Don't know where to turn

rogerblack

In addition to the residency order, perhaps another way of speeding things up would be to ring the benefit fraud hotline.
Anything else that does not result in an allegation of fraud will likely not recover the money paid - or let the amount paid out be repaid to the correct recipient even if not recovered.

peteduk

Dear all,
Thank you for your concern and advice.

After the information received my daughter has been in touch with some of the help suggested e.g. CAB during today and although obviously nothing is resolved she feels more positive.
As I understand it she cannot get benefits until she has a 'residency order' / 'guardianship' which is a time consuming process. She had already asked a solicitor to help with this but there is also a legal aid process to go through.

Unfortunately the solicitor she has does not deal with any benefits type claims so this is to be the subject of another chat with one of the contacts from today - and possible referral to another solicitor (I hope it doesn't get more complicated)

Our granddaughter is 19 and the baby is 2. To all intents and purposes our granddaughter is not living at home except when she wants something. She isn't caring for the baby. She refuses to see reason about the benefits etc and doesn't seem bothered about what she's putting her mother and rest of the family through.

I understand that the benefits people will struggle as to who to believe so it looks like my daughter is going to have to go down a legal route.
Social services are trying to close the case because the baby is no longer at risk so I take on board the advice offered about getting back in touch with them.

Thanks again, I will keep in touch about progress and if someone has any more advice we would would be grateful to receive it.

rogerblack

I wonder if the CSA have a role in this.
From both 'non resident parents'. Perhaps a post on the CSA forum might be worthwhile.

[Deleted User]

peteduk wrote: »

Dear all,
Thank you for your concern and advice.

After the information received my daughter has been in touch with some of the help suggested e.g. CAB during today and although obviously nothing is resolved she feels more positive.
As I understand it she cannot get benefits until she has a 'residency order' / 'guardianship' which is a time consuming process. She had already asked a solicitor to help with this but there is also a legal aid process to go through.

Unfortunately the solicitor she has does not deal with any benefits type claims so this is to be the subject of another chat with one of the contacts from today - and possible referral to another solicitor (I hope it doesn't get more complicated)

Our granddaughter is 19 and the baby is 2. To all intents and purposes our granddaughter is not living at home except when she wants something. She isn't caring for the baby. She refuses to see reason about the benefits etc and doesn't seem bothered about what she's putting her mother and rest of the family through.

I understand that the benefits people will struggle as to who to believe so it looks like my daughter is going to have to go down a legal route.
Social services are trying to close the case because the baby is no longer at risk so I take on board the advice offered about getting back in touch with them.

Thanks again, I will keep in touch about progress and if someone has any more advice we would would be grateful to receive it.

Yes it is a lengthly process it has taken my friend 12 weeks to get the child benefit sorted and the Solicitor didnt rush the residency order as she said the longer the Mother didn't make any contact the better and as the child was in no danger to wait.
Social services only came once and just to check baby was being well cared for, absolutely no worries on that part so they left and won't be back.

Emmzi

you need to be really harsh and play the game to get at the resources to help.

It is much more difficult and expensive to place the child in care than to get the finger out and help for a week sorting out benefits (if you are a care worker.)

So really play up "I can afford to keep this baby for another week and then I can't so when will you be collecting them?"

LL30

Emmzi wrote: »

you need to be really harsh and play the game to get at the resources to help.

It is much more difficult and expensive to place the child in care than to get the finger out and help for a week sorting out benefits (if you are a care worker.)

So really play up "I can afford to keep this baby for another week and then I can't so when will you be collecting them?"

Absolutely agree. The child is 'in need' (at risk as is was back in the day) Basic needs cannot be met by carer due to no money. Mother is not caring for child and actively causing neglect by withholding financial assistance. In order to make SS jump, you need to hold up the hoops. They do not put children in care willy nilly and they will seek to keep baby with your daughter. In order to do this they need to address the real immediate issues instead of issuing a plaster. Scary stuff admittedly, but the current scenario cannot continue. Your daughter is going to need to be very brave xxx

peteduk

Dear all,
Thank you all again for your concern and advice.
We had 1 very big item of good news and 1 setback today.

The setback was that the CAB recommended solicitor said there is nothing they could do. (I think that means until residency or guardianship is established which is a separate legal process but I'm not sure).

The good news is that our Granddaughter has said she will make an appointment to see the benefits people, explain the current situation and withdraw her claim to the benefits. Hopefully this will then leave the way for my daughter to apply.
But this is the only time our Grand daughter has even agreed to consider this despite the situation going on for a few months. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will happen speedily - and that she does not change her mind.
It is really unexpected and after all that has happened almost too good to be true.
Thanks again and I will keep you informed.

[Deleted User]

My friend is using Gladstones Solicitors, they have been very good and do legal aid.

peteduk

Just to update you on the latest:
My grandaughter has signed off her child related benefits therefore allowing my daughter to apply.
This will still take 3 weeks and allow the debts to increase still further. She's also been told that nothing can be backdated.
So we have an improved situation but we're not out of the woods yet.
Thank you all for your support