I am assisting a client who is a lone parent in receipt of Income Support and CTC for her 5 children. In early September TC removed the children in error and ended her payments. On the 13.9.05 she obtained a payment of 2 weeks money at our local tax office and was promised a giro for £1336.00, the giro did not arrive and after 2 weeks and numerous phone calls she was advised that it had not been sent. Following a recent conversation with the TC office we were told that she would be paid on the 1.11.05 which would be 4 weeks payment in arrears and advised to make a fresh claim, this will allow weekly system payments. During a further conversation with TC we were told that making a new claim would be a disater and result in no payment on the 1.11.05. The local MP, Jack Straw, wrote a letter to TC a week ago and we are still awaiting a response and applications have been submitted to the Social Fund but I am at a loss as to what to advise regarding a reapplication to TC. Can anyone suggest the best course of action?

I fail to see why your client has to make a new claim at all. It appears it is not her error that the claim was stopped?

TCO should merely reinstate the claim - why on earth are they finding this so difficult?

If you havn't already could you ask your local MP to ring TCO, MP's have a special hotline where the staff (sometimes) know what they're doing!

A complaint to the customer relations dept is a must in cases like this too - i can see a compensation claim coming!

Thank you, a complaint has been submitted and will be pursued and our MP chose to write rather than phone, although we will return to him if the matter is not resolved.

I also fail to understand why the error cannot be corrected but the TCO refuse and my client no longer has any money or anyone willing to lend her money.

Just a thought but, would your local Inland Revenue office issue her with an emergency payment?

We've had cases which are similar and our MP has got emergency payments sorted out quite quickly.