Its a wonderful life... Want to try.....?? A Single parents View.. !!xx!

bulchy

Forgot to say, Happy birthday Margaret.
Sue

taxi97w

Happy birthday Margaret!I was going to respond negatively to this thread but I've stopped myself. I would welcome a thread about working peoples' state of affairs- because from what you've said, OP, you're better off than us- (my working household), yet you're complaining?

black-saturn

I'm not on benefits anymore but to be honest I'm no better off than I was when I was on them.

I was with my children's dad for 9 years before we split. The relationship was a nightmare from day 1. He totally changed the minute we decided to move in together and he turned into a controlling, dominant, abusive man. However I couldnt see a way out as he used to control all the money and give me a £10 "allowance" every week which rose to £17 the year he got a pay rise. Out of that I had to pay for all the weeks food, kids clothes and uniforms, travel and any other expenses I had. So the money I get now feels like millions compared to what I had then.

One night he hit me round the head with a coffee table and after 9 years of it I walked out really early one morning when it was still dark with only 2 carrier bags of kids clothes (I just had what I was standing up in), £5 in change and a mobile phone to my name. There was snow on the ground and it was freezing. We walked to the womens refuge who took us in. We were there for 2 weeks and had to share a room with another family. Then we moved into a rented house. We were lucky as the landlord was willing to waiver the deposit due to the fact that no one had even viewed his house for 6 months. Even though the house was a state it was wonderful to me because it meant I was out of that relationship. We were there for a year and then he gave me an eviction notice saying he wanted to sell it. So we started looking for somewhere else to live. We were on the council list but there were no vacant properties in this town and about another 300 families in the queue in front of us. We were advised not to move out until the landlord had taken us to court as it would be seen as making ourselves intentionally homeless. So it went to court and the courts gave us another 2 months. That 2 months went and it went to court again. Then we had to go and stay in a hostel for the homeless with all druggies, winos and prostitutes. We were there for 6 months then I got this house.

I was on benefit until about 6 months ago. I don't have any rent or mortgage to pay but to be honest I am only about £18 per week better off for working than I was on benefit.

bulchy

taxi97w wrote:

Happy birthday Margaret!I was going to respond negatively to this thread but I've stopped myself. I would welcome a thread about working peoples' state of affairs- because from what you've said, OP, you're better off than us- (my working household), yet you're complaining?

As the OP hasnt said what her actual income is, how do you know she is better off than you?
Sue

black-saturn

taxi97w wrote:

Happy birthday Margaret!I was going to respond negatively to this thread but I've stopped myself. I would welcome a thread about working peoples' state of affairs- because from what you've said, OP, you're better off than us- (my working household), yet you're complaining?

Feel free. If your in debt it's your own doing, not someone elses.

looby75

bulchy wrote:

looby, can you not claim your travel expenses for hospital visits? I know you used to be able to, unsure if you still can. If you cant, well thats unfair why has it been stopped???
Sue

I'm not sure if you can still claim for hospital visits, these have only just started (finally got my gp to refer my son after a year of constant illness) but I know you can't claim for doc/chemist runs which are the most common costs in this house, oh and bus rides to the orthodontist for my dd that cost aprox £10 every 8 Weeks....I suppose that's the price you pay for living in the land time forgot LOL

bulchy

Well I would definitely ask about claiming your bus fares when you first go to hospital, its worth a try, good luck.
Sue

needmoney

Happy Birthday Margaret

mandi hope you don't mind my posting this on your thread

taxi97w

black-saturn wrote:

Feel free. If your in debt it's your own doing, not someone elses.

I'm not in debt per se, I don't feel in debt that is, although I am paying of a debt at £16 p/w until Novemeber 06.
What I am saying is, after I pay of all the necessities rent, council tax, food etc I have £10 left for the week- this usually gets swollowed up with phone topup or something I have not planned for that comes out of the blue.

lush_walrus

Mandi,

I can see your point and have sympathy for your situation, but you havent really helped your arguement for not working. For anyone who is a working parent the idea that someone with a child of 12 is unable to work AT ALL is quite ludicrous to be honest.

It may be that it is difficult for you to find work, or difficult to find work that encompass school hours but it can't possibly be that just because you have two children over 12 you can not work!