How to: Benefits?

dehaani

Hi folks, I hope someone could help me.

My situation is as follows:

I work full time, on min wage.
I own my flat.
I have approx £10k of debt and a serious inability to address it; I'm scared to tally it all up and work out how bad things really are.

Due to untenable repayments, I will soon lose my car.
I need glasses and cannot afford them.
I need dental treatment which I cannot afford.
I would be unable to travel to work cost-effectively if I lose my car because I have a very intense fear of buses.
I get panic attacks when I'm in social situations.

I believe I would be far better off if I did not work as I would not require my vehicle and would hopefully be able to reduce council tax payments. If my income was reduced to the levels of benefits, would I be able to reduce my debt repayments too? I have already tried to arrange lower payments to no avail.

Does my fear of public transport and social phobia warrant benefit payments?

If I were on benefits, would I be able to get dental treatment for free or at least a reduced rate? Same for glasses? The current situation is that I'm taking a load of co-codamol to counter toothache and (sight related) headaches.

karenx

Is up to the company of your debt wheher they will reduce your payments, it will not go away though if you go onto benefits it still needs to be paid back

dehaani

I didn't suggest that it might go away.

Kimitatsu

You need to go and see the CAB or contact any of the organisations in my signature for debt advice. They will help you to put together a financial statement and will if necessary negotiate on your behalf. Being honest I have always found that if I ring them then they all accept the offer instantly but if my client rings them then they will refuse to begin with :rolleyes: in the meantime send all of them a holding letter, requesting a moritorium on payments or token payments of £1 a month whilst you are seeking professional advice and give them a time limit (60 days is always a good place to start).

If you have toothache then you need to go and seek emergency dental treatment, this should be free on the NHS, and if you have a bill then ask to pay in installments - dentists see this sort of thing all of the time.

Glasses, do you work with computers at work? If so you are entitled to a free eye test from your work (uisually you pay and they refund you) and you can then get glasses from anywhere, Asda do some good cheap ones or one of the internet providers such as glasses direct are quite good.

Have you checked your entitlement on www.entitledto.co.uk? It may be that you are entitled to tax credits of some sort (dependant on age, family situation etc) in which case you are probably entitled to help with NHS costs.

Phobia of public transport will not qualify you for benefits if I am being honest and if you leave your job vountarily then you may not be able to claim for several months as you had a job. Speak to your doctor about help for your phobia, they can often refer you to other services that will help.

Good luck HTH

dehaani

Thank you very much Kimitatsu.

I have to do something about my repayments.

I'm already struggling to repay my previous emergency dental treatment. I'll need to fix my outlays before anything else.

As for glasses, I've had a free eye test but I really can't afford the glasses just now.

I checked the site and I am not entitled to anything.

Thanks again. I need to get this spiralling debt in check.

dmg24

You would be best to post on the Debtfree Wanabee board if need help in managing your debts.

dehaani

I thought I might be able to get some assistance with my low income.

I'll try not to let the door hit me on the way out then?

dmg24

dehaani wrote: »

I thought I might be able to get some assistance with my low income.

I'll try not to let the door hit me on the way out then?

If www.entitledto.co.uk is saying that you are not entitled to any benefits, it would be best to look at ways to minimise your outgoings and manage your debt. Members on the DFW board will be able to help you do this.

dehaani

And an acute phobia isn't an illness that warrants assistance?

How can I join your gang? Which illness do I need to have?

dmg24

dehaani wrote: »

And an acute phobia isn't an illness that warrants assistance?

How can I join your gang? Which illness do I need to have?

A phobia of public transport would not be sufficient to claim disability benefits.

dehaani

It's a very specific phobia of buses, I'm okay in taxis and usually okay on trains.