IVA or Bankruptcy?

Ames

I had no idea that they could take housing arrears off my IS, I'll look into it. As for council tax.... they are threatening me with action over an old council tax bill, but it's from when I was a student and therefore exempt from council tax. I'm fairly certain that there's no ct problem. There is a contents insurance scheme, I need to look into it, at the moment I don't have any.

I'm in Leeds. I was diagnosed with ME when I was 16, but last year they decided that it might be an immune problem called CVID instead, they keep dithering about which it is, but I'm going to press for a definite decision when I see the specialist next week. If it's CVID then I might be able to get help from social services instead of having to pay my own carer. If it's ME, they wont help till I've been to the ME clinic. The ME clinic wont see me till the manic depression is under control, the psychologist wont see me till the ME clinic have seen me....

Ames

Biffa

I'll PM you tomorrow as have visitors at the moment....

Biffa

Ames,

Have just PM'd you.

Ames

Thanks Biffa.

I've had another thought, I've also got a student loan, which I ignore most of the time because it's so unlikely I'll ever be in a position to be asked to pay it back, but if i include this in my debts then I'll be eligible for an IVA, can student loans be part of an IVA when they're not being paid for?

Also I've just had an email from a charity I contacted telling me that my DLA and IS shouldn't be included as income for repaying debts, as it's there for a specific purpose, ie paying for care. CCCS accepted it as income though? So I'm now completely confused. I'm going to go see CAB tomorrow, although I think they'll just make me an appointment to see someone else, which may take a while. At least next time natwest call asking for £150 a month I can tell them that I've been advised that the income they can access is about a quarter of what they think it is, maybe delay them a bit longer till I can find a solution.

Ames

james32_uk

A student loan must be included in an IVA. If this takes you over £15k then you can look at it as an option.

Approx how much debt would this total and what spare cash would you have available after ALL your expenditure to put towards it?

Ames

Including the student loan, the debt would be about £18k.

If I take the total money I've got coming in and knock off my outgoings, including money for a carer, I'd have about 300 a month for it. Which is what I'm trying to pay now, but natwest are refusing to accept 15 a month and want 150, they'll only take outgoings as being electric, food and water, they've even told me to extend my loans so that I've got more spare to pay them with.

james32_uk

You have an excellent case for both an IVA or DMP. I'd speak to Payplan asap and see what they can offer.

james32_uk

Please bare in mind an IVA would cost you a hell of a lot of money. Youd be paying up to 18k to get rid of a debt that's really only £9k. You really should press again for a DMP. Make sure you include the maximum amount you can for your carer. Try Payplan if CCCS still say they wont help. There's also an option with the CAB.

Biffa

Ames,

have a quick look at https://www.entitledto.co.uk to see what else you can get. Do you get Carers Allowance as well as your DLA? Not sure if you can get Disabled Tax Credits either, but worth looking into. Like James says, I'd contact Payplan or CCS to look at setting up a DMP as an IVA will cost you far more than you owe. Will let you know if I can think of anything else.

earwig

hi
my oh is bankrupt and we had to get new bank acounts we have the co op cash minder acount can pay in at postoffice as well as withdrwing money and get a ballance
i never go into my coop branch as the post office is closer and you can open the acount by post also it an electron card what we use online all the time so if you do look at bankrupcty bear this in mind