Can anyone tell me where i can save on my soa?

sofababe

Reapply for Housing and Council Tax benefit. Look at this https://www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/entitlementcalculator.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Change energy suppliers asap. British Gas can do less than £50 a month. Why do they refuse to lower it?

Sky's lowest package is £19, not £44. Or u could cancel and get a freesat card from them for £25 = free telly forever :j

Your SOA is still not making sense. Why are you paying more than you have? You need to check your benefit entitlement as a matter of urgency and get to the CAB to sort out debt repayments. Why on earth did u agree to pay £100 a month to rent arrears when you simply don't have it?

Wee_Pilsbury

OP, you say you were "on disability" and that you were apparently overpaid HB and CTB because the council didn't know about this. Can you advise what you mean by "on disability"? If you meant you were getting DLA mobility or care, then I'm almost certain that although this should be declared, it isn't actually taken into account for a HB or CTB calculation - that is, it shouldn't mean your HB or CTB should have been reduced.

Have a look on the benefits board on this site and head off to welfare rights as well is my advice.


Good luck

kirstyjessen

HERE IS MY EXPLANATION FOR CHANGES AND THINGS I CAN’T CHANGE AND WHY

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1 – not changed
Number of children in household......... 0 – not changed
Number of cars owned.................... 0 – not changed
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 954.32 - £10 more due to pay rise
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 100 - £82 TAKEN FOR HOUSING PAYMENTS THAT THEY STATED THEY HAD OVER PAID and also due to medical condition isn’t as bad – so instead of frauding benefits like some do I was honest
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1054.32 – AS EXPLAINED less benefits I used to.


Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 550 – person I did have living with me has now moved out
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 100 – THIS IS WITH 25% DISCOUNT AS I NOW LIVE ON MY OWN AND ENTITLED TO 25% OFF MY BILL
Electricity............................. 50 - this is the lowest british gas will do – I CANNOT CHANGED SUPPLIER LANDLORD WIL NOT LET ME
Gas..................................... 50 - this is lowest bristish gas will do - I CANNOT CHANGED SUPPLIER LANDLORD WIL NOT LET ME
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 50 - this includes £388.88 debt – UNABLE TO CHANGE WATER SUPPLIER ON A METER AS WELL
Telephone (land line)................... 24.99 - this includes free international calls to my mum in America – MY MUM IS ILL SO HAVE TO CALL HER- also this includes an extra £5 a month for a £188 debt
Mobile phone............................ 25 - lowest i can get for calls and text required
TV Licence.............................. 17 – this is what I pay this is what they state I have to pay cannot change this!!!
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 49 - this is going down to £44 in november lowest sky can do – TO GET FREE INSTALLATION HAD TO HAVE HD PACKAGE WHICH I CANNOT CHANGE UNTIL END OF CONTRACT!!
Internet Services....................... 20 – NOT CHANGED – again also includes the debt of £188 my phone and internet billed together
Groceries etc. ......................... 100 - includes 1 cat 1 kitten – NOT CHANGED
Clothing................................ 10 - this is a everage over a year as my weight is yo yo – GONE UP £5 DUE TO WEIGHT GONE UP – SORRY I CANNOT HELP MY WEIGHT GOING UP IS THAT A CRIME NOW?
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 49 – BUS TRANSPORT – GONE UP £5 BUS PRICES INCREASED AGAIN NOTHING I CAN STOP ABOUT THIS AS CAN’T DRIVE – MEDICAL CONDITION – CAN’T WALK AT MOMENT AS IN A LEG BRACE
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 15 - for 2 cats lifetime insurance + excess – LAST TIME I DID NOT INCLUDE EXCESS THIS TIME I HAVE
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 10 - required for medicall problems – ACCIDENTIALLY PUT THIS UNDER CONTENTS INSURANCE LAST TIME
Other insurance......................... 13 - legal requirement from landlord –CANNNOT CHANGE THIS
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10 - this is over a year totaling £120 a year due to having nearly 50 birthdays a year
Haircuts................................ 3 - have 3 haircuts a year £18 a time – I MAY HAVE THIS CALCULATED WRONG IF I DID I’M SORRY SOMETIMES 2 CUTS A YEAR SOMETIMES 3 I HAVE ALOPECIA SO IT VARIES
Entertainment........................... 30 - this includes meals out for birthdays
Emergency fund.......................... 10 - thougth this would be a good idea – MAYBE NOT IDEA IF I CAN’T afford it so I can take this out
Total monthly expenses.................. 1285.99

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
council tax....................888.......100........0 – this is £25 a week this is the lowest amount they will do
council tax....................240.......60.........0 this is £15 a week this is the lowest amount they will do
gas............................51........51....... .0 – need to pay this a s a p
Total unsecured debts..........1179......76........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,054.32
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,305.99
Available for debt repayments........... -251.67
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 76
Amount short for making debt repayments. -307.67
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -1,179
Net Assets.............................. -1,179
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.


I did inform the council and housing of my disability benefit but they stated they overpaid from my last property when i wasn't on disability benefit and they were paying the whole rent amount when now they state it should only have been 75% I have epelepsy and as I do not need someone to be with me all the time i let the disability place know so that i wasn't committing fraud as i am not that kind of person. The payment aggreement was what i could do when i was on disability. I am not like some people who have people to help them with money i have a 85 year old nan who can't help me my brother is in chippenham and also on disability due to mental problems - asfergus adhd etc my sister was attacked so is not working due to scared to leave the house andmy mum lives in america so can't help either. I am going to call a few places today to see if I can change any payments. I have been informed that i am not entitled to any more benefits and I cannot claim council tax and housing benefit while I am working. will get back to you all later

kirstyjessen

Hi Everyone,

So I have managed to take a few things down and managed to get my council tax debt plus my current council tax bill all in one plan instead of £160 a month its £125 and gas amount of £51 being included in my payment plan. I am still out by £23.68 so anyhelp would be great. Also does anyone know if you can claim housing and council tax benefit when you are earning £238 a week and your rent is £550?

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 0
Number of cars owned.................... 0

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 954.32
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 100
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1054.32

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 550
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0
Electricity............................. 50
Gas..................................... 50
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 30
Telephone (land line)................... 20
Mobile phone............................ 20
TV Licence.............................. 17
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 40
Internet Services....................... 15
Groceries etc. ......................... 70
Clothing................................ 10
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 20
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 15
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 13
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10
Haircuts................................ 3
Entertainment........................... 20
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 953


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
COUNCIL TAX ...................1599......125.......0
Total unsecured debts..........1599......125.......-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,054.32
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 953
Available for debt repayments........... 101.32
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 125
Amount short for making debt repayments. -23.68

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -1,599
Net Assets.............................. -1,599

Created using the SOA calculator at https://www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.

dancingfairy

Hi - perhaps the easiest place to make savings is with the gas and electric - do you know how much is actual usage and how much of your monthly payments is towards debts? British Gas should be sympathetic to you as you are not a not payer just a can't payer - perhaps the utitilty board will have some suggestions as to how to tackle this? or perhaps you local CAB can help you come to some sort of arrangement with them?
Good Luck
df

DVardysShadow

1 - your landlord cannot force you to use a particular supplier for Gas and Electricity
2 - how much longer are you committed to sky? Getting rid would put your finances in a better state

foxgloves

I wonder why your landlord thinks the choice of energy supplier is up to him? That's a bit odd. I can't think of any good reason for it. The contract is with the tennant and the tennant also pays the bills. Changing supplier doesn't mean there are any physical changes to the property, so this just sounds weird. We currently pay our supplier (Npower) 28.00 a month for electricity & 37.00 a month for gas. Npower are not usually the cheapest....our payments have gone down because we have made big efforts to reduce what we use. I can't think of any legal way in which your landlord could enforce your choice of supplier when it's you paying the bills. In fact, would he even know? Other people may know more about this, I haven't lived in rented accomodation for decades, but it does sound as though he may be spinning you a line.
P.S I sometimes toy with the idea of ditching pet insurance, but then, as my previous cat once ran up well over 1k of bills in one year, I think better of it & keep paying it!

Little_Witch

Hi,
Don't mean to appear rude, but are you sure your with Sky, as I found them to be most helpful and the lowest monthly package they have is £19.

I lost my job a few months back and am in dire straights, I called Sky to ask about reducing my package and the lady asked me if I minded telling her why I was down sizing I explained about job loss and she offered me three months on my existing package for FREE!she further advised that at the end of the 3 months if I hadn't managed to get myself a job they would look at other ways of being able to help me. So please call sky again and speak to another advisor, the number I rang was 08442 414 141.

Also, speak to your mobile network and ask them if they can help you, i.e. barr you from going over £10 a month in calls/texts etc, it is worth speaking to people, especially in this horrid economic climate in which we are all living.

Goodluck with your quest, and well done for sorting out your debts.

Little Witch

kirstyjessen

foxgloves wrote: »

I wonder why your landlord thinks the choice of energy supplier is up to him? That's a bit odd. I can't think of any good reason for it. The contract is with the tennant and the tennant also pays the bills. Changing supplier doesn't mean there are any physical changes to the property, so this just sounds weird. We currently pay our supplier (Npower) 28.00 a month for electricity & 37.00 a month for gas. Npower are not usually the cheapest....our payments have gone down because we have made big efforts to reduce what we use. I can't think of any legal way in which your landlord could enforce your choice of supplier when it's you paying the bills. In fact, would he even know? Other people may know more about this, I haven't lived in rented accomodation for decades, but it does sound as though he may be spinning you a line.
P.S I sometimes toy with the idea of ditching pet insurance, but then, as my previous cat once ran up well over 1k of bills in one year, I think better of it & keep paying it!

I am with a letting agent and in our tenancy aggreements it states I am on a meter and the contracts state I cannot change supplier. I have spoken to sky again today and they have siad I definetly cannot change my package until my year is up when I can go onto normal package without HD channels but until then I have to stay what I am on. Its so annoying that they have helped others but will not help me.

I have been speaking to my family about problems with money and I have agreed that until everything is sorted out I am only going to give a card to thet main family members they are very upset that I can't get cards and gifts for everyone and not to expect anythign from anyone else which to be honest i don't i am happy not to receive anything just a telephone call would do me i've been like that since i was young never wanted anything. But you can't help others feel really.

I have also spoken to disability due to being in a leg brace for the next 3 years and they have said that due to this and it will be affecting my mobility they will relook into my disability again and i should hear about that within 14 working days. I have also checked my mail today and found a cheque for £30 pounds in the mail which I had completely forgotten that was coming for So i have paid that off the council tax. Every extra money I have extra I am going to pay off the council tax which means that should hopefully come off more. I am also going to keep a spending diary to see what I spend each day to see what I can do about it as my shopping i buy as and when as I cook pasta and rice everyday and buy bits everyday to go with it. got a £20 voucher coming from tesco's in november (that shows how much i buy in bits) so that will make next months shopping less I amlso about to call phone company to see if i can change my tarif. I am not sure if i can due to the type of phone i have is a new one when I upgraded my phone. I am only in a temping job When i was on permanent job I had alot larger wage since I lost that job a year ago and not in work for 6 months then in temping on and off has messed me up a bit if I am honest. stressing over these things as well has set my alopecia again which I have suffered with since i was born.

I will keep you updated and will update my signitature with new one as well.

sofababe

kirstyjessen wrote: »

I have been informed that i am not entitled to any more benefits and I cannot claim council tax and housing benefit while I am working. will get back to you all later

Who has informed you of this? I have just been on entitledto.com and I'd say you are definitely entitled to HB and CTB. Have you applied? Was it the Council's benefits department that told you this? Please apply. This is why you pay your taxes, so that in hard times you can claim some back