How can we survive on benefits????

liney

Sky should allow you to downgrade to the most basic package within the first 12 months if you haven't already.

5lilpigs

It sounds like all good advice from people on here, how much is your house worth with a 1700 a month mortgage if I may ask. Will you have equity left at the end to be able to set up in a new house. Hopefully you'll get a buyer tomorrow and be able to see the way out of all this stress, good luck

Turning_into_scrooge

I live off benefits. I get IS and DLA both components but i traded one for a car. It is hard at times it feels like hell but you can do it. It takes an awful lot of adjusting to, i made plenty use of the money saving old style board and started to grow my own herbs that i use and garlic as well, I don't have a garden as such i use pots. I also shop on the market which is allot cheaper than Tesco but there are somethings better to buy in Tesco than on the market, it really pays to shop around. I'm sorry you are in this situation, it really is not a nice place to be. I will be rich when gain my bank charges back, its less than 3k but to me that is an absolute fortune before when i was self employed and had a profitable business it was a 2 week holiday for me and my partner, its changed the way i look at things now and i only buy what i need. I have just changed bank accounts to a co op account with a debit card, I'm still using cash, i have been without a debit card now for so long i forget its there to use. You will cope. I actually eat better now than i did before in fact so much so tha t i have actually lost 4 stone in weight, it has taken me 12 months though due to the disability i have:)

Dead_Eye_Jones

Ouch sounds like someone's come down to Earth with a bump! I think its pretty clear that benfits arent goning to go far. I think if you over stretch like you have (£1700 mortgage!) then you must consider a big rainy day fund and insurance to cover the possible down turn. Bit late for that though.

I think another solution is to get hubby back to work, Im sure he can find something to do, dont accept excuses.

black-saturn

Could you go on the council housing waiting list just incase the worst happens?

Turning_into_scrooge

Lovaabargain wrote:

We've both worked since leaving school, paying tax & NIC have never ever claimed any benefit before & can't believe how little help the govt are prepared to give us!

.

Please don't take this the wrong way as i mean no harm by it but we are extremely lucky in the UK that we do have a benefit system. If you go to many of the far eastern countries they don't have any welfare system at all and the medical care they have for the poor people, well they may as well not bother going and just stay at home. Yes with the cost of living here our IS levels are more less poverty levels but at least we get something, it stops us from staving. Don't get despondent, get angry and start kicking back you'll be surprised at what you will achieve to sort things out and good luck:)

crutches

((((hugs)))) its going to be a big change for you all.
Living with 4 children and debt is difficult.
There is a great website for people with 4+ children.all different types,different housing,different backgrounds etc.but all clued up on the peculiar difficulties of 4 or more children.
Good Luck to you and your DH .a failing business and losing your home is a double blow for any family.

https://www.4ormore.co.uk

(check the forums because they are the most active for uptodate advice/help/friendship/fun)

Lovaabargain

Thanks once again for the replies, it really is heartwarming to know that there are people who are trying to help by offering all this advice - especially as the local benefits office never volunteer any information.

It is our own stupid fault for not having mortgage protection insurance but when we took out the mortgage dh's business was thriving & you always think that the awful things in life will never happen to you!

Dh is currently applying for any job going as obviously any job will be better than the £35 JSA! He has just been a bit shell-shocked over the past few weeks at how quickly everything went wrong, he's certainly no shirker when it comes to work so hopefully he will back in employment very soon.

My house has never been so immaculate since we put it up for sale, I'm trying not to get too uptight with the kids for leaving their toys etc. out & making the place look untidy as the current situation is hard on them too.

Spendless - we have been told by the Benefits dept that we are not entitled to claim income support, ds is receiving income based jobseeker's allowance, hoepfully once he gets another job this will then change to WTC I think?

Still praying for a quick sale on the house as this really would solve a lot of our money problems! It is on the market for £410.00 & if it sells for around this figure it will leave us with £100K once all the debts are paid back which means we have a chance of a buying another house near to my parents with only a small mortgage which would be great - only this time I will be insisting on the mortgage insurance( isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?)

milk

Although won't reduce your payments by much if you get your water rates taken out of your husbands benefits the amount they take will be less than you are paying now and reduce the chance of falling behind on payments. For Example I had arrears on my water account and they wanted me to pay £12 per week to cover arrears and water costs however when I signed on recently I filled a form in for money to come out of benefit and they are only taking £6.50 a week. So has not only saved my money but also taken away the worry of remebering to pay it each week.

I suggest you maybe try this as although it won't save alot it will give you a bit extra week.

BONJOEY

if you work more than 30 hours then you will get working tax credit, which will make you better off,

have you got a local surestart, they have benifit advisers who come to your home who will help you write letters on your behalf to bank etc, to stop mortgage for a period etc,
its worth a try, she will also see if your entitled to anything else

good luck hun