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Question about benefits refusal?

Lou_Iz
Lou_Iz Posts: 3 Newbie
in Benefits & tax credits
Hi everyone ,

I am a french citizen , and i have been living and working in the UK for over 16 years.
I had a baby a few weeks ago , and since i separated from the father while pregnant , i am now leaving on my own with my daughter.
I claimed the housing benefits , but they refused them to me , saying that i have only came to this country recently to have a baby.
I have sent them evidences proving that i have been working and living here for many years , and appealed their decision.
Now they just came back to me , with a new refusal.
I am very worried , considering that i am on my own with a newborn child , and unable to pay my rent.
Since I only moved in my flat , three months ago , if i break the contract , i wont get my deposit back , and my credit check will be affected.
If anyone has heard of a similar situation , any help would be very much appreciated !!
Thank you !!
:T
«1

Comments

  • tomtom256
    tomtom256 Posts: 2,256 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Looks like you are falling foul to the habitual residency check.

    If you have provided proof of residency for the 16 years, appeal and write a letter detailing your employment and address history to back this up.
  • terryw
    terryw Posts: 4,396 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Please state the reasons for the refusals from the official letters for both the original refusal and the appeal. Thanks
    "If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools"
    Extract from "If" by Rudyard Kipling
  • terryw
    terryw Posts: 4,396 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    tomtom256 wrote: »
    Looks like you are falling foul to the habitual residency check.

    If you have provided proof of residency for the 16 years, appeal and write a letter detailing your employment and address history to back this up.
    Very unlikely as the Op has been in the UK for many years.
    "If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools"
    Extract from "If" by Rudyard Kipling
  • tomtom256
    tomtom256 Posts: 2,256 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    terryw wrote: »
    Very unlikely as the Op has been in the UK for many years.

    Not really as she stated the council has said she has only just moved here to have her baby.
  • terryw
    terryw Posts: 4,396 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    tomtom256 wrote: »
    Not really as she stated the council has said she has only just moved here to have her baby.

    Let's see what the Op comes back with as the official reason
    "If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools"
    Extract from "If" by Rudyard Kipling
  • Lou_Iz
    Lou_Iz Posts: 3 Newbie
    Thank you to those who came back to me !
    On the letter i first received , they stated that they refused to give me the housing benefits : because " i was from abroad "
    I then appealed the decision to the council.
    I have still to receive their letter , but they said this morning over the phone , that they had not changed their decision because : " i am economicaly non existant" ....
    I have had an insurance number for many years and i have already sent them pay slips from the past few years.

    Many thanks
  • krisskross
    krisskross Posts: 7,677 Forumite
    What benefits are you currently claiming?

    Do you receive maternity pay?

    Hope you get sorted, it must be very worrying.
  • BigAunty
    BigAunty Posts: 8,310 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Contact your local MP.

    Book an appointment with the Citizens Advice Bureau.
  • Dunroamin
    Dunroamin Posts: 16,908 Forumite
    I don't really think that any official agency would write to refuse someone benefits on the grounds that they are "from abroad"
  • enabledebra
    enabledebra Posts: 8,075 Forumite
    "person from abroad" is the very unfortunate term used.

    OP here's all the info to help you understand what rules you need to satisfy to be eligible.

    This is as user friendly as it gets for an overview

    http://www.housing-rights.info/03_1_2_Housing_benefit_law.php#persons-from-abroad


    For detail if needed:

    http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hbgm-c4-people-from-abroad.pdf

    and

    http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hbgm-c4-people-from-abroad-annexes.pdf
This discussion has been closed.
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