A MUM was left gobsmacked when she opened a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions which mistakenly said her 19-year-old son was DEAD.
Joanne Sayers from Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne, was shocked at the massive mistake as she tried to explain to the Department that her son Christopher was actually alive and well.
Christopher had told the Department for Work and Pensions that he no longer needed to claim Universal Credit, but they then made a massive blunder[/caption]
Christopher Sayers, 19, was at work when his post arrived and his mum opened the letter.
His mum said she phoned the Department and explained: “He was alive – unless I am living with a ghost”.
Department for Work and Pensions officials have apologised after the blunder.
Joanne, 44, said: “He was at work and I opened the letter and it said my son was dead.
“I tried to ring them for an hour and a half to tell them that he was alive – unless I am living with a ghost.
“I tried to explain that he wasn’t in the house so he couldn’t confirm the details.
“I had to ring back and was on hold for another 30 minutes.
MASSIVE MISTAKE
“I told them my son was alive and at work and that they sent a letter saying he was dead.
“They sent it addressed to my son as well.”
The 19-year-old had been receiving Universal Credit, but after finding a new job as a chef, told the Department he no longer needed to claim the benefit.
His mum said: “What if my son was not living at home and I had not spoken to him for a few days? I would have been panic-stricken.
“I was absolutely gobsmacked to receive a letter like that out of the blue.
“I’m just glad he’s okay. The Department has a lot to answer for, they really do.”
Joanne said the Department for Work and Pensions had since been on the phone to apologise for the error.
She added: “They phoned me yesterday and got one of the managers who is a mum to phone me out of courtesy to say sorry we sent a letter someone pushed the wrong button, it was a mistake.
“But it is unacceptable. It really is unacceptable behaviour.”
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Christopher, who has just started working as a chef, said: “I’m really annoyed and it shouldn’t have happened.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “We’ve spoken with Mr Sayers and apologised. The letter was sent in error but we can confirm he has repaid the money owed.”
Christopher, 19, and mum Joanne were shocked when the letter said the teen was DEAD[/caption]
The Department for Work and Pensions have apologised for the mistake[/caption]
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