I find myself in a strange situation

Ingenious_Squirrel_2

What a morning. I thought I would checkout entitledto.co.uk just to see if we're missing anything that could help us out. Seems we can claim £19 a month housing benefit. I feel so strange. I've never had to claim for anything in my life, always worked and now I'm 'being a proper mam' being at home with my DH working to support us, bankrupt, renting and now able to claim a benefit plus still not knowing if I'm pregnant I feel like I should be on Jeremy Kyle.

Once a proud person, my confidence is slipping away i'm not proud anymore.

I did look into the financial help to study with the OU. they wanted last years income which was very healthy and I thought 'well thats not going to give us any help as this year it's half that' but because we can claim the benefit I get full award so I can study with OU for free. It's all if's and but's but looks like I can stop paying my distant learning collage extortionate monthly costs and work with the open university.

I'm really down, should be pleased I can study for free but it's hounding me that I have to ask for handouts.

Why is it so hard for a family to survive when the woman is staying at home with her children - something has gone so wrong in our society regardless of the bankruptcy. A new start, no debt, husband working 45 hour weeks in a half decent job and we still need some help It's wrong, so wrong.

Michelle

alastairq

but it's hounding me that I have to ask for handouts

It's not a 'handout'..or 'charity'.....but is an ENTITLEMENT!

It is an entitlement in recognition of your family circumstances.....and you have paid for it many times over, in income tax, council tax, and worry.

The claiming of a benefit also entitles one to other things, I believe?

what is wrong, is that there is a huge gulf between the 'haves' and the 'have nots'...far more so [in terms of sheer numbers] than was the case half a century ago.

plus, life today is all about 'perceptions'.....and not about realities.

so, don't feel bad about being entitled to a benefit....after all, none of your creditors wanted you to 'get away with not paying''...so why should you, in turn, not allow society to 'get away with not paying?'

JCS1

Think about how much you've already paid during your life in NIC, Tax, VAT, etc and then compare that amount to £19 a month.

Ingenious_Squirrel_2

Yeah, thanks for that. I've been working fulltime since I was 18.. 12 years of payments into the big old pot so when you put it like that it's silly to get uptight about it.

It appears we might be able to claim a little council tax benefit after November 2nd as the rules are supposed to be changing with regard to child benefit. All new to me. I guess I should grasp to the fact that I can study for free I'll be back to contributing again in about 6 years.