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Michael meets his partner whilst they are both residents of Aldo House, both had previously been in foster care and children’s homes
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They move into their own accommodation and shortly after their first child, Chris, is born.
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Soon after this the birth of their son Michael's rationship with his partner begins to deteriorate. He suffers verbal and physical abuse from his partner and becomes the victim of constant intimidation from her family.
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Early this year he was forced to leave the house, moving into a small flat on his own. He visited and looked after his young son as often as his partner would allow.
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He made a new claim for income support but was informed that he would have to make a new claim for child benefit first.
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Soon after this his partner informed social services that she was unable to cope with Chris and Michael took on full time care.
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As he was now looking after his son full time Michael contacts the Job Centre in order to cancel his claim for JSA which he had been opened in February,
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After waiting three weeks he called up HMRC for an update on his claim; he was informed that there was no record of his claim and that he would have to apply again
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In between Michael was forced to depend on Local Authority loans to get by, in total receiving £240. Michael along with his caseworker from Aldo house was informed that, due to unresponsiveness on his part, he was no longer eligible for further support.
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After his case worker telephoned HMRC it became apparent that this unresponsiveness was the result of Michael’s address having been incorrectly recorded on the HMRC database. This was later corrected.
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During this period he was forced to rely on a local food bank to feed himself and his child. Due to the operators annual limit of three food packs per household this lifeline was soon exhausted.
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At the same time Michael was informed that he could not open a new claim for child benefit due to the claim made for Chris's entitlement by his former partner.
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He was then informed that he would have to get his former partner to sign a form agreeing to any child benefit being transferred to his name
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Despite being made aware of the history of domestic abuse suffered by him at the hands of his partner HRMC informed him that any failure to get the form signed would only result in further delays to his benefit.
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Staff at Aldo House invited his partner in so that she could end her claim and allow Michael to receive the money he needed to care for their child. When she arrived she was under the influence of alcohol and was refused entry, she quickly became abusive and staff were forced to cut off all ties with her.
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After meeting with his local MP he was advised to write to the manager of the Department of Work and Pensions.
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Michael receieves a letter from the DWP stating that there was nothing which they could do to help.
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Michael’s support worker sent a letter querying his claim with the DWP explaining how desperate his situation had become. She receives no response.
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After 12 weeks without access to any means to support his infant son he had gotten to the stage were he felt that he had no where to turn.
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Michaels support worker phones Social Services in a last bid for aid. She is informed that they could only offer to write a supporting letter but first needed a letter from his solicitor stating that he had a residency order.
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After visiting his solicitor he was told that he did not have a residency order and that he would have to apply for legal aid before this could go before court.
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Staff at Aldo House again phoned Social Services querying section 17 of the Children’s act with regards to the wellbeing of Michaels son; they were informed that due to budget cuts social services were no longer required to abide by this act.
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After again contacting social services staff were informed that financial assistance would only be offered in situations which were ‘100%’ desperate. Staff assured Social Services that his situation was extremely desperate; they were advised to call back later and try to speak to a higher management who could make a decision.
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On the 6th of August Michael received a call from the DWP, after asking a few questions they agreed to make a payment to him that day for his income support. As the DWP only had confirmation that his former partner had stopped receiving child benefit on the 9th of July payment could only be backdated to this date.
