A FIRST-TIME mum has been "living on the breadline" after waiting two months for child tax credits she believes she is entitled to.

Julie Manning, aged 38, of Bedford Road, Kidsgrove, gave birth to Ethan on August 1 and sent off the forms to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on August 17.

She made a joint claim with her partner, Ethan's father Paul Woodall, who is on incapacity benefit for a bad back.

The couple live together and receive £140 a week between them, plus £20 in child benefit.

But they received a letter dated September 24 saying their claim had been rejected due to insufficient information, despite Miss Manning saying she provided the necessary information over the telephone on that day.

Now, their claim has been referred to the HMRC complaints department and they have been told the issue may take until November 2 to resolve.

Miss Manning, who used to work at Asda in Tunstall, said: "I phoned the office two weeks after sending the forms off and they told me they had not received them.

"They said they had gone to a different department because I sent them by recorded delivery, but they would try and track them down.

"I completed and sent new forms not by recorded delivery but on the third week, the original forms turned up on the system.

"They said they needed extra information, which was my child benefit number and the address of my bank, which I gave over the phone. They then said they could go ahead."

Miss Manning said she was shocked to receive the rejection letter, in which she says she was told she had "not provided the information to enable us to process the application".

She made a telephone complaint on October 7 and received a letter on October 13 saying it would be dealt with by November 2.

Miss Manning said: "We're struggling to survive with a new baby and all the things we have to buy for him, like nappies. We are relying on friends and family to survive but that cannot go on forever. I've even had my free milk tokens stopped because of the problems with the child tax benefit claim. They are starving my child."

Partner Paul, who used to work for pottery firm Dudson Duraline in Tunstall, said: "We're struggling, but what can you do?"

Simon Harris, chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB), said he was "not surprised" that Miss Manning had problems with the child benefit form application.

Mr Harris said a lot of people contacted the CAB for help in filling in the application because it was "not straightforward".

Staffordshire Moorlands MP Charlotte Atkins has taken up Miss Manning's case after she contacted her for help.

She said: "I have dealt with many situations like these when the mother has been pushed from pillar to post."

An HMRC spokesman said: "We cannot comment on individual cases."

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