Cant afford to work!

semiskimmed_2

hi, im putting this here in order to try and get some help or advice on what i can do in the situation im in.
basically im a single man living on his own with no children that live with me. ive got a young daughter who lives with her mother and i work full time but only earn minimum wage.
now for over a year now ive been trying to get the child support agency to calculate how much i need to pay towards my daughters up bringing and theyve only just come up with this amount and its crippling me financially as its got the arrears from the past year which need to be paid off over a year apparently so theyre not prepared to budge on the amount i pay each week, which is 25% of my total take home pay. this amount doesn't even let me pay fully for my traveling expense each week let alone food to eat.
ive tried getting help towards my rent but i only get something like 50p a week towards it and council tax i wont get anything.
i also get a bit from working tax credit but its not much and still doesnt help me pay for a weeks worth of food, if i carry on liek this im not going to either at or manage to pay my rent.
ive tried all the things i can think of to try to get either help towards bills or benefits whilst working.
the only thing i can think of is quitting work and claiming job seekers but im not sure how far the reason would take me that not earning enough?

any help would be fantastic and sorry for a huge long post

chriszzz

There is not much advice that I can give you but to acknowledge how difficult it is to maintain your independence when on a low income, paying maintenance and trying to live.

I did post about a friend of mines brother who simply could not afford to run his own bedsit due to being on a low wage but ppl dont seem to be interested in human kind.

Is there no way you could take on a second job (not that I think you should have to) If you were to quit your job, then ppl will think your dodging paying csa. It is unfair in these situations cos nrp have to live to.

I know its difficult and I do empathise that you are stuggling. I really do think the government need to re-assess these situations.

I hope someone can come along and give you some sound advice.

Donedoingdebt

Are you claiming the single person's allowance of 25% off your council tax payments?

786

If you are on good terms with your employer, try to go self employed - either as a sole trader or through a limited company. Limited company is more likely to be acceptable to an employer - they will be afraid of getting hit for PAYE/NI otherwise.

Otherwise, extra bar / taxi driving / delivery work.

If none of these, better off on dole.

Bad situation - whatever happens, please write to your MP and maybe Ian Duncan Smith.

shell_542

Have you already applied for the single person reduction in your council tax?

I'm sorry I don't have much advice because I don't believe there's a great amount you can do. The CSA don't care if you are struggling with the figure they are demanding. I don't know if it would be worth contacting NACSA to see if they can help (but they charge a fee to join) and see if they can get anywhere with having the arrears taken over 2 years, rather than 1, as 2 years seems to be the tagline with the CSA.

I know hindsight is a wonderful thing, but if it took a year for it to be sorted out, ideally you would have been putting some away each month to cover what you weren't paying as arrears start from the moment they contact you.

Loopy_Girl

Why were you waiting for the CSA to confirm the amount payable? Did you think it would be less than the 15% of your income?

If you leave your job then you risk being sanctioned for up to 26 weeks. Also if the CSA suspect that you have left your job to avoid paying CS then there will be repurcussions with them.

I also would say for a second job - though unlike chris, I don't see the reason why you should not - if you are struggling to live and have thought of every way to cut costs then more income would seem a reasonable suggestion.

What would you say to any potential employers should you get an interview as to why you left your job? Can you see yourself in a higher paid job and if so, can you not look round now whilst still in employment?

It's no picnic living on £64.50 a week. Yes, your rent will get paid but you'll still have all your other bills - plus £5 a week towards Child Support and all the arrears will still stand when you get back in employment.

I would say to ask the CSA if you can pay the arrears over 2 years - there is a steer for 2 years for arrears so asking you to pay over a year, ou may have scope with them (unless they are so small that a year seems reasonable)

thorsoak

Can't afford not to work!

After working for almost 50 years I find that I'm in the position of can't afford not to work!

wordsfan

if you posted your income/outgoings then maybe we can come up with more ideas for you. does the amount you pay for csa get taken into account for benefits? if so might be worth letting benefits ppl know. Defo check you're getting council tax reduction. Also maybe meet with CAB to see if there's anything you're entitled to that you're not getting. If you have your daughter 52 nights a year or more you should also get reduction in CSA payments. Re travel, how do you travel to work? If by car could you car share with someone else from work to cut down on petrol? also see martin's tips on saving on petrol costs. If by public transport, bus is usually cheaper than train, and u should be able to get some kinda season tickets which save u long term. Also are you spending loads when you have your daughter? its tempting to go mad and spoil them as you don't see them. Kids really just wanna spend time with u. find free/cheap things to do with her. if you let us know how old she is sure we can help.

semiskimmed_2

thanks for all the replies. ill try to answer them all here.
first off yes i get the reduction for single person council tax.
the person is right i suppose who said i shoudl have put the money away for them to take but i was naive and thought the CSA would be as far to me as i was with them, ive sent them payslips and info on my earnings etc multiple times, spoken to them on the phone trying to get it chased up and an arrangement made. only to be told twice that they had no records of me sending anythign into them or me calling in once. this has made me appear like i dont want to pay anythign, which is simply not the case. i do want to make sure my child gets what they deserve from me, but the arrears thats built up is the main part of the csa payment which is crippling.
i earn £192 per week (£11 of that is working tax benefit)
now from that this is the list of where it goes

£75 per week rent
£45 CSA
£36 per week for council tax and some arrears there also
£15 per week busfares
£15-£20 per week for gas and electric (likely to be £20 now were into the colder months)
so thats £191. ive got a pound to buy food on for a week. its simply not possible

karenx

Benefits dont take into account what you pay to csa no. Just like they dont take into account any debts etc that you have

dmg24

You need to find ways to increase your income. You are a healthy young man, there is no reason that you should not work. Think of the example that you are setting to your child.