News

| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(6)
Naomi Stokes and Gavin Hardy received just one benefits payment in three months.
Naomi Stokes and Gavin Hardy received just one benefits payment in three months.
advertisement

Benefits blunder leaves couple destitute

Chris Jones
10/ 1/2008

A YOUNG couple are pleading with benefits bosses to sort out their payments after months spent living without heating or hot water.

Naomi Stokes and Gavin Hardy, endured a lonely Christmas without utilities at their Harley Court home after they say wranglings with benefits officers resulted in the couple only receiving one fortnightly payment in three months.

That £185, received on Christmas eve, was used up paying debts the family have been forced to take in order to survive since September, as well as buying small presents for their close family.

The couple, who have been together for the past six years are now desperate to sort out their financial entitlement as the winter cold snap sets in.

Miss Stokes, 22, said: "It was a horrible Christmas, we had no heating and no hot water.

"We have had to borrow money from everyone, we've even had our windows smashed because we can't afford to pay them back until this is sorted.

"It's a struggled to survive, we haven't been able to have hot water or heating for weeks."

Problems for the young couple first surfaced in September when they stopped their job seekers allowance to apply for incapacity benefit.

They say job centre staff failed to send out the relevant questionnaire for them to complete four separate times, forcing the cash strapped couple to walk to the benefits office in Manchester to collect the form, and return it to staff at Middleton job centre in person.

The couple finally received their first payment on 24 December - the first the couple say they have received since the end of September, apart from a single emergency loan sanctioned by benefits chiefs.

But just as the couple thought their money woes were sorted, they were hit with the news they were ineligible for back pay on the three months of missing payments and after receiving just one instalment of their benefits on Christmas eve, they've been told they need to fill yet another questionnaire form just to continue receiving their payments.

A distraught Miss Stokes said: "I just don't know where to turn, we have no heating, electric or hot water, no phone or nothing.

"I have been to the benefits office almost every day, but I just keep getting fobbed off."

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said: "Unfortunately we cannot discuss individual cases as our dealings with customers are confidential. However, the DWP takes customer satisfaction very seriously and we are committed to providing customers with the best service we can."

He added the majority of DWP customers preferred to contact them by phone and that specialist services were available to cater for individual needs.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(6)


Most recent 2 of 6 user comments

   I think before any of u judge these people you should have the facts first! i am a close friend of the family and know there situation, he has treachers syndrome which means he is incapable of interacting and has severe learning difficulties, therefore this prevents him getting work. Second she has recently won a battle at the high court to take on her late sister's children aged 7 and 5,therefore she cant work.So b4 u all jump in with your nasty and hurtful comments, make sure u know the facts first! That is why they have to go to incapacity as the job centre and high court advised them.They did not choose to be like that. So lets all av a bit of respect and av a go at the proper "dole dossers" like the addicts and the thiefs, not people that are just trying to live there lifes as best they can in the situation they are in!
Tas_1983
31/01/2008 at 16:09
   Should we really feel sorry for the couple featured in last weeks paper left destitute because of a benefit blunder , maybe if this couple went out and found full time employment like the rest of us they would not have been destitute over the Christmas period, the young couple should never rely on free cash handouts for doing nothing get a job there are plenty of jobs out there for everyone to do. it will be interesting see if this couple have ever worked or have they always claimed state benefits since leaving school . Finally I just hope the conservatives never get into power as their 3 strikes scheme for the unemployed will work well in Middleton Regards Phil Burke Manchester
Philip Burke
23/01/2008 at 16:22
Have your say
 
Have your say Got an opinion you want to share?
Register now and have your comments heard.

Register now

Latest stories
 

 
Petrol prices
 

Motorists - are rising fuel prices tempting you to use public transport more?

Yes
13%
No
87%

Poll has now ended

Personal Finance
 

0% Balance Transfer Cards
Card Typical APR
Virgin Credit Card 15.9%
Egg Card 16.9%
Barclaycard Platinum 14.9%
Barclaycard OnePulse For London 14.9%
Capital One BT Exclusive 13.9%
Customers with a 'good' credit profile
Company Typical APR
FirstPlus Exclusive Rate 6.6%
Moneyback Bank 7.2%
Alliance & Leicester 7.7%
Halifax (Semi-exclusive) 7.8%
Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) 7.8%
Barclays 7.9%
ISA Accounts
Provider AER*
ICESAVE
Easy Access ISA 		6.10%
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER
Direct ISA Issue 4 		6.00%
YORKSHIRE BS
e-ISA 		5.55%
Fees may apply