income support/benefits and christmas

auburnmama

hi,
this is the firts year i have had to claim IS and i see its due on chrsitmas day... any idea if they will pay it early? cant really do much food shopping on christmas day - thursday is shopping day!
had a quick peak on direct.gov but can only see info about the christmas bonus not regular payment dates.
ta!
A x

[Deleted User]

Will probably be paid on the 23rd,they used to pay 2 weeks the week before but not any more sorry to say

auburnmama

oh 2 weeks early would be bad for me - i live on a very very tight budget and i know it would go to bills etc then leave me broke, lol!
thanks for ur help :-)

scooby1001

I notice on my IS letter that i am going to be paid every two weeks in arears instead of the normal every weeks in arrears. I rang them and they said everyone is going to be paid that way, i am not sure that is right, anyone else got the same letter.

auburnmama

yes, i agree, its quite rude.
yes, i get some help from the government.
there are people out there who get a lot more than me.
I can budget thank you very much, i'm not a fool. i'm in an unfortunate situation not of my choosing. when a bill comes in higher than expected it needs paying, like today's gas bill for £120 for the last month. can hardly not pay it - I have only just moved so couldnt figure what it would be.
get a grip

lil_me

Yes government is changing everyones payment to 2 weeks in arrears, this will mean a gap for some people when this is done.

With regards to gas, couple of options, set up a DD with a month payment to break it up, ask for a payment card to do a similar thing or ask for a pre payment meter to be installed.

£120 is a lot for one months usage!

SweetPea23

auburnmama wrote: »

yes, i agree, its quite rude.
yes, i get some help from the government.
there are people out there who get a lot more than me.
I can budget thank you very much, i'm not a fool. i'm in an unfortunate situation not of my choosing. when a bill comes in higher than expected it needs paying, like today's gas bill for £120 for the last month. can hardly not pay it - I have only just moved so couldnt figure what it would be.
get a grip

I have found you just need to ignore the idiots who have nothing better to do than slate people on benefits. We are in the same boat due to my illness and there is never anything spare to have a back up fund with, we live week by week too so I understand just how hard it is. As someone mentioned it will be paid a couple of days before but income support hotline will be able to tell you better.

auburnmama

yeah lil me, I thought that! I think its to do with the boiler - I literally HAVE to have the hot water on all the time, or turn the whole boiler off. there's no timer. that has to be the problem. I have an electric oven so dont use it other than heating/hot water.

and thanks sweet pea - I get irritated when people judge me. I dont choose to be on benefits. I'm doing what I can to get myself out of poverty (lets face it, thats what life on benefits is for a lot of people!). I'll give the powers-that-be a call! thanks x

SomeBozo

Hello all

Can you not budget?

Bozo

What use is this to the OP?

What use is doing a budget? Its immense. Its a life skill, the type you are not taught at school!

Everyone who receives a lump sum for a set period needs to learn how to budget!

Can I not suggest it?

there are people out there who get a lot more than me.

Whats your point? All across the community there are people who get more than you or me. Just because you get less than others does that should not budget?

can budget thank you very much, i'm not a fool. i'm in an unfortunate situation not of my choosing.

Can you not choose something else? You can choose to budget or choose to work. Either way you budget!

today's gas bill for £120 for the last month.

Gas is expensive.

get a grip

I have a grip! I can budget. Can you?

I have found you just need to ignore the idiots who have nothing better to do than slate people on benefits

Is suggesting to someone on benefits the need to budget a "slate"?

Whether you earn 100K or live on benefits, you need to budget.

Its hard advice, and people don't like to hear it, but its a life skill not to be missed.

Bozo

auburnmama

the commentyou made was 'cant you budget'. it was hardly a friendly question such as... can you not draw up a budget?
you should be more sure of your tone.
in response to your other comments...

I do not CHOOSE to be on benefits. I had to give up work to care for my husband who fell ill during my pregnancy. The plan was, if you must know, for me to work full time and him to care for our daughter as I had the better job.
Ultimately, I had to give up and care for them both. I am now alone with my daughter and feel that it is my responsibility to care for her whilst she is a baby, not land her with a stranger 5 days a week. Its called parental responsibility.

And once again, yes I can budget and I do budget. My comment was that I live on a TIGHT budget. I cant allow for a contingency as I have to ensure everything is paid so I dont get into debt or arrears. Again, I think this approach is responsible.

I'm not sure why you are even commenting on this thread as you had nothing useful to say, in my opinion.

The question related to payment dates, nothing else. If I required help with budgetting, which I dont, I would seek the advice of a professional - CAB etc.

SomeBozo

not land her with a stranger 5 days a week. Its called parental responsibility.

What are you going to do when your child goes to school?

Thats 5 days a week and a "stranger" in your terms.

Leaving your child with a carer, so you can goto work is part of life for most parents.

Bozo