Abby
Category: Advice
This case study illustrates how administration failures by government agencies can impact on resettlement.
During custody Abby surrendered her claim to Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit, to allow family caring for her two children to claim these benefits.
Prior to her release, NIACRO supported Abby by helping her to complete a Community Care Grant application for clothing;completing an Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) application form and giving her advice and guidance in relation to getting her Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit reinstated to her.
Upon her release Abby submitted her completed ESA application to her local Jobs and Benefits Office (JBO), along with evidence of her change of circumstances. Payment was delayed as the ESA centre stated it hadn’t received Abby’s discharge papers or her medical evidence. Abby had to re-submit all her evidence and her allowance was not awarded until a full 18 weeks after her release.
At the same time, Abby's community care grant application was refused on the grounds that she was not receiving a qualifying benefit (Income Related ESA). NIACRO made further representations to the Office of the Social Fund Commissioner (OSFC) on her behalf to seek payment of the community care grant.
The OSFC refused to award the grant to Abby, but NIACRO made further representations, which eventually resulted in a decision being made in her favour some 17 weeks after the initial application.
The effect on Abby was immense. Having resumed full parental responsibility for the care of her children upon her release, the delays in the system placed unnecessary financial pressure upon the family. Abby went into debt, as she had no option but to borrow money to meet her basic living expenses. She also experienced considerable delay in getting her Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit reinstated.
NIACRO has been in regular contact with Abby via personal meetings, telephone and letter. We have also spent a great deal of time liasing on her behalf with the ESA centre and Jobs and Benefits Office; Abby's probation officer (who was concerned these unresolved issues would have a destabilising impact on her and affect her ability to comply with the terms of her order); H.M. Revenue and Customs; Social Fund Office; OSFC and the Law Centre NI. We are confident that, with our help, Abby's financial difficulties will be resolved and she can begin her life again with her family.