Income Support/ISMI/Home repairs assistance.....

electric_comperella

Hi All

I'm at my wits end tbh, I've been trying to save (fruitlessly) whilst on Income Support to get some minor repairs done on my home... Unfortunately in the time it's taking the minor repairs have become Major...

plaster falling from room ceilings and over bath whilst it's being used!

now I'm basically in the situation where I can't get a loan (as I'm unemployed) to get this fixed, I've been applying for jobs left right and centre to no avail

I have buildings insurance but no contents as I barely am able to pay the bills as they come in....so made the choice to take what cover I could afford...

Is there any way of getting any grants or loans (not from a loanshark) to prevent being hit on the head by lumps of plaster?

I'm solvent for the first time in ages and although I just break even each month - I really don't want to get into bad debts again

Thanks in advance for any advice

Ella x

tcr_3

A budgeting loan from the Social Fund might help ? Some councils offer repair grants to homeowners but I think it might for major repairs i.e. roof replacement, windows, re-wiring rather than the odd bit of plaster falling ... check out your council website to see if it's got any info. Why is the plaster coming away anyway ? Water ingress ?

electric_comperella

To be honest I'm really not sure why.... hmm I did consider saving enough to go on a plaster course I saw in the paper, as the whole house needs sorting...

any advice much appreciated!

electric_comperella

...and if anyone has any information about budgeting loans etc cheers in advance

tcr_3

Budgeting loans ... you need to be in receipt of Income Support, JSA(Income Based) or ESA(Income Related) for at least 6 months in order to qualify for a budgeting loan.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018905

Can't comment on your plastering problems, unfortunately, DIY isn't my thing

electric_comperella

thanks tcr I will look into it, what's the most you can get on a budgeting loan? are there any grants available does anyone else know?

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

Surely your ceiling falling down would be covered by your building insurance? :eek:

Contents insurance covers the stuff not fitted to your house that you take with you when you move.

electric_comperella

It's not the whole ceiling just the plaster (not the board presumably beneath)....doubtful the insurers will cover anything that's not structural.

Robbie64

You can apply for a Budgeting Loan from the Social Fund for help towards home improvements, so long as you have been on means tested benefits for 26 weeks.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

electric_comperella wrote: »

It's not the whole ceiling just the plaster (not the board presumably beneath)....doubtful the insurers will cover anything that's not structural.

We claimed off our building insurance after a burst pipe (caused by my ex screwing threw a pipe whilst laying laminate flooring in the bathroom) caused our ceiling to collapse.

It might be worth phoning to check.

I was with direct line who were useless tbh but some insurance companies are better than others.

Good luck, i'll keep my fingers crossed that your covered. :A

electric_comperella

I will check the insurance documents to see what is/what's not covered...

in the meantime does anyone have any experience with budgeting loans?