is bankrupcy the way to go?

Ames

Is the dla for care or mobility or a mixture? If you get higher or middle rate care you should look at carers allowance if you don't work. If you get higher rate mobility you can get a blue parking badge which will save on parking costs when the kids are with you. Also, if the car is used only for the son's benefit (including things like shopping for him when he's not with you) then you'll be able to get free car tax.

Ames

CLAPTON

just to clarify

1. all your debts are now being handled by CCCS by your payment of 218?

2. you have opened a new bank account with a bank to which you owe no money and all your income is being paid into it?

Its always good to add up the lists to get a some totals but

i make it

income 1666
spending 1583 (excluding debts repayment)
leaving 83 for debts but you are paying 218 to CCCS?

Is there any way to increase income? could OH get a second job or work overtime, could you get a job when OH is at home to look after the kids?


Although your food etc at 450 is rather high the overall budget is fairly tight and anyway it will take over 14 years to pay your debts off.

If increasing income significantly is not feasible then bankruptcy seems a reasonable option as you have no assetts.

If you did go bankrupt it is virtually certain that nothing in your house would be touched but if your car is expensive then you may be forced to change it for a cheaper model.

mrslawrence2003

rog2 wrote:

I will be made bankrupt in October - my situation is somewhat different to yours - I was managing my debts, with a lot of help from this site, until one creditor (HMRC) decided to petition for my BR. I probably feel more sorry for one of my other creditors, who treated me well (Not a Bank or CC company), than I do for myself - after two years of an uphill struggle, I will now have the opportunity for a fresh start.
I wish you well in whatever you decide - one thing, though, Student Loans can not be included in Bankruptcy.

really? when did that happen? i read stories of graduates going bankrupt just so they could get rid of their debts (incl student loans). is this just for people in the 'new' system or does it also apply to those in the 'old' system (those who also got grants)

rog2

mrslawrence2003 wrote:

really? when did that happen? i read stories of graduates going bankrupt just so they could get rid of their debts (incl student loans). is this just for people in the 'new' system or does it also apply to those in the 'old' system (those who also got grants)

Sorry if this comes up twice - having a few technical problems.

Since 1st September 2004 all outstanding student loans can not be claimed in Bankruptcy.

See https://www.insolvecy.gov.uk/faq/faq.htm

There is also a section relating to student loans prior to 2004.

Cheers
Rog2

Chaotic_pennies

Ames wrote:

Is the dla for care or mobility or a mixture? If you get higher or middle rate care you should look at carers allowance if you don't work. If you get higher rate mobility you can get a blue parking badge which will save on parking costs when the kids are with you. Also, if the car is used only for the son's benefit (including things like shopping for him when he's not with you) then you'll be able to get free car tax.

Ames

Hi, my daughter gets the lower rate so we are entitled to no care or mobility. Despite needing alot more than 1 hours care a day and requireing care at night. Its unusual to get up less than 3 times a night for her. My sons condition does not alow a DLA application but he also needs help day & night especially when badly effected.

So sadly no extra help is available.

In response to the other chap all of the assumptions are correct. My husband leaves for work at 5:20am and returns at 6:30 and with children which donot sleep the me working in eve option just didnt workout.

Thankyou for your suggestions.

Dead_Eye_Jones

I have moral objections to bankrupcy, just seems wrong that you can spend all that money and not pay it back. Close to theft, strictly in my opinion. Im always full of admiration for those that get there debts down the hard way, the Metro had a stroy last week about a single mum who paid off £40k in about 6years just by working hard, she felt like me from a moral point of view.

Just seems wrong that you can take other peopls money in good faith only to never pay it back - maybe im missing the point.

Anyways, I live in the real world and realise everyone has their own story, so best of luck to you and your partner - you'll get through one way or another !

chloe99_2

hi

about the disability car tax - my understanding is that "solely for use of disabled child" actually includes necessary use by parents as parents would not be fit to care for child if they a) did not have a life and b) did not buy food or pay bills - so you may want to look into this on internet or contact the relevant dept anonymously

also, on the allergies front, have you tried getting allergy free food on prescription - if you look on the internet you'll see huge business websites with big contracts with the nhs for allergy free food which is then made available to the public on presciption (can include bread/milk etc)

also re allergies - any chance of reducing the cost by making suitable food at home?

don't mean to be heartless but your groceries bill is huge (ours is £200pcm for 2 adults 2 children - one in nappies - no special dietary requirements) maybe you are buying lots of ready made free-from type of food from the shops when your daughter could possibly eat something simpler/different/home made or maybe do without?

would prob help the other posters here if you could break down that big "other household" spend figure into say household and special diet food

about the car - £90pcm (£1080) seems quite a lot for maintenance/ins/tax/mot of one car - we used to spend this much on 2 cars. does it really cost this much - can you think about what the money actually goes on? - is there a cheaper way to get these things done?

fuel costs - wonder if changing you car an option - if you haven't got a diesel car already then maybe do the sums re fuel as we saved a small fortune when we switched to diesel

hope something helps - keep posting and everyone here will try to help you. don't take prev posters comments to heart. maybe he's right or maybe he isn't - who cares - don't worry about it, you have to work out the best solution for your family - and he should have read the board note which asks all posters to be supportive to others.

kind regards

Chaotic_pennies

In response to the previous poster we have always had every intention of paying back what we owe and have only tried the DMP as part of this attempt due to a flurry of seriously crappy happenings (which were out of our control) on the finacial side of things. Im sure I stated that we were happily repaying all, until probs occurred.

Car stuff is alot but this is due to the milage increasing the ins. Fuel is loads and the car is an effiecient diesel OH just has a long journey to work.

Food and household is loads and is mainly due to having to make all from scratch with wierd ingredients as milk egg, wheat and soya are just some of the no go foods. She does get what is available on prescription but tis only 4 consumable items one of which is egg replacer powder another is flour but only get enough for 2 loaves of bread a month so have to buy the rest!! As a treat I buy her a box of biscuits a month at £2.49. Her rice milk which is gaurunteed uncontaminated is nearly £2 a litre so it gets complicated to reduce the bill. Pre daughter bill was much lower more like £35 a week so I know what you mean.

We shall plod on for a bit longer as is, but the creditors keep refusing to accept the cccs amount so soon it will be out of our hands despite our best effort. I shall be able to contribute to the household financially in the near future when she starts playschool, but for now we are tied as is.

angeluk69_2

Dead_Eye_Jones wrote:

I have moral objections to bankrupcy, just seems wrong that you can spend all that money and not pay it back. Close to theft, strictly in my opinion. Im always full of admiration for those that get there debts down the hard way, the Metro had a stroy last week about a single mum who paid off £40k in about 6years just by working hard, she felt like me from a moral point of view.

Just seems wrong that you can take other peopls money in good faith only to never pay it back - maybe im missing the point.

Anyways, I live in the real world and realise everyone has their own story, so best of luck to you and your partner - you'll get through one way or another !

I have to say, I feel the same, I was offered the opportnity to go bankrupt by CCCS but I actually told them that it wasn't that I didn't want to pay I just couldn't keep up with the demands and started a DMP.

I think when you have to do something you will do, I don't think bankruptcy is the answer, my debt might not seem like a lot to some people but it is alo tfor me and i intend to pay back every penny and at least then I can say at the end of it that i paid it all off.

Can I ask one thing tho, where would you find the money to pay for the bankruptcy in the first place?

Everyone has everyday things to deal with, life throws carp at you but you have to face it head on and get on with it.

Another thing, your food bill is very high, I know your daughter has allergies but is there no way you could make this a smaller amount by making changes to the rest of the household.

Stick with the CCCS I am 3 months in buit now i don't get phonecalls from creditors and it is a lot better once you get started.

(sorry this post probably seems rather insensitive, so apologies)

elisebutt65

Just as a matter of course I would try appealing the DLA decision. If you're getting up a lot in the night and needing to care for her that much, I would have thought you should be getting middle rate and then you should also get ICA.(carers allowance)

If you can get the GP on board as well as any consultants she sees at the hospital , that will increase your chance of a better decision.

Have you got your name down on a council waiitng list for housing closer to OH's work??? It may take years but if you also have disabled kids needing to be near hospitals then you should get more points for that as well. I successfully got bumped to the top of the queue after getting Social Services to assess my housing needs.