Benefits nightmare for penniless victim of violent abuse
AN ABUSED woman who fled to Bulwell to escape her violent former partner says she is penniless after going without benefits for two months.
The 45-year-old has been so traumatised by her previous relationship that she has asked the Dispatch to protect her identity. For the purposes of this report, we will call her Jane.
She arrived in Bulwell last June after being hospitalised through injuries inflicted upon her.
Jane is severely diabetic and dependent on insulin. At the height of the abuse, her partner would lock her up and refuse her access to food.
He subjected her to such severe physical attacks she suffered panic attacks and developed agoraphobia – a fear of open spaces.
Her blood sugar became so low at one point that she was at risk of slipping into a life-threatening coma.
She plucked up the courage to leave her attacker and found refuge in a safe house at Bulwell, the location of which cannot be revealed.
It looked as though she had broken the shackles of her former partner and could start rebuilding her life.
But now she says she is at breaking point once again because she hasn't received any benefits since December 8 last year.
Jane says she transferred from jobseeker's allowance to employment and support allowance on December 3 at Bulwell JobCentre Plus. However she hasn't received a penny since, despite several phone-calls to find out why.
Her position is so dire she says she has had to give up counselling sessions and visits to rape-crisis support because she has no money to pay for travel.
Jane, who has no family or friends who live locally, says the only way she survived Christmas was with the help of two hampers given to her by charities.
She told the Dispatch: "I think it is absolutely despicable that a lady can be left with nothing for two months.
"It has all been so traumatic because it has brought back a lot of memories."
Jane also fears she might be evicted from the safe house because she cannot afford her 15.49 weekly service charge.
"I can be evicted and therefore deemed to have made myself homeless," she said. "My position is precarious because my council tax/housing benefits have also been suspended since the beginning of December.
"I am at my wit's end and thinking that the only answer is to return to my violent ex-partner. I know that if I do, I will be dead within six months."
The Dispatch contacted JobCentre Plus on Jane's behalf and they, in turn, investigated her case with the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP).
Action has now been taken and a DWP spokesman said: "We have apologised for the problems experienced by our customer and put in place arrangements to ensure she receives her full entitlement."
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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