Our benefit blackout struggle

Benefits blackout: Peter Warburton and his family, fiancee Lisa and baby Ava-Lilly

A DESPERATE family had to get supplies from a foodbank after waiting four months for child benefit to arrive.

Peter Warburton (31) and fiancee Lisa-Michelle Simpson (28), who live in Shaw, went to Shaw Salvation Army as they struggled to afford to eat.

They were overwhelmed by kindness after one volunteer bought their baby daughter a box of milk out of her own pocket.

When Ava-Lilly Warburton was born in August, Mr Warburton applied for child benefit. Peter was told his claim couldn’t be processed because he had not provided enough information.

He sent a second birth certificate with further details, which the benefits office claimed not to have seen, and was advised it could be three months before everything was arranged.

Peter said: “When we eventually received our child benefit, it was backdated only from September 8, so we were paid short by over two weeks.

“Until we received our payment, we were also unable to claim child tax credit, which were an essential part of the income we needed.”

After being contacted by the Chronicle, HM Revenue and Customs updated Mr Warburton and he began to receive his child tax credit payment.

Peter added: “We’ve finally got help with the child tax credit which means we can now start applying for healthy start milk vouchers.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been told that it will take a further four to five weeks. When you’re a new parent and you are struggling this much, it can be overwhelming.”

Peter has struggled to maintain his finances since his Chancery Lane home was affected by the nearby gas explosion which killed toddler Jamie Heaton. The expense of hotel stays and repairs led to a money shortage.

A spokesman from HMRC said: “We are always sorry if there has been a delay in payments — claims need to be checked before they can be put into payment and can be backdated three months.”