Rising household bills, no rise in benefits!

Titch89

linky454 wrote: »

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

Along with the cost of everything else, which means that benefits going up by a couple of quid don't make that much of a difference.

linky454

No, but I know 7000 Parcelnet couriers who have not had a pay rise for 8 years!? So an extra fiver a week is certainly better than nothing!

(and to add to their misery, they pay taxes so that people on benefits can have their increases!)

Horace

JSA went up in April from £59.15 per week to £60.50 per week. I know where the OP is coming from because it is damned hard to survive. I am probably a bit worse off because I don't have any kids.

As for college, see if you can do the course part time - you are allowed to do 16 hrs a week withoiut it affecting your benefits. You may also be able to get the course for free if you explain to the college that you are unemployed.

I think those that denigrate people who are on benefits should have a kick up the backside - most of us want to work and can't get a job, it is doubly difficult if god forbid you are disabled (which is why I am working to self-employment). Remember it could be you one day - out there claiming JSA but don't you dare come on here moaning about your lot!

To think I used to chuck out money off vouchers and now they are treated like gold and are put towards my shopping. Anything really to save money and cut corners.

Louise03

Viper_7 wrote: »

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!

Sorry but I have to say that is a very negative comment.

Surely it is better to contribute to the economy and be self sufficient, rather than relying on benefits.

Viper_7

Louise03 wrote: »

Sorry but I have to say that is a very negative comment.

Surely it is better to contribute to the economy and be self sufficient, rather than relying on benefits.

correct it is, but there is no incentive to work, as when you do work you often work for peanuts when you take into account all the benefits you lose.

Doom_and_Gloom

At 19 JSA is £47.95/wk without children. The OP will however have single parent JSA so will be a bit more but not by that much considering.

bryanb

Viper_7 wrote: »

correct it is, but there is no incentive to work, as when you do work you often work for peanuts when you take into account all the benefits you lose.

Perhaps a cut in the level of benefits would be a better incentive in that case.

Nicolefury

I didn't think you were able to claim JSA as a full time college student, I wasn't through sixth form and I was the same age as the OP?

Doom_and_Gloom

Nicolefury wrote: »

I didn't think you were able to claim JSA as a full time college student, I wasn't through sixth form and I was the same age as the OP?

It depends on circumstances. The more dire they are the more you are likely to get benefits of some kind. If you are 16 and estraged from your parents for example you can get JSA even if education (or something very simular that's the same amount I do believe). So it is possible the OP could get JSA while in education.

ccastley

The OP had a very valid point and has asked a very valid question, and does not deserve to have everyone attacking her. Inflation and 'the credit crunch' is giving everyone a hard time and you should feel no worse for feeling the pinch if you are on benefits, especially, as in the OP's case, you are trying to improve life for yourself and you family by studying. She is a young Mum and is taking the opportunities available for her to get back to work.

For the record, I have ME, stay at home to look after my son aged 3 after giving up full time work (which I returned to when my son was 4 month's old)in January before it killed me (being at home is no easier but at least my son won't sack me for having a bad day!) and my husband works full time. We get some tax credits as my husband is disabled following a head injury at work 2 years ago, but I get no personal benefits, such as incap or income support, or housing or council tax benefit. I do not get DLA and nor does he. We lost our house this year due to these circumstances.

I do not begrudge the OP her benefits and in fact commend her for going to college when it is damn hard to do that and bring up a kid.

I sincerely hope that the government reviews what is happening and the state of the economy as it is having a very negative impact on everybody, and it kills me to see utility companies raking in record profits year after year whilst still increasing energy costs by 40% and no-one is doing anything about this. I would liek to make a stand, but how do you do this? I can;t help but feel something's got to give.

On the advice front Lizard_lady, I can only echo what another poster said about groceries and using the OS board. Also ensure you're getting any entitlement you may be due for free milk and fruit and veg and see if you're entitled to a Warm Front grant for insultation, etc, to help with energy costs, which are killing everyone!

The best of luck to you, and please don't be disheartened by what other people have said.