help and advice needed

Jowo_2

alexandra_cmpbll wrote: »

Hi, My name is on common housing register, which incorporates all housing associations in the area. The council also have a letter from my gp outlining my disability, it has made no difference what ever.

When was the last time you contacted them about your application? Have you challenged them about the priority? are you prepared to seek assistance from Shelter to double check your rights? do they offer choice based letting where you bid for properties or do they run a waiting list? have you looked into a mutual exchange?

alexandra_cmpbll wrote: »

... The council have told me there are no houses for anybody.... My housing officer told me the only houses they have are in areas no one wants

Do you accept the observation that there is next to no turnover of vacant houses in popular areas or dispute this? Are you holding out for the type of property, a house, which is least likely to come up on the register and most likely to have the highest demand?! Many councils publish statistics that detail the vacancies and the types of priority/length of waiting for the tenant that is accepted for it. Does your council have a table about the supply and demand?

alexandra_cmpbll wrote: »

... I have applied for other jobs, but i must let myself down at interview some how, as I have plenty experience and the proper qualifications.

Your posts are shot through with a lack of confidence and an understandable tendency towards self-pity and anger which is no surprise given your upsets and frustrations. Perhaps this negativity is accidentally coming across in interviews? Visit your local library and borrow books on interview tips and techniques.

Are you seeking any professional treatment for depression (if that's what you are suffering from) or informally (by joining a support or advice group that you can visit in person or that is run on a forum on the internet, for example)? Have you looked into any courses, books or groups on how to improve your confidence and self-esteem?

alexandra_cmpbll wrote: »

... I dont think gas/ electric supplier would cut repayments for me. .

Don't dismiss this without trying. Your energy debt eats up a lot of your disposable income, it’s your highest expense and is around three times the cost it should be, this should be targetted. Do ask the Debt Free wanabee and Gas/Electricity boards for advice on how to do this or bring it up with the Citizens Advice Bureau.

I'm sure it is completely frustrating to be in this financial bind and to have to deal with the council housing, council tax people, energy company and so forth, particularly when you are fed up, but being passive and avoiding contacting them is not going to help you drive down your expenses and up your income. Good luck.

alexandra_cmpbll

Hello beth, I wil contact energy company today. I have been in touch with social work department, asked for an appointment and after waiting a month got too see someone, He told me there is nothing he can do as social work and housing are all under one umbrella now, and cant be seen to be fighting against each other. He pointed out what I already know. My rent and council tax is eating up my income. He told me there is nothing he can do. Thank you for replying to me, its good to know others have been in my shoes and are managing to survive.

alexandra_cmpbll

Hi jowo, I am not in a suitable position for a mutual exchange as i am in a private rental property. Only council tenents can apply for this or housing association tenents. I was last in touch with the housing department three weeks ago, and am always told the same. No houses. I think i have 70 points and was told they are currently working on 120 points. I accept there are no houses for the council to rent to me, but there have been in the last couple of years which would have made such a big difference to my situation, but other people get the houses. I would accept any type of house as long as it has three bedrooms, it appears to be the lack of houses in the areas that is the problem and in particular three bedrommed properties. I agree completely with you, I think my negativity and lack of confidence come through at interview. I am attending my gp for my depression, its all caused by no suitable, affordable housing. I think its because iv been in this situation for 6 years now , i honestly thought I would have a suitable house by now. Yes i have lost faith in housing department, mps and msps, I have tried to help myself . Thank you for trying to help. By the way i have been in touch with shelter, who affirmed what the housing told me, there are no houses available. I may go to a shelter lawyer, when i can get my energy back. thanks again and i will let you know how i get on.

princesspinchie

The problem you may have with being on the waiting list for social housing is that as you have 2 boys they may expect them to share a room. A 2 bedroom house/maisonette/flat may well be much easier to get in the social housing sector. I know in the area where I live, the vast majority of the 3 bed houses were bought on right to buy schemes in the 80s/90s and therefore the local social landlord has few of these and much more of 1 and 2 bedroom properties.

It may be worthwhile asking your sons to share if it will mean you have a better quality of life overall. Your eldest son may also be contemplating moving out at some point in the near future, so a 2 bedroomed place may be what you need anyway.

alexandra_cmpbll

hi, local council will not consider me for two bedroomed property as they say I need a three bedroomed. i would be happy to take a two bedroomed house. Thanks for your reply.

bestpud

If I were you, I'd go along to my local CAB.

Write down your ingoings and outgoings including benefits and arrears.

Ask them to help you check you are receiving the correct amount of LHA and CTB and also ask them to contact your utility providers and ask to lower your repayments.

Often, the CAB will succeed where a customer cannot.

Take any benefit and utility letters with you to the CAB.

Also, check out the Debt Free Wannabe board and Oldstyle boards on here.

You are not managing your money too well but that's what this site is all about, so you're in the right place! :j

I think, when you are depressed, it can quickly overwhelm you and I have found the CAB fantastic at helping out with things like this.

Other than that, do you have a good friend or family member who will sit down with you and try and work all this out? My friend was a Godsend when my marriage ended and I had to find a way through the bills and debts, if only because she reminded me there was light at the end of the tunnel and allowed me to cry on her shoulder!

bestpud

Another thought: could your youngest son have a school dinner but take his own drink and/or 'pudding' perhaps?

I used to find the drink mine bought with their meal (a bottle of fizzy pop!) was as much as half the total cost!

I persuaded them to take a bottle of squash from home and it became considerably cheaper!

Also, do you have a copy of the menu, as there may well be cheaper options that he wouldn't normally choose but are better than sitting alone iyswim?

debrag

alexandra_cmpbll wrote: »

this is my weekly income.... From my pay 140, from tax credit ( working, child and disabled persons tax credit ) 120, Child benefit 20 pounds a week, and ten pounds a week from my eldest son, though to be truthful, hes given me nothing yet as hes just started to sign on.from this, every week 110 goes to rent, 28 and 5 for council tax, thats 28 for this years and 5 towards arrears. Gas and electric payment 40 pounds per week between the two,travel to and from work,30 pounds per week,school dinners 15 pounds a week, 40 pounds a month car insurance, tv license 5 per week. In my calculations that leaves me 17 pounds a week before I have bought any food,m budgeted for birthdays, christmas, haircuts , clothes, shoes or anything else. I cant afford to buy myself clothes, my family gives me there clothes when they no longer wear them. My neice gave me a coat for the winter last year, which i will wear this year too. I dont drink or smoke and dont go out much except to work. Not surprisingly, not having a secure tenure after six years and moving five times in as many years is now having an impact on my health. I am sick of contacting the council now, If i am succesful with a claim for dhp it only lasts for 13 weeks and no guarntee i would get it again, which leaves me and the children back at square one.

Thats a lot for utilities isn't it.
£130 a month for travel do you get the train?
£40 for car insurance wheres the car?

alexandra_cmpbll

could you tell me what you mean, wheres the car???

debrag

Jowo wrote: »

Thanks, I've re-checked, perhaps I muddled weekly income for monthly. Does this seem an accurate summary?

On a monthly basis (as opposed to 4 weekly, the OP) gets approx £1289 net per month.

£640 Wage after tax
£520 Tax credits and disability
£86 Child benefit
£43 Board money paid by son

From this, there is rent and council tax to pay each month of £614 per month
£476 rent
£138 ct

This leaves around £675 per month. After this, the biggest expense is energy (approx £170 per month), an occupational pension (£120), transport and school dinner £65.

As with the previous posters, I think the LHA should be double checked. Advice should be sought how to manage and reduce the debts and the energy costs.

If the OP has mobility and care needs, she should apply for DLA and while her heart intends to take a small sum of money from her eldest son and let her youngest enjoy a sociable school dinner, her head may tell her this is not affordable. For example, by doubling the son's keep and by letting her youngest son take a packed lunch, this could free up another £60 or £70 per month. This is not ideal, but is not cruel given the sacrifices you are making in going without for them.

Personally, I disagree with the advice to discontinue the pension. Take advice from the pension board before making a drastic decision like that.

Ask Shelter or CAB to review your social housing application in light of your disability as this could increase your priority.

transport is £30 a week and school dinners is £15 a week meaning £195 a month