Help What a Mess

makingendsmeet_2

Ok in breif. I was declared Bankrupt at the end of May this year. At the begining of June I was signed off work with vertigo and have only just returned to work this week. All the time I have been off work I have received no income other than SSP @ £74 per week. In that time I have needed that money just to feed me and my son. I have also had to keep paying his nursery to keep his place open. I have paid No rent, No council tax, No Water Rates, No Gas/Elec or TV license etc. Just food and Petrol. On returning to work today I have found we are being made redundant. I have been with the company 17 years and will get statoury redundancy of £4650 plus my holiday entitlement. At first I was hoping to use this money to get up to date with essential bills and pay my mortgage for the 9 months state benefits won't. However I am pretty sure that the OR will want 100% of my redundancy money. I will never catch up on my bills whilst being on income support. I could try and find other work but its not looking good in the current economic climate and having a 4yo dependant doesn't help. Does anyone have any ideas on weather the OR would let me keep some of my redundancy to catch up on essential bills????

storminbalder

The same happened to me nearly 2 years ago. Initially the OR said that they wanted the full amount of £5382. Through contact with the assistant OR both by phone and letter, I detailed arguments which I felt should be taken into consideration in any reappraisal of the amount I'd lose.

I really do feel that they bent over backwards to help me as much as possible and were very helpful and understanding. End result, I kept 40% and forwarded a cheque for 2900 and something pounds. I obviously was much happier as a result.

I get the impression that they have a great deal of flexibility, and if approached in the right way would do the same for you.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Edit: They also let me keep a £2000+ car for some reason! I was stunned at that decision, so that rather offset the £2900 that I hadn't expected to lose.