First time SOA - Please be gentle. Am so worried.

SimIsOnTheUp

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

RE; DLA check out this factsheet from the disability alliance which should give you an idea if it's worth putting a claim in.

http://www.disabilityalliance.org/f2.htm

Many Thanks.

Will check this out.

immoral_angeluk

SimIsOnTheUp wrote: »

Thank You for your help.

Re the DRO / writing off the HB Overpayment, I'm so worried about this -

I don't think they'll write it off, as it was 'fraudulent' when I got done in 2006..been paying it back ever since

Apparently, any record of fraud (I was interviews 'under caution' / threatened with Court and criminal charges / I paid an 'admin penalty') will render the HB Overpayment *excluded* from the DRO won't it?

Ah, in that case yes. You'll remain liable for it as it'll be an excluded debt. You'll just have to negotiate payments you can afford depending on your circumstances etc if you can't afford the full £5.

immoral_angeluk

SimIsOnTheUp wrote: »

Thanks for this.

I will ask the CAB lady, if she can help with asking the Council to reduce my HB Overpayment repayments slightly.

Re ESA figures, it looks like I've been slightly under - paid strangely!

Will phone them next Tuesday

There could be a genuine reason for it but knowing the jobcentre.... lol.

Also if you apply for an get DLA you may get an extra amount on your other benefits know as disability premiums depending on what award you get DLA.. So definitely look and see if you should apply. The forms are pretty horrendous so make sure you get someone at the CAB to help you with them if you do apply.

SimIsOnTheUp

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Ah you're out of my area then. I deal with south staffs and cannock CAB. Good luck with your appointment though! Have you been given any documents to take with you? Financial statement, that kind of thing?

Ah ok!

Yes, I spent all night Thursday, and all day Friday, getting together all my income / expenditure / bills / debt paperwork.

Have it all filed now.

Feel so much more organised, and focused.

Yes, I have the CAB 'Money Advice Trust' Financial Statement all filled out ready for my appointment in 10 days time :cool:

Just wish that my budget didn't show about a minus figure left over!

vaporate

First of all, you do not have 24k of debt, only 14k.

Forget the student loan. Just make sure you tell them where you live, bank account details and status regarding employment your fine.

It is income assessed, I have one too and as far as I'm concerned it doesnt exist. It will get written off at some point, 65 for me, and they only take peanuts off if you earn over 15k a year each month anyway.

I would pay off rent arrears and council tax first.

immoral_angeluk

SimIsOnTheUp wrote: »

Ah ok!

Yes, I spent all night Thursday, and all day Friday, getting together all my income / expenditure / bills / debt paperwork.

Have it all filed now.

Feel so much more organised, and focused.

Yes, I have the CAB 'Money Advice Trust' Financial Statement all filled out ready for my appointment in 10 days time :cool:

Just wish that my budget didn't show about a minus figure left over!

You may find that the advisor chops and changes it a bit depending on how affordable your figures are long term.. so don't take what you've put as gospel. See what your advisor says but don't be afraid to ask questions or say so if you don't agree with something. We can only help if you are totally open with us

SimIsOnTheUp

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Ah, in that case yes. You'll remain liable for it as it'll be an excluded debt. You'll just have to negotiate payments you can afford depending on your circumstances etc if you can't afford the full £5.

Gutted.

Thought so, though.

*Taken firmly on the chin, as I am determined to clear up my mess*

When I asked the Council (via email) to reduce the repayments, to lower than the £5 per week, they responded in writing - told me that they should be recovering it at about £12.. The tone of it, was 'you should be thankful, that we're not taking more' sort of thing!

Anyway, they flatly refused to lower it below £5 a week

immoral_angeluk

vaporate wrote: »

First of all, you do not have 24k of debt, only 14k.

Forget the student loan. Just make sure you tell them where you live, bank account details and status regarding employment your fine.

It is income assessed, I have one too and as far as I'm concerned it doesnt exist. It will get written off at some point, 65 for me, and they only take peanuts off if you earn over 15k a year each month anyway.

I would pay off rent arrears and council tax first.

Sorry but I disagree. Although the student loan wouldn't be taken into account for a DRO, it's still a debt and should be seen as such as it will still remain payable in the future should the OP return to work. It's quite dangerous to not see debt as actual debt.

immoral_angeluk

SimIsOnTheUp wrote: »

Gutted.

Thought so, though.

*Taken firmly on the chin, as I am determined to clear up my mess*

When I asked the Council (via email) to reduce the repayments, to lower than the £5 per week, they responded in writing - told me that they should be recovering it at about £12.. The tone of it, was 'you should be thankful, that we're not taking more' sort of thing!

Anyway, they flatly refused to lower it below £5 a week

Ask your advisor to request a reduction. They'll do it in writing with a copy of the financial statement and council's tend to be more linient when we're involved. No guarantees obviously as it's a priority debt and if they won't accept anything less you'll still have to pay £5... but it's worth your advisor doing it for you.

SimIsOnTheUp

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

There could be a genuine reason for it but knowing the jobcentre.... lol.

Also if you apply for an get DLA you may get an extra amount on your other benefits know as disability premiums depending on what award you get DLA.. So definitely look and see if you should apply. The forms are pretty horrendous so make sure you get someone at the CAB to help you with them if you do apply.

Hmm, no comment re the Jobcentre..

So, you reckon, my ESA is being paid lower than the standard rate then?

I will chase this up next week.

Same with DLA

Thank You so much.