Dire Straits

sexandthecity

As a student you get loads of money off places with your NUS card not sure if you get reduced travel maybe too ? Just a thought

We are in a similar situation, DH is a student nurse and I was made redundant in March, I claimed JSA for 6 months but not eligible after that. We have two kids one in school one in pre school. We get £109 tax credit a week which is a good amount but our mortgage is £700 per month as we have always both worked and been able to afford it at that amount.

We are not entitled to free school meals or anything like that either. I have found that going through all our outgoings helps, you may be suprised at the amounts you can save here and there and you can get cashback for stuff like changing your utilities provider or mobile/home phone provider. Its not going to pay the mortgage but it might help with the weekly shop Also might be worth applying to your uni for a hardship payment, if redundancy isnt hardship I dont know what is. Good luck x

tamarto

"We submitted all of last years paperwork but they say we have reached the threshold for this year already therefore not able to claim any more."

Did your award go up when your partner became unenployed? When someone becomes unemployed the CTC are supposed to in essense suspend the claim and move you over, some advisors have no clue about that, use the entitled to calculator to make sure you are recieving the right amount.

When my partner lost his job they actually decreased the money we recieved and i had to speak to several different people before someone with more than 5 minutes training could help.

As for those who survive on less, whoop de do! Some people live on nothing doesn't mean i expect everyone else to!

savemoney

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/ gives you idea of what you may be entitled too

I don't wish to sound picky but why didnt you get mortgage protection insurance out? I have had two houses now and each and every time even though we could do with money have paid for insurance in case any of us lost our jobs

You never know when you might need it

MammaCass

Thank you for your contribution OlderthanWiser - had no idea you were referring to that thread!! Forgotten all about it. I understand the 26 wk thing with the JSA.

Thorsoak, thank you for your input. However I am not going to justfiy myself, this thread was purely created in order for me to gain some advice as to whether I was entitled to any further help than I am already getting.
I have many decisions to make, one being whether I am able to continue with my studies or not. I am now able to do that thanks to the contributions of others.

Indie_Kid

Whether you'll be entitled to this, I don't know, but:
Have you filled in a HC1 form to get help with health costs?

thorsoak

Mama Cas, I responded to your posts which said

"If you've never worked, then you will be looked after. Wrong, all wrong.

Our monthly outgoings are more than our incomings and if it carries on, I will have to give up uni and find work."

and also

"I would also like to add that previous to this, my partner and myself have never claimed a penny in benefits. We have both worked from being 16."

I merely pointed out that as pensioners, having contributed to the system for over 40 years our income was slightly less than yours - and that maybe you should look for some part-time work - as indeed, I am doing!

Oldernotwiser

MammaCass wrote: »

I have many decisions to make, one being whether I am able to continue with my studies or not. I am now able to do that thanks to the contributions of others.

I hope that you're not seriously thinking about giving up your nurse training with only about 6 months to go until you finish! You might not find it easy to get a job (after all, your partner isn't having any luck!) and then you'll be far worst off.

sexandthecity

Indeed, I really think you should talk to your uni and see if they can help out, I am pretty sure they will best of luck xxx