Help and advice needed urgently

amberowl28

I left my full time job at the end of March to help my mum who has MS (she does well but occassionally needs care, which my dad who still has a full time job cannot provide). They both became pensioners this year. My little sister is studying at university so couldn't help. Unfortunately i had to be gone for a month and my job couldn't be kept open especially as my manager was also off due to having a baby. This left me in financial difficulty especially as i was told i couldn't claim benefits as l left my job rather than fired.

Applied this week after seeking advice from CAB and have been told i am eligable for JSA after all, also put in a claim for housing benefit, i know these will probably take weeks to come through. I sold my tv, washing machine, computer (using a friends) and printer to pay May's rent now i'm late with June's rent -was due 20th May and will soon have to pay July's rent on 20th June. Also have water bill of £78 coming out on the 20th. My £600 overdraft is used up and i have no savings. I'm up to date with all bills and utitlites, council tax etc other than rent but there is no way i can a pay these bills. There is nothing i can do other than apply for benefits, which i should have done months ago and won't be backdated.

How do i pay these bills? Need £800 when i'm having to borrow £10 from a friend just so i have food (no money in account).

I have applied for so many jobs and handed out hundreds of cv's and cannot get work (had 10 interviews). I have a degree (graduated 3 years ago) but only ever had a waitressing job.

Any advice gratefully received - sorry it's so long.

Oldernotwiser

If you contact your LL and explain about the LHA you may find that s/he is understanding about it. Experienced LLs know that benefits can take a while to come through.

olias

If your dad is still in FT work and the reason you are in this predicament is partly due to your helping your mother, then can you not approach your parents to help you out temporarily to get you over this hurdle? I cannot see that they would want to see you without food on the table!

BTW, your mum needs to look into whether she is eligable for attendance allowance due to her MS

Olias

Oldernotwiser

olias wrote: »

If your dad is still in FT work and the reason you are in this predicament is partly due to your helping your mother, then can you not approach your parents to help you out temporarily to get you over this hurdle? I cannot see that they would want to see you without food on the table!

BTW, your mum needs to look into whether she is eligable for attendance allowance due to her MS

Olias

If her mother gets this, the OP could apply for Carers Allowance as well.

amberowl28

Thanks for tip about attendance and careers allowance will look into it further. Guy at JC didn't seem to think we'd be eligable since i'm not caring full time? Most of the time shes doesn't need it.

Dad has said he'd help of course but i already owe him £1000, he doesn't earn much so don't know how much more he'll be able to help. If housing benefit is backdated i could probably even pay him back next month - though i think this is extremely unlikely.

LL isn't too happy i'm having to claim anyway so definately don't think she will let me be more than a month behind. Still waiting for her to send me tenancy agreement (which i've signed but don't have a copy of) to copy and hand in as evidence for housing benefit claim.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Tbh you should ask your parents to help out and not on a loan basis.

It would have cost your parents far more to get a FT carer in or for your father to resign and care for your mother.

Whilst there is no legal obligation if your father isnt willing to help out (within remits) I'd suggest you politely make sure he realises next time your mother needs FT care (or he for that matter if he is an OAP) you will not be providing it due to the circumstances and aftermath.

Is it possible maybe to move out and live with your parents?

amberowl28

Moving back in with parents might be a good idea financially, but don't think it'd help with my sanity, lol. Obviously it's something i'll have to consider especially as current rental agreement runs out end of July. It's not really a case of dad not wanting to help me out but my parents don't have much and he rightly wants me to be financially independant. I'm gonna talk to him tonite and see what they can do. Personally i couldn't borrow any money without wanting to pay it back and i am under no pressure to pay back what i owe them until i'm much more financially stable.

I shouldn't have left my job but really had little choice - manager who was already having to find replacement for two others who left simply wouldn't let me have even a couple of days off never mind weeks, which is understandable, so couldn't keep my job open for me. At the time there really was no alternative but to go home and help no matter what.

Perr

You will not get H/B without a tenancy agreement you have to take it with you when you have completed you application form or a up to date rent book

amberowl28

Yes i know which is why i've been begging landlady for it, they said to hand in forms and get the rental agreement to them asap. I know it takes weeks for HB to go through even when you hand in all the evidence right at the start and this is just delaying the process. It's so frustrating as i literally have no money until benefits start coming through.

I'm glad i've found this site though and am trying to remain positive. Good to know i may be able to challenge bank/credit card fees though don't hold up much hope. I've never overspent on either my overdraft or credit card but everytime i think i'm ok i get slapped with another huge intrest payment which takes me over and another fee is added - argh! Up till now have always paid more than minimum repayment each month.

Oldernotwiser

You need to be caring for someone for a minimum of 35 hours a week to claim carers allowance. The person needing care also needs to be on the appropriate level of DLA or AA.

amberowl28

Thanks didn't think we could claim this, though she is on DLA. Just got off phone with dad doesn't look like he can help much. Applied for crisis loan and got £50 which will be deducted from benefits when i get them so l can get food at least. On positive note sent out 5 more targeted applications/cv's today so fingers crossed. Think i'm gonna have to move out and kip on parents/friends sofas after the 20th though as at least deposit will cover rent owed.