Our SOA

makingendsmeet_2

tigger23 wrote: »

That's why it's not really an option for us to not pay things. It would be helpful if we could come to some sort of arrangement with them, like we have with the mortgage, but I doubt such finance companies would be so understanding.

This maybe the case. But the saying goes you can't get blood out of a stone. You need to think long and hard about what your need most. Ok granted you will get hassles over your gym membership and your phone contract and sky. But how can you pay £800 worth of bills from £350. Answer is you can't. So what if you get chased for a couple of bad debts, You could do a DMP pay £10 a month and spend the next few years clearing them and get them off your back. There are ways out. First and formost, keep a roof over your head. As for the council tax yes you are correct it is from the date you make a claim for JSA although you need to get the claim Running with the council NOW! The DWP told me they would sort housing benefit and council tax benefit with my JSA claim. But the council told me I needed to fill in there own claim form and they couldn't backdated it. Go and see your local council as soon as you can.

Jesthar

tigger23 wrote: »

IWhat is TPFT?

Third Party Fire and Theft, as opposed to Fully Comprehensive car insurance. Not sure how much difference it would make, though.

No, you shouldn't stop paying contracts you are tied into if you can possibly avoid it, though you may be able to 'downgrade' them to a lower tarriff if you ask nicely but firmly - can but try!

You really do need some more income, though - I hope the job hunting goes well, and check the 'Up your income' part of the forums here for ideas too!

You should be be to get backdated JSA, I'd hope, especially if you didn't know you were elegible.

Also, did you claim your other benefits from the date you became unemployed? If not, you may be able to get those backdated, too, though that will be more goodwill than anything. I managed to persuade my then council to do that when I had immense trouble getting a job once - they sent me a snotty letter saying I should have applied when I was first jobless (I had a fair amount of money at the outset and was trying to not sponge off the state - more fool them as from now on I intend to claim anything and everything I am entitiled to! ) and therefore they were not obliged to backdate but as a gesture of goodweill yadda yadda yadda, but they paid up!

~Jes

makingendsmeet_2

TPFT is third party fire and theft. It would work out cheaper. If you have an accident that is your fault then you get no payment towards the cost of your own car. Not ideal but may save you a fair bit of money.

makingendsmeet_2

I also notice you don't have any water bills on your SOA. Do you not pay these?? Also what does the Job front look like?? I am in that situation myself. I would say judging by media reports and from what I have seen for myself in the job centre I will be looking at being unemployed from 12-24 months. There really is nothing at the moment. I don't think alot of people realise how bad things are until they end up unemployed themselves.

tigger23

Will ask on Thursday about the possiblity of backdating the JSA - would be extremely handy if they did as I've been out of work since mid September and was living off my last few wage payments in order to try and avoid signing on. Would have made it a lot easier if I'd have claimed then, because I could then have used the money I'd been paid to pay the mortgage now. Ho hum...knowing my luck though, they'll just laugh at me!

tigger23

makingendsmeet wrote: »

I also notice you don't have any water bills on your SOA. Do you not pay these?? Also what does the Job front look like?? I am in that situation myself. I would say judging by media reports and from what I have seen for myself in the job centre I will be looking at being unemployed from 12-24 months. There really is nothing at the moment. I don't think alot of people realise how bad things are until they end up unemployed themselves.

Yes, but we pay half yearly and have just paid so aren't looking at another bill until April. I know it needs accounting for, but I'm hoping we'll be OK by then.

On the job front, I've applied for about 20 jobs and had 4 interviews - 3 rejections and still awaiting the outcome of 1 so I guess it's not as bad as it could be. There does seem to be a decreasing number of jobs becoming available so I expect soon it'll start getting harder

itsmylife_2

There are quite a few Christmas temporary jobs around where I live at the moment, maybe you could get one just to take the pressure off over the next few weeks? Also what about asking around to see if there are any odd jobs that you can help people out with, delivering leaflets and the like, the extra few pounds here and there would help out. Apologies if you have already considered these things, just trying to think of some ways you can make ends meet.

tigger23

We've applied for a few Christmas jobs already, going to make a special trip into town tomorrow to go round everywhere else that is still advertising and pick up application forms, fill them in and take them straight back.

Pippilongstocking

Hey there I know its all very short term, fixes, but by ebaying some things around then we managed to raise over couple hundred quid really quickly - dvd's books etc I know its not great but might help in the short term.

Instant pay jobs like for example babysitting, etc look in local shop or supermarket - might work in the short term too think you can earn a wee bit under JSA? Or making crafts to sell, I know its all small things but they do all add up. See your groceries are really low, we have a 'use it up week' once a month, I know i sounds silly - I freeze couple pints milk and couple loaves bread when on a normal week, then do a use it up week, saves a weeks shopping and the combos are a laugh to be honest. (Use it up week means no shopping and just living out of cupboards, we managed 10 days once!)

Not much help sorry - guess you can shower/wash use gym products when there too so that mean you don't need hot water on? Less cost

Recovery for car, at mo I'd get rid if you can. House/home living etc more important

Some folks earn money on daily clicks but can't really help you there as I don't know what they are - lots info on here though, and some folks earn extra doing texting etc - if you have resources like those, internet, phone etc, might be ways of earning a bit every day by doing those and then ebay, listing stuff on amazon etc till it all get sorted. Check out some of those here and that will help a bit? xx (just a thougth)

Hugs to you both - hope things pick up soon.

Jesthar

tigger23 wrote: »

Will ask on Thursday about the possiblity of backdating the JSA - would be extremely handy if they did as I've been out of work since mid September and was living off my last few wage payments in order to try and avoid signing on. Would have made it a lot easier if I'd have claimed then, because I could then have used the money I'd been paid to pay the mortgage now. Ho hum...knowing my luck though, they'll just laugh at me!

Just tell them you didn't think you were supposed to if you havd money available to live off. Worked for me with housing benefit! (I wasn't elegible for JSA, but also didn't want to claim benefits I didn't need at the time - silly me! :rolleyes:)

Hope you get some of the Christmas jobs!

~Jes