Budgeting / Crisis Loan Problem

glossyhair

I am so angry and confused! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

I've been unemployed for a year (six months on contribution based JSA and six months of income based) and have just applied for a budgeting loan from the social fund. Having been told by the JCP and according to the form I completed, I could apply for £1500. So I did. You can imagine the kind of mess I am in after a year on £65 p/w! (Thanks to MSE site for helping me minimise the black hole). I got the offer letter this morning and I can have the grand total of £348 which is the max for a single person with no kids. That's almost 75% less than I was told and therefore expected. Now I can't pay the people I promised I would:-( :eek::eek::eek:

Apparently, I can get "small" top ups if I am in a crisis that threatens my health and or safety. So if a close relative dies and the funeral is in Scotland, I can have the money to attend it. But if I am so stressed and worried about the fact that I can't pay my utility bills that I am suicidal, then that is not a crisis and they won't loan me anything. :(:(

Or, if I need to buy a cooker so I can cook food then that is a "crisis" and I can get a loan . . . but if I need money to pay for the gas to power the cooker so I can cook food that is not a "crisis" so I can't get a loan! Eh what???? Of course if I had a batch of kids then I could have all the money I wanted . . . grrrrrrrrrrr . . . the system is so unfair!!! I'm not asking for the earth or a handout for goodness sake; it is a LOAN to be paid back.

Anyone know how I could best manage this? The £348 will disappear almost upon arrival !!

Oldernotwiser

glossyhair wrote: »

I am so angry and confused! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

I've been unemployed for a year (six months on contribution based JSA and six months of income based) and have just applied for a budgeting loan from the social fund. Having been told by the JCP and according to the form I completed, I could apply for £1500. So I did. You can imagine the kind of mess I am in after a year on £65 p/w! (Thanks to MSE site for helping me minimise the black hole). I got the offer letter this morning and I can have the grand total of £348 which is the max for a single person with no kids. That's almost 75% less than I was told and therefore expected. Now I can't pay the people I promised I would:-( :eek::eek::eek:

Apparently, I can get "small" top ups if I am in a crisis that threatens my health and or safety. So if a close relative dies and the funeral is in Scotland, I can have the money to attend it. But if I am so stressed and worried about the fact that I can't pay my utility bills that I am suicidal, then that is not a crisis and they won't loan me anything. :(:(

Or, if I need to buy a cooker so I can cook food then that is a "crisis" and I can get a loan . . . but if I need money to pay for the gas to power the cooker so I can cook food that is not a "crisis" so I can't get a loan! Eh what???? Of course if I had a batch of kids then I could have all the money I wanted . . . grrrrrrrrrrr . . . the system is so unfair!!! I'm not asking for the earth or a handout for goodness sake; it is a LOAN to be paid back.

Anyone know how I could best manage this? The £348 will disappear almost upon arrival !!

Crisis loans aren't given so that you can pay back other debts so I imagine that £348 would go a long way to pay off your utility bills. Haven't you been receiving LHA/HB and CTB?

glossyhair

Yes, I have been getting HB and CTB. My financial habits are as good as they possibly can be (I am very MSE savvy) but it is impossible to live for an extended period on such a low amount even if you only eat toast and beans . . which is what I have to do.

I don't have an extravagant lifestyle, I don't smoke or drink or run a car or take holidays and had no debts before I lost my job. I came on here to ask for help or advice not to be judged!! :mad::mad:

BTW, the money is actually going to pay HP arrears so I can avoid losing my fridge and washing machine :eek::eek: and thus also lose all the payments I have made to date.

paulofessex

glossyhair wrote: »

Yes, I have been getting HB and CTB. My financial habits are as good as they possibly can be (I am very MSE savvy) but it is impossible to live for an extended period on such a low amount even if you only eat toast and beans . . which is what I have to do.

I don't have an extravagant lifestyle, I don't smoke or drink or run a car or take holidays and had no debts before I lost my job. I came on here to ask for help or advice not to be judged!! :mad::mad:

BTW, the money is actually going to pay HP arrears so I can avoid losing my fridge and washing machine :eek::eek: and thus also lose all the payments I have made to date.

Did l miss something, just where was you judged?

only_mee

glossyhair wrote: »

I came on here to ask for help or advice not to be judged!! :mad::mad:

No where have you been judged, maybe you read a different thread and replied to this one, or was it in anticipation of being judged?

glossyhair

The comment about the money should be covering the utility bills . . . actually it wouldn't cover them but that is not the point. I am very frustrated and distraught so maybe I'm being over sensitive in which case I apologise. I have been viciously mauled on this forum before and have no wish to repeat the experience!!!!

viktory

glossyhair wrote: »

maybe I'm being over sensitive in which case I apologise. I have been viciously mauled on this forum before and have no wish to repeat the experience!!!!

Yep, you are and your attitude does not foster empathy. Might be why you got 'viciously mauled' on here before.

*Wanders off to find glossyhair's other posts*

only_mee

No problem, I agree, like a pack of stray dogs some people are

glossyhair

viktory wrote: »

Yep, you are and your attitude does not foster empathy. Might be why you got 'viciously mauled' on here before.

*Wanders off to find gloassyhair's other posts*

Thanks so much for your words of support and encouragement.

glossyhair

only_mee wrote: »

No problem, I agree, like a pack of stray dogs some people are

Thank you

glossyhair

In the absence of a delete the thread button I am unsubscribing now to this now. Wish I'd never posted anything :-(

Emails/Posts are easy to misread as they don't convey tone or intention. I am very upset and angry so likely to be over-sensitive as I said. My attitude, viktory, is one of reaching out for help . . . what is yours?!