No payment and hostile Job centre

Lr1234

Hello everyone,

I'm currently writing on behalf of my girlfriend who lives in another town with her young son. We don't live together currently which is important as you know regarding any claim.

She has had to claim universal credit as she's struggling financially late last year and was falling behind on her private rent ect. Originally it went fine, she had an advance payment and was receiving money each month with some going straight to her landlord I believe. 

Trouble started when she had to attend an interview for apparently being out the country and living back in her own country (she's European). This was false and we couldn't understand why they thought this. Payments stopped and they never restarted even tho she passed the interview fine and said everything was above board. Recieved a letter early January saying they cannot pay anymore for as the law states they cannot. No more explanation was ever given.

Now to where we are now. She applied again for UC. Was accepted and attended the first interview at job centre. Everything was okay and told another advance was going to be sent as rent was due again. This is where problems have begun. She hasn't recieved any advance even after being told money has been "released" according to the job centre. This is two weeks now. This is the first problem my girlfriend hasn't recieved anything even though she was accepted for universal credit again.

Second problem is she attended another interview which offered her a job with unreasonable hours. 6am starts or 5pm starts. This is with a young son to care for. She had to reject as she cannot find child care or even afford as they said they wouldn't cover the costs. Her son is also suffering with sleep apnea and other medical problems which as we all know nhs wait lists for treatment. Now as she rejected the job, the job centre said they have cancelled her universal credit claim as and I quote "she isn't doing what they are telling her to do". Obviously my girlfriend got seriously upset as its the second time they have failed her and left her without any money to feed her son. (I'm helping where I can but even I'm struggling). Due to a heated exchange which I'm sure you can't blame her for. The job centre told her to leave and she isn't welcome back even though they have failed her twice.

She's currently left without any benefits or chance to return to her job centre. She's tried to get an appointment at another job centre in a nearby town but nearest appointment is two weeks away. Two weeks without a penny.

Does anyone have any advice of what to do? Of if the job centre conduct can be reported. 

Should we contact universal credit phone line and explain what has happened as they have been unhelpful too.

She is really upset at the moment and it's made her very ill so any advice no matter how small will be a blessing.

Sorry for the long winded story but we are at wits end with everything in just trying to get back on our feet.

Thanks in advance

Luke 

Albus_Scope

Hey there @Lr1234

I'm so sorry to hear how the job centre have treated your girlfriend, that is very unfair of them.  I'd recommend writing to their local MP about this as things seem to happen fairly quickly when they get involved.  You can also make an official complaint to the DWP here 
I'm hoping this can get sorted out quickly for your girlfriend. Will you let us know how you all get on please?