Myself and our teenage pregnancy advisor have currently got a problem wih the issue of milk tokens.....
Whilst mum is pregnant and on benefit the milk token is issued without any problem,(although this system is due to change so this may be another problem in the future! ) However as soon as a claim is made for Child tax credit, the token stops. Apparently the health authority 'harvest'the details of eligible claimants from ctc system every 4 weeks, leaving the claimant without milk token for up to 7weeks. We end up with very young mums trying to manage on £44 per week with a new baby and having to find around £7 for baby milk ,pretty impossible, and we are worried this will lead to health issues for their babies. Although this is not strictly welfare rights I just wondered if any workers in this field had any examples of practical solutions to this.

Milk tokens have become a nightmare since they have been taken over by the Inland Revenue who do not have a clue what they are doing!

The address for advisers to contact is:

Token Distribution Unit
PO Box 3049
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 3YT

Tel no 0845 850 1032

I am waiting for a reply to a formal complaint I have made to the Inland Revenue Customer Relations in Preston. Presumably this is an issue CPAG would be interested in.

Going off the theme slightly, does anyone know for sure who is responsible for administering milk tokens for disabled children aged 5+ who need to be home educated due to their disability? My client has been round the houses and we have most recently been told to contact Disability Benefits Centre, but a definitive answer would be nice.

Hi,

getting though to the department by telephone is a almost impossible. I finally got though to hear a recorded message to say the service was not available Aghggggg. The P.O. box doesn't fill me with confidence, however I have sent a couple of emails, so far no response. I am trying to help 2 clients who are struggling to get by on Income support. Totally frustrated, I have asked our local MP to investigate the fiasco. She has agreed to write to Dr Stephen Ladyman M.P. from the Department of Health. Watch this space...

Debbie

Thanks, I will try that myself, can't say i am very hopeful though!

The Token Distribution Unit now issue interim tokens (usually 5 weeks worth) - as a response to the Tax Credit delays.

Parents have to ask for them though - once the baby is born they can ring the TDU on 0845 850 1032 and give the baby's details.

Not sure if this is helpful, but we were told at a Jobcentre Plus liaison meeting last week that the Dept of Health are now responsible for distribution of milk tokens (from 1 November) - DWP no longer have anything to do with it unless it is a "clerically maintained" claim. The tel. no for the Token Distribution Line is the same as above. I assume this also means the Inland Revenue are no longer responsible for tokens

Yeh, thats the story we've had. Have managed to track down the body responsible for issuing tokens for families with disabled children aged 5+ unable to attend school. It is the Disability & Carers Centre and the phone number for the relevant section is 01253 337871. Mind you, child concerned turned 5 in August & it has taken up until now for someone to own up to being the section that deals with it- to add insult to injury, we have also been told no guarantee that the tokens will be backdated to August....