It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Hippeechiq

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

How old is your daughter? If you're caring for her full time, you won't be entitled to JSA, you may be entitled to tax credits. Please don;t believe all the scare stories - most people's tax credit claims are perfectly straightforward.

She's 24 and I wouldn't claim JSA even if I were available for full time employment as I find the whole process demoralising.

Although I'm sure some people claim tax credits without any problems
3 Years ago when both my partner and I started working after being out of work, we claimed Tax Credits. Gave all the information, as and when required, but when we were earning enough not to claim anymore (a matter of 12 months) we had a letter saying they had overpaid us by £480 and required the money to be paid back immediately. On that basis, although I KNOW we would again qualify as my partners job doesn't pay brilliantly, I'm loathe to claim again.

I'm also loathe to go back into a situation where you dread the post and a brown envelope coming through the door.

Spendless wrote: »

Yes you won't get if it if she's been assessed as low. Though you can have her case re-assessed but I'm not sure of all the pros and cons to doing that -you would need to discuss it with someone.

I'm not prepared to put her through another assessment in her current fragile state - it would out weigh any pros I'm afraid.

We have a lot of appointments this week, but I will try to give DIAL a call, and someone else has kindly pm'd me about possibly contacting the Mental Health Advocacy Service and see what advice they can give me.

Thank you all again for your concern

By the way spendless I don't know how easy you have access to Charity Shops, but I used to work in one and we constantly, and I mean, constantly had crockery and pots and pans coming through the door - so that might we worth a shot? Don't know how you feel about that - I know some folk wouldn't like the thought.

mardatha

I know what you mean by the brown envelope phobia. Totally .

Larumbelle

Oh my goodness, post phobia is deep in my psyche now and will never go completely I don't think. I've sorted myself out but I still get that little lurch in my stomach and the heavy heart and the slight sickness... and that's years after we sorted ourselves out.

Not a practical solution, and I'm not trying to belittle anyone's problems in anyway, but how about getting something nice in the mail every now and then? I do this - stamps for postcards costs 60p for EU and 67p international - and it's nice to get a little note from somewhere else every now and then Like I say, I know it's frivolous and doesn't solve anything, but sometimes it's little things like this that can keep you sane.

shebrett

Just wondering if anyone else was noticing friends/family etc starting to tighten up on their spending lately.

For the past month or so I've been reigning in my small overspends and finding ways to save myself money whether it be fixing what I have or finding newer or cheaper alternative for things. I've started to notice that friends and family seem to be doing the same thing, like we're all securing the hatches! Is this another sign of a second recession about to hit?:eek:

I know, money saving website, silly question to some degree.....but it seems like everyone I know has stepped up and started really working at saving.

mardatha

I never understood why people got so uptight about post...but then I went on to Incapacity Benefit and learned fast :eek:

charlies-aunt

If you need help with your DLA forms - its worth an ask with your Income Support Adviser at the Jobcentre - they will often have a list of Community Associations and Charities that can help with applications and/or appeals.

Unfortunately, the Job Centre Staff themselves aren't benefit trained so can't give you form completion advice but they can probably point you in the right direction.

A good starting point might be the The National Carers Association as they employ people to work as Advocates for Carers.

Keep fighting to get what you are entitled to there is a lot of help out there is just a question of finding out how to access it

Spendless

Well I've spoken to hubby who has also taken the view that '£40 is a lot to ask for a 2nd hand bike' so I will politely decline. I've looked at my plates we actually have 3. 1 each for the adults and 1 spare in case of breakages-lol. The kids are eating off 'baby plates' DD's is actually a shallow pasta bowl and whilst that probably suits her better -I swear she is a messier eater at 7 than she was as a toddler.:mad: I can see DS aged 10 objecting anyday soon to his blue covered in bunnies one.:D. But I see your point I don't need a whole new dinner service I can go and pick up 2-3 new plates, somewhere like wilkos that sells them seperately. Mine are white anyway so will be easier enough to blend in with any others.

Toonie

We don't have any kids or savings, but because my income is deemed low for a couple, we get a little help. Come September my hours will be cut so we'll be letting the HB people know about this which should help until I find something extra (I've been looking for the last two months, but nothing yet).

kidcat

Spendless wrote: »

Well I've spoken to hubby who has also taken the view that '£40 is a lot to ask for a 2nd hand bike' so I will politely decline. I've looked at my plates we actually have 3. 1 each for the adults and 1 spare in case of breakages-lol. The kids are eating off 'baby plates' DD's is actually a shallow pasta bowl and whilst that probably suits her better -I swear she is a messier eater at 7 than she was as a toddler.:mad: I can see DS aged 10 objecting anyday soon to his blue covered in bunnies one.:D. But I see your point I don't need a whole new dinner service I can go and pick up 2-3 new plates, somewhere like wilkos that sells them seperately. Mine are white anyway so will be easier enough to blend in with any others.

If you have an Ikea nearby they sell individual bowls and plates for 19p each, they are plain and basic - ideal with kids.

Charis

Spendless wrote: »

Also on Fri night we found my dd's bike at the park across the road, damaged beyone repair. How it got there I'm not sure, whether she played with it at the park when I was at work and DH working from home and forgot and left it, whether she left it on our drive and it was taken from there I have no idea - all I know is it's fit for scrap and that's it. My sis has rang me and offerred me neice's for £40 bt I can get brand new fr £50-£55. Not sure what to do.:cool:

It seems that your daughter is less concerned about her bike than you are. I know if I'd left mine out and it had been pinched when I was a child I would have had to wait a very long time for another. Especially if I couldn't even say where it had gone. It certainly wouldn't have been considered a priority to replace it. On the other hand your partner needs new specs. Let your daughter learn the true value of her possessions, and don't feel bad about it. It's kinder in the long run.

Charis