It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

pagangirl

Sorry to hear about all your problems Carley - I've always found the Citizens Advice Bureau to be helpful when I've had problems. Hopefully someone on this website will be able to give you some idea of where you stand benefits wise, although like others - I think the amount they are going to give you sounds awfully low.
Big Hugs to you both :lovethoug

pagangirl

Think I've just done a BIG silly thing - Have just had e-mail from Opinion World asking me to join Nielsen Consumer Panel - never heard of them before but thought I'd give it a go coz Opinion World are ok - anyway entered all my details - as you do, and when it came to the end, it asked me to re-enter my e-mail address and home phone number - then said they did not match their information and could not proceed any further with my (free) subscription ! I know the details I put in were correct coz I checked them before pressing the enter button. So they got all my details n I got big fat zero - ever felt you've been had????? Has anyone ever heard of them before or is is a dodgy website - me feeling stupid

oystercatcher

pagangirl wrote: »

Think I've just done a BIG silly thing - Have just had e-mail from Opinion World asking me to join Nielsen Consumer Panel - never heard of them before but thought I'd give it a go coz Opinion World are ok - anyway entered all my details - as you do, and when it came to the end, it asked me to re-enter my e-mail address and home phone number - then said they did not match their information and could not proceed any further with my (free) subscription ! I know the details I put in were correct coz I checked them before pressing the enter button. So they got all my details n I got big fat zero - ever felt you've been had????? Has anyone ever heard of them before or is is a dodgy website - me feeling stupid

Just googled them and there's a big website. I think I've heard of them, they get you to scan every item you buy with some machine. Real Big Brother Is Watching type stuff ! Too intrusive for me to sign up to. I do loads of the other survey sites though and am starting to get vouchers and stuff in payment at last . I'm sure it will be OK. Maybe you put in a typo without noticing. I'm always doing stuff like that!

Oystercatcher

cw18

My Mum has one of those machines -- she's had it for years, and still uses it......

pagangirl

Thanx Oystercatcher and CW - made me feel better - was really worried who I'd given my details to ! Must've been a typo somewhere. Phew - that'll teach me not to go giving me details out !!!!:eek:

Sylvan

mummysaver wrote: »

I was chatting to my friend the other day and she said if we have power cuts she's moving in with me, I have an almost full tank of gas, enough food to face Armageddon, candles and I've just found my wind up radio!

Just a thought - is your gas for running central heating? We found that whenever we had long power cuts it didn't matter how much gas we had because the pump runs on electricity, so you can heat the water but it won't go anywhere. Spent 5 days with no power and several feet of snow one year, thanking our lucky stars that we had ONE open hearth. :rotfl:

Sylvan

mardatha wrote: »

just need to go and find a penguin for dinner... :rolleyes:

Is he serving the dinner mardatha?

The ground must be verrrrry cold here. I normally let the dog out, boil the water, make a cup of coffee, then have to call her in and wait for her to appear. Today when I opened the door she almost fell into the kitchen. (And the 2nd time I offered to let her out she just gave me an old-fashioned look):rotfl:

Carly84

Thank you for all your responses, kind words & helpful advice.
Yes I could kick myself as my ex husband pays me his half of the mortgage in cash so they got him to write a letter to say thats what he does. I was just being honest! If I'd known this is where honesty gets u, I wouldve probably lied!!!
I cannot get a lodger as my house is TINY & I mean tiny! lol. Its a little 2 bed terraced. To be honest though, I live in a suburban area & lodgers arent really heard of around here as the main colleges & the uni's are in the city centre's.
Thank u cw18 & to whoever pm'd u to this thread.
I have rang the benefits helpline - no joy. I have rang my gas & electricity provider to see if they do hardship fund - no joy. It seems everywhere I turn, people are just slamming doors in my face.
I just feel so let down by the system when I have worked so hard for what I have got. I haven't got any debts. The only thing I 'owe' in terms of goods is my TV which I had on buy now, pay later but Im not worried about that as I have already aid off £200 & Ive got till August to pay the remaining £300 & am almost 100% definate that I will be back in work way before

Sylvan

Carly, do the DSS think your husband is giving you that money as maintenance or have you made sure they realise it is his half of the mortgage (for which he is legally responsible) he is paying.
With all due respect to the hardworking and conscientious benefit staff they are in a minority. I used to work in "benefits" and it's true that if you pay peanuts you get monkeys - some of the staff may need hitting over the head with the facts before they get it right. It's certainly worth querying the amount and asking to be shown how they worked it out.

Keep your chin up - it DOES get better. My first one left me with a 2 yr old, a 14 month old and a 1 month old. I lived on the child benefit for 6 weeks because no-one told me I could claim anything, but once they did give me the IS it was adequate.
And remember, when you hit rock bottom there's only one direction left - up!

Yup - I felt like a failure too. But you know what? It isn't you that's failed her. You're not the one that isn't shouldering your responsibilities.

And, as a lot of us who grew up with very little in the way of material comforts will tell you, it's the love, the attention and the laughter that are important. Kids will quite happily live on dhal and rice, soup and bread, cheese and baked custard as long as you season it with plenty of love.

Carly84

Oooops, got finger happy there & pressed send b4 I'd finished! lol.
As I was saying, no debts but I will be in debt with my bills & mortgage & that thought absolutely petrifies me! I cant sleep, im barely eating & Im disgusted that there isnt help out there for me.
Thanks to everybody who responded & I will also, as suggested, copy & post my original onto the benefits forum...when my internet behaves itself & stops cutting off!
Thanks so much again x