ME AND MY KIDS WILL BE HOMELESS WITHOUT BENEFITS
EX-STUDENT SAYS COUNCIL ERROR COULD SEE HER AND FAMILY ON STREETS
A HULL mum-of-three says she is facing life on the streets after being told her benefits will be stopped.
Lilyth Coglan, 23, gave birth to her youngest child just three months ago but says she has been sent three letters from Hull City Council informing her the authority will be stopping her housing benefits.
Miss Coglan has recently had to quit her degree at the University of Hull after complications with her pregnancy and a traumatic birth.
Because she is classed as a “suspended student”, she is entitled to housing benefit.
But the council has since sent her letters saying that because she is in education, her benefits, which she relies on to pay the rent, will be stopped.
Miss Coglan, who is also mum to a three-year-old and a sevenyear-old, said without the payments, her family could end up on the streets.
She said: “I have given the council evidence on many occasions from my university of my situation and my entitlement to housing benefit, but they keep contacting me to say they are stopping our money,” said Miss Coglan.
“I’ve recently had an operation to have my gall bladder removed and only gave birth three months ago, so I’m meant to be at home recovering and bringing up my baby and children, but I’m having to live with the stress of potentially becoming homeless.
“I’m being made to feel like I’m doing something wrong by claiming the housing benefit even though I’m fully entitled to it and desperately need it.
“I will be able to give back when I go back to university and pass my course, but I’m made to feel awful. I just feel like I’m battling with the council to keep my family off the streets.”
Miss Coglan lives with her partner, who is struggling to find work and suffers from anxiety.
To prove that her studies are suspended until next year, Miss Coglan has been forced to visit the council office on each occasion they have stopped her payments.
“Every time I have to go in to the council, I get interrogated about my situation,” she said.
“I don’t feel like I should have to explain to them why I suspended my studies, as the letter from my university that I’ve shown them many times should be enough.
“What they are doing is not good enough and it is just unethical to be treated this way.”
The young mum fears that if she misses any rent payments, her landlord could use this as a reason to evict her from the property sooner than planned.
“We have a section 21 notice in place on us at the moment as the landlord wants possession of his property back, so we are having to find somewhere else to live,” she said.
“I’m worried that if the rent is late or missed due to issues with our payments, this could be used as a reason to be forced out sooner than agreed, and we literally have nowhere to go.”
The council says it has investigated the issue and says that payment is now in place.
A spokesman said: “The council made a check on the status of the resident regarding ongoing benefit entitlement. The query regarding benefit has been answered and so payment is in place as normal. Residents are urged to contact the council on 300300 to resolve any concerns.”