help and advice

mrslawrence2003

hello all there,

i have been unable to work since 16th feb due to illness - as i lost my job due to illness i have applied for incapacity benefit (started application beginning of march - still waiting to hear the outcome and have been told have to wait another 3 - 4 weeks for decision).

unfortunately, we only have my partners wage to survive of which 2/3rds goes on our rent. because he works more than 24 hours a week, have been told that i cannot claim for any other benefits other than incapacity.

is there anything else i can do? we are now on the verge of bankruptcy as the bank will not extend my overdraft any further, and in fact at the end of april have advised that because i am not working they will be reducing the limit from 4,000 to 2,000 - something that will have an absolutely disastrous effect on our finances.

it seems that the only option i have is trying to do some unsavoury kind of work such as hostessing that will be yuck but will at least allow us to continue to live.

does anyone have any other suggestions about what i can do?

hjb123

Hi,

While you are applying and waiting to hear about your Incapacity Benefit you can always apply for a crisis loan -

It can take a while to get new claims processed - but keep on at them!

Have a look at https://www.entitledto.co.uk which will tell you what you may be entitled to in the way of benefits, tax credits, housing benefit and council tax etc.

Have a look at http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/Disabled/Dev_009842.xml.html this also explains about the crisis loan.

If you are on a low income or incapacity Benefit pick up a HC1 form from a health centre, Doctors surgery or dentist and fill it in for help with your health costs (NHS dentist, sight tests, prescriptions). You have to send this off and you will receive a HC2 certificate back saying how much you are entitled to towards your health costs.

mrslawrence2003

i am on no income - but my husband is on a good income - would i still be eligible for help - it seems not?

hjb123

Possibly not if your husband is on a good income - have you tried the entitled to website? I think that you are just going to have to wait for the DWP to come forth with your Incapacity Benefit and work from there

mrslawrence2003

by which time we will be 'bankrupt'

hjb123

Think the only thing that you can do is see if you can get a crisis loan - speak to the jobcentre about this. Another point, the rates of Incapacity Benefit start from the following amounts so it may be difficult in any case!

Under state pension age
Short-term lower rate £57.65
Short-term higher rate £68.20
Long-term basic rate £76.45

Over state pension age
Short-term lower rate £73.35
Short-term higher rate £76.45

Other than this you should go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau and see what they can suggest.

Ted_Hutchinson

A guide to the Social Fund
sets out the situation when a crisis loan can be paid. I'm not sure they will apply in this case but there's no harm in asking.

mrslawrence2003

Ted_Hutchinson wrote:

A guide to the Social Fund
sets out the situation when a crisis loan can be paid. I'm not sure they will apply in this case but there's no harm in asking.

i've heard about the crisis fund but we have food to live on for now and no children and i think there are going to be people out there who literally have nothing........

Fran

Something doesn't seem right here - you say your husband's on a good wage, in which case why are things so desperate? Perhaps you need to visit CAB to discuss your financial situation - they can help you with any debts that you have and advise on other entitlements too.