Our agents contacted us regarding a lady who has fled a serious domestic abuse situation, taking her three children with her. They are currently being housed in temporary accommodation and the mum has been struggling with her health as a result of the abuse. She has been claiming Statutory Sickness Payments, but that isn’t enough to meet her outgoings. She had to leave the family home suddenly and was unable to take the children’s birth certificates with her, and without these she is unable to get the child benefit claim transferred to her. The father is currently refusing to relinquish the child benefit claim, even though he is not in contact with them.
We agreed to send £30, which would cover the cost of the three replacement birth certificates, along with a further £220 to allow them to buy some food and essential items.