Two Southport councillors have been alerted to serious flaws in the Child Benefit system which has denied local families thousands of pounds they were entitled to.
Councillor Pat Keith and Councillor Lynne Thompson, Lib Dem representatives for Cambridge and Ainsdale wards respectively, were informed of this substantial financial shortfall by residents who say they were misled by the government Benefit Office.
“ I have been contacted about two cases, with one going back to 2016 when the woman concerned enquired about claiming Child Benefit for her newly born third child and was told that benefit was capped at two children, “ said Councillor Keith.
“Four years and two more children later she suddenly received a letter stating that there was no cap and that people could claim for any number of children
“When she contacted the Benefit Office to claim the missing payments she was informed they could be backdated for only three months. This means that her family have missed out on thousands of pounds.
“Unfortunately she was given the wrong information verbally and therefore has no recourse and I have been contacted by another family in an identical situation which I find reprehensible. This is an important benefit for families and its very disturbing to think children are missing out on their entitlement.
Councillor Thompson said: At a time when child poverty is a growing and alarming concern in this country situations like this are hugely distressing and just should not happen.
The Government website states: “You get Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is: under 16 or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training. Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child. It’s paid every 4 weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.”
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