Rising household bills, no rise in benefits!

Lizard_Lady

Hi, does anyone else feel that if household bills are going up constantly, like gas, electric, tv license, water. then why dont they up our benefits? i cant afford the 40% rise in gas n electric on jobseekers and child tax credit. im with the best supplier for me, but have to pay £1.87 a week in a service charge for a key meter. im starting college in september full time (im 19) and my daughters going in to nursery, the only help i will get is paying for childcare, i still have to pay nearly £500 for course and bus fare will cost £13 a week. I cant help but panacking about money. im trying to go to college to better myself for me and my daughter but its so hard when its so expensive.

anyone else in same sort of position?

Oldernotwiser

Lizard_Lady wrote: »

Hi, does anyone else feel that if household bills are going up constantly, like gas, electric, tv license, water. then why dont they up our benefits? i cant afford the 40% rise in gas n electric on jobseekers and child tax credit. im with the best supplier for me, but have to pay £1.87 a week in a service charge for a key meter. im starting college in september full time (im 19) and my daughters going in to nursery, the only help i will get is paying for childcare, i still have to pay nearly £500 for course and bus fare will cost £13 a week. I cant help but panacking about money. im trying to go to college to better myself for me and my daughter but its so hard when its so expensive.

anyone else in same sort of position?

Many courses are free if you're on means tested benefits; have you explored this option with the college? I have to say you're very lucky getting childcare paid for as this happens less and less and is expensive for such a young child. What course will you be doing?

Reggie_Rebel

Lizard_Lady wrote: »

anyone else in same sort of position?

All of us love, all of us.

Everything up except wages

Graham_Devon

Lizard_Lady wrote: »

Hi, does anyone else feel that if household bills are going up constantly, like gas, electric, tv license, water. then why dont they up our benefits? i cant afford the 40% rise in gas n electric on jobseekers and child tax credit. im with the best supplier for me, but have to pay £1.87 a week in a service charge for a key meter. im starting college in september full time (im 19) and my daughters going in to nursery, the only help i will get is paying for childcare, i still have to pay nearly £500 for course and bus fare will cost £13 a week. I cant help but panacking about money. im trying to go to college to better myself for me and my daughter but its so hard when its so expensive.

anyone else in same sort of position?

Because the country can't afford to pay more tax to just up benefits.

We are all in the same boat, wages have gone up but straight away fuel prices have taken that and more, let along council tax rises, food rises, gas rises etc.

Benefits have actually got a higher rise than NHS workers.

mrcow

Lizard_Lady wrote: »

Hi, does anyone else feel that if household bills are going up constantly, like gas, electric, tv license, water. then why dont they up our benefits? i cant afford the 40% rise in gas n electric on jobseekers and child tax credit. im with the best supplier for me, but have to pay £1.87 a week in a service charge for a key meter.

Well I pay for your benefits, and my bills are rising too, so don't expect any extra money too soon, as I haven't got any lol!

therealdessie

Don't forget that even on a meter you can change provider - now is a great time to do a money checkup and consider ways to be smarter with your energy bills. Sometimes these things are a hidden blessing

DaisyFlower

Lizard_Lady wrote: »

Hi, does anyone else feel that if household bills are going up constantly, like gas, electric, tv license, water. then why dont they up our benefits? i cant afford the 40% rise in gas n electric on jobseekers and child tax credit. im with the best supplier for me, but have to pay £1.87 a week in a service charge for a key meter. im starting college in september full time (im 19) and my daughters going in to nursery, the only help i will get is paying for childcare, i still have to pay nearly £500 for course and bus fare will cost £13 a week. I cant help but panacking about money. im trying to go to college to better myself for me and my daughter but its so hard when its so expensive.

anyone else in same sort of position?

Benefits should not be a lifestyle choice but a safety net so rather than be ungrateful for what you get maybe you should realise how lucky you are to live in a country that has a welfare state.

Taxes should not rise in order to give those on benefits a raise. If you need more money than you either need to work (around studies if need be) or the babys father needs to contribute more.

Doom_and_Gloom

I'm sorry DaisyFlower but she is on JSA meaning she is LOOKING for a job. It is not her fault she hasn't been able to find one. She has a child to support and she is going back into education to try and make her life better. I have to say people can be a bit harsh to those on benefits. I'm on JSA myself and am 19. I never thought this would happen as I am more than willing to work and am very able as well. Finding a job is not easy and is being made harder by the crash that is causing lay offs. Even with all the jobs that are freeing up due to immigrants going back home there are not enough jobs.
I am sure the OP wants to get a job to show their child that work is essential to live a life above the breadline. Benefits are under the line to live on the breadline or above.
Lizard_Lady I hope you well in finding a job, keeping yourself and your daughter well and I wish you wellness for your finances. Try the OS board to try and lower your bills if possible. Groceries are usually a good place to start if you have not already.
D&G

bryanb

Same problem with my pension.

linky454

Am I missing something?

Didn't child tax credit go up a few quid in April?
Didn't child benefit go up a few quid in April?

Your getting full council tax benefit I presume? Well Council tax went up for everyone this tax year, so that is an increase in benefits, even if you don't realise it.
I bet your rent went up also, and your housing benefit would have automatically gone up to cover it, again you probably didn't realise (and from this post I don't think you did). It may not seem like money in your pocket. Its only when you work, you realise these are increases.


This sounds like a rant, but it is not, just be thankful (and mindful of what you get), there's always someone else worse off.

Viper_7

We have just lost all our Child tax credit - because my wife has gone back to work for a few hours a week.

So now, the first £500 she works for + the tax she pays is now done for free!!

Better off not working!