A HARD up mother-of-two has made a desperate plea for help after waiting five months for the Inland Revenue to process her working tax credit claim.

Thirty-year-old Courtney Roberts, from Stourport, has been left high and dry after closing her old claim and applying for a new one when she and her husband separated.

The part-time receptionist at a computer firm was finally given a £100 emergency payment last week after a heartfelt plea to the Inland Revenue's Preston head office.

Mrs Roberts, of Wivelden Avenue, Wilden Top, who has two daughters, Chloe, five and two-year-old Maddie, said she had exhausted all her financial resources during the past five months.

"I have had to increase my bank overdraft to the maximum limit that the bank is prepared to lend me," she added. "I have also borrowed money from friends and family and feel I can no longer ask for help."

Mrs Roberts said she had made countless phone calls after initially making the claim online. After four months, she wrote a letter of complaint and received a reply saying to expect a response to the points raised within six to eight weeks.

She has phoned the working tax credit office again, only to be told her claim was being processed and they could do nothing more to help.

"Can it be right that I have gone to work to try and support my children, I have paid my taxes in full and yet I can't get what I'm entitled to?," said Mrs Roberts, "I don't know how much longer I have to struggle before I get some help."

Inland Revenue press officer, Sheila Good, said: "HM Revenue and Customs thanks the Shuttle/Times and News for bringing this case to its attention. We have already contacted Mrs Roberts direct.

"If any of our tax credit customers have a concern about their claim, then we recommend they contact our tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900."