Housing Benefit isn't enough!!

dave4545454

Rikki wrote: »

Not while its in my bank account he can't.

no i'm sorry but you won't be getting any of it

pipkin71

Put 'water assist' into google and see what comes up, or contact your water company. You may qualify for a reduction in your water payments.

Have a read of this link too:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1624581&highlight=water+rates

It does say about being in receipt of DLA, but also that chron's disease would qualify you for water assist. Not sure if it's a one or other qualifying criteria though

gizmo111

My OH works and earns £22K (so we are not entitled to a penny), this just about covers our living costs - i then have to ebay continuously to make extra cash to pay of debts from before we had our daughter (still not able to have any sort of luxury).

Are you claiming child tax credit?

Rikki

pipkin71 wrote: »

Put 'water assist' into google and see what comes up, or contact your water company. You may qualify for a reduction in your water payments.

Have a read of this link too:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1624581&highlight=water+rates

It does say about being in receipt of DLA, but also that chron's disease would qualify you for water assist. Not sure if it's a one or other qualifying criteria though

WaterSure (vulnerable household scheme)

Click Here

What will the charges be?
This year the reduced charges for the WaterSure scheme are £156 for water & £155 for sewerage. This is for the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.

pipkin71

Rikki wrote: »

WaterSure (vulnerable household scheme)

Click Here

Thanks Rikki.

I only knew about help with water costs through reading the disability board.

BeenieCat

I get confused when people come into these threads saying they earn 22k and can't afford a bottle of wine or the luxury of biscuits

If other couples with kids can manage on £12k then i'm sure you can.

If your 22k is a huge mortgage and debts of your own making then it's not really comparable in this situation, is it?

Macro_3

Looking at your income/needs, by my reckoning you should be paying £17.26 rent per week and receiving £55.74 HB, so your benefit is correct. LHA and shared room rate have nothing to do with it, as you're getting HB.

You won't even qualify for full rent when you turn 25 - you'll still have to pay £9ish per week then.

As your benefit is correct, I see very little you can do. You say that it is impossible to live without your car, but unfortunately without extra income you are going to face a choice between your car and the roof over your head. Your budget does not even factor in the cost of servicing, maintenance, repairs etc. You'll either hae to get rid of the car or live in it!

Oldernotwiser

BeenieCat wrote: »

If your 22k is a huge mortgage and debts of your own making then it's not really comparable in this situation, is it?

Although you're off topic, it's worth pointing out that, in many parts of the country, you need a large mortgage to buy even the smallest property. It hardly comes under the heading of "debts of your own making"!

BeenieCat

I was referring to the debts as a separate matter to the mortgage, since the poster i quoted says she sells on eBay to pay off debts they had before having a child.

LittleMissAspie

What's 22k after tax? My boyfriend and I's monthly household costs are £1000 and we are frugal with bills. If we needed a 2-bed flat and also had a child to pay for we would be looking at £200+ extra. That's got to be very near to 22k after tax.