Tax credit problem may cause homelessness.

Carer

I'll try and keep this brief.

Friend has moved in with her boyfriend and is now pregnant.
He has 2 children who live with them. The mother of the children only moved out a few weeks before friend moved in but relationship had been over for a long time.
Children's mother has boyfriend who she now lives with.

Friend works 30 hrs, (minimum wage) boyfriend had to give up work when children's mother left as youngest child is still a toddler and nursery would cost more than he could earn.

Due to all the change of circumstances, they have had to claim tax credits and HB and CTB.

The problem is that HB won't look at their claim until tax credit award is decided and tax credits told her today that it could be another 8 weeks before claim is awarded.

They are 3 months behind on the rent and council tax as friend's money is only enough to feed them all and pay small bills and travel to work. The children's mother pays nothing and can't even be bothered to visit them.

Landlord is getting very annoyed and threatening to evict them.

Is there anything they can do to speed up the process, or any emergency fund they can access to help?

Notmyrealname

Under Housing Benefit there is a rule, Rule 92 I believe, where they have to make payment on account after 14 days of a claim being made if all the information has been provided.

gingergee

Tell them to keep ringing tax credits. Everytime she does, her claim gets bumped to the top. It took me 14 weeks to get my award through, and HB was cocked up all this time, but it got back payed. Maybe a word with the LL would help, as would paying a small amount.
HB can do a "provisional" award, thats what happened with me in the end, after lots of time sat there crying. It can be sorted, just takes time and a lot of chasing up. x

skibadee

Has boyfriend opened a case with CSA for maintenance for his 2 children?

GoodExample

Ringing tax credits constantly wont get your claim "bumped" anywhere i'm afraid to say.
Due to the change of circumstance, it may take a little longer, because your friends boyfriends old joint claim will be terminated, and a new joint claim startd with your friend. Therefore, the timescale will be the same as when you maing a new claim. It is not a case of a simple change of circumstance (such as working hours affecting entitlement etc).

You are able to apply apply for a "hardship payment" from tax credits, though you are only able to do this at least 7 days following the termination of the original claim - providing of course you would still be entitled to receive tax credits - which with the information provided, seems likely.

There are certain factors which may cause the claim to take longer to be finalised - such as mis-matched information against other government departments (DWP etc), so try to make sure all of the information given is as accurate as possibe, otherwise a compliance team will be instructed to investigate, you will be asked to provide documentation as evidence, which will then delay things further.

Out of interest - when was the claim applied for?