Supposing that....

margaretclare

Just an update - GD has been on a 3-day JobCentre course this week mainly designed to motivate people who've been claiming JSA for some months. On the last day of the course she walked in and said 'I shouldn't be here - I've just got a job!'

She's going to be a bar manager in a pub. With this, she'll have much more opportunity to rent a flat in the private sector - no news yet about the housing association flat - and get herself properly sorted-out. The pub landlord had apparently sought her out rather than her applying.

As my DH is always saying 'Luck is when enterprise meets opportunity'.

Margaret

Savvy_Sue

Great news, hope it works out for her!

Scarlett1

excellent news maragetclare, sounds like your granddaughter's life has changed for the better :beer:

margaretclare

Hi all, thanks for helpful and supportive comments.

GD went for another job interview on Monday and started Tuesday. She loves it! Phoned me this morning in joyful mood. Thinks she will pack up the bar manager job because she can't do both - the job she's just started is for an electricity provider in a neighbouring city and she has to travel to it. She's heard nothing yet about the possible HA flat, but, as she says, in a couple of weeks she'll be able to see about renting a flat in the private sector, maybe nearer where she works. Dora, as you know, it's really all one big conurbation, isn't it?

One thing she said really touched and surprised me. She has some money in a Post Office savings account which, in all this trauma, she never revealed to anybody and hasn't touched because it's what she calls 'Grandad's money'. (She may have even forgotten about it for a while.) This money, a few hundreds, comes from a 'Baby Bond' with Tunbridge Wells Equitable Friendly Society. We were supposed to pay into it over 10 years, but when her grandad died in 1992 and I was made redundant at the same time, I couldn't afford to continue it so I made it paid-up - but it continued to grow. I sent her the documents so TWEFS could pay her, that was in 1999. I never thought she would still have it, but she has. 'It's Grandad's money, I didn't want to touch it'. She now plans to add to it as soon as she has a place to live and has got herself sorted out.

It seems that if you have a bit of success in one area of your life, the sun begins to shine and the success rolls-out into other areas. She just phoned me this morning saying she has to take internal exams in this new job and she passed 2 of them with the highest possible marks! Given that she's dyslexic, I think that's wonderful. I think she also appreciates the fact that I'm on her side, I've never commented or criticised her for being gay.

Best wishes

Margaret

msmicawber

Hi Margaretclare,

I've been keeping an eye on this thread, and am so pleased that your GD seems to have turned her life around. It must be such a relief to you.

It does seem that once one thing goes right in life, other things just fall into place as well.

Best wishes.

houston

just been browsing this thread, and wanted to say your grand daughter is very lucky to have someone like you looking out for her. :T

suelees1

Well Margaret, I think you're a star for being there for her and giving her your support.

She should find a welfare benefits advisor in the town and having a chat. They should tell her that as soon as she has a permanent place she should:

Open a basic bank account without overdraft facilities but which will allow her to set up direct debits or standing orders to pay her bills.

Definitely try for a community care grant from the JCP so she doesn't have to repay it. A good advisor will help her ask for a review of any adverse decision.

If she doesn't get what she needs then only then try for a Budgeting Loan.

Make sure she immediately claims Housing and Council Tax benefit (she can do this in advance as soon as she knows she has a tenancy). HB only starts the Monday following a claim and she doesn't want to get into rent/council tax arrears from day one. She should get all her rent and council tax paid if she is on benefits such as Income Support or jobseekers Allowance (income based).

Others have already said that regular money from you is counted as income as far as her benefits go but any one off payment should be ok. Better to buy something she nees though

Like you said, Freecycle and charity shops are good hunting grounds.

Whether she can have a pet will be in the tenancy agreement

I wish her good luck

real1314

Erm, I don't think it's a "live" thread anymore - last post was Oct 06.

suelees1

how stupid of me - hadn't even noticed!

pompeyman

the othe roption is to get a pre-paid card thing, you can load money onto it and pay for stuff but no debt and no bank account needed