wait when your sole income is benefits.

It's a long shot but does anyone have any advice as to if there is anything they can do to speed the process up?

daska

they have to write to the previous recipient to confirm the child has moved and give them time to respond and lose the paperwork etc.

I signed and sent back 3 letters before they transferred CB to DS1s father - he thought I was being difficult but in fact I was turning the letters round same day!

looby75

thats not good.

so basically theres nothing that can be done to hurry them up it would seem

demonicangel

daska wrote: »

I signed and sent back 3 letters before they transferred CB to DS1s father - he thought I was being difficult but in fact I was turning the letters round same day!

It took us seven months to do this, in the end we got the MP involved. It was all backdated though.

I can only suggest they wait the 16 weeks, and if still nothing, contact CB weekly for another two-three weeks and then if still nothing then get their MP involved.

looby75

thanks. They realise that it will be backdated. Unfortunately baby's and teenagers can't be fed and clothed back datedly lol

AnxiousMum

Your BIL should also get a claim going for child support from the child's mother.

looby75

AnxiousMum wrote: »

Your BIL should also get a claim going for child support from the child's mother.

I don't want to go into too many details but that's never going to happen, step niece had to come and live with them because of problems with her mum and social services are involved. I've got more chance of winning the lottery than BIL getting child support from his ex

Kimitatsu

Child benefit claims are exceptionally slow at the moment looby - its not just your family there are lots and lots in the same boat!

I think the depts take it in turns, we have done IS, JSA, and tax credits in the last few years so this time its the turn of CB!!!

looby75

Thanks Kimitatsu. the biggest problem is that without CB they can't get a single penny for step niece, she needs a whole new school uniform to start her new school next week and she came to them with very few personal items so she's having to share with her step sisters (sis has a dd the same age as her so that's something at least) It's all just red tape.

You never know one day all the agencies might actually start working properly at the same time lol

AnxiousMum

Looby - if you give the school a call, majority of schools have a 'used uniform' closet somewhere - and if you explain the situation to them, I'm sure that they would rummage through to see what they have that might be of use to the daughter. I know at our son's school we 'sell' a good quality blazer with badge for £5 - the badge alone is £5 to buy at the uniform store, but if a child is in need, we will pass it on at no charge. It's worth checking into.

looby75

AnxiousMum wrote: »

Looby - if you give the school a call, majority of schools have a 'used uniform' closet somewhere - and if you explain the situation to them, I'm sure that they would rummage through to see what they have that might be of use to the daughter. I know at our son's school we 'sell' a good quality blazer with badge for £5 - the badge alone is £5 to buy at the uniform store, but if a child is in need, we will pass it on at no charge. It's worth checking into.

thanks I'll suggest it to them, actually that might be a really really good idea as they are changing the uniform for when they go back to school after the summer hols.