In a lot of debt and not sure what to do

Uncle_festa

Hello, I am new to this site; I hope I have posted in the right area.

A year ago I had a debt of about £1000 which I had in a loan paying off a car I purchased. I had £300 over draft I occasionally went into but most of the time kept above it.

Back in January I started living with my other half at my parents and with my parents being fairly old and retired we decided when my parents moved away to move into a rented flat near to our places of work.

Being only 24 it was a big step but come March we had moved into the flat. Being sensible I sold my pride and joy classic mini which I had spend all my money on since I was 17 and rebuilt. That’s how serious things were.

Problems started in April when a routine operation she went in for resulted in them finding out she had cancer. She had cervical cancer diagnosed in February at an extremely early stage which was clearing up and we thought nothing more of it but they found it had spread to her kidney. This has progressed and recently we have been told its terminal.

This has meant she hasn’t been working full time. Only odd hours here and there. I have been keeping food on the plate, and paying for everything. I’ve taken my car off the road and got a cheap run about, I have sold as much as I can, but things have spiralled out of control a bit I am now in close to £18000 in debt mainly with credit cards and our joint account went into an un planned over draft which took time to clear resulting in nasty letters coming through from Lloyds.

Trouble is she is still working a few hours a day earning not a lot. But she needs to work when she can as she gets depressed and goes mad sitting in the flat all day. Plus she doesn’t want to go on a benefit until she feels she can’t physically work. This means I am struggling to keep the flat going as well as pay my monthly card payments. Earning about £16000 a year. I am starting to get depressed and fed up and I am not really sure what my options are. I work Monday – Saturday and 2 evenings.

Is there advice on how I can reduce my monthly payments? When I am sorted I will want to pay more money than I can now.

isy1011

Very sorry to hear this. Well done for posting.
Can you move your credit card debts to 0%?
Can you post up a SOA?
http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html
Can you claim any benefits? Is there a social worker connected to the hospital that can help?

Tixy

Hi and welcome to MSE

Sorry to hear about your girlfriend's illness.
I think it sounds like you might need some help from one of the debt charities with sorting out your finances and helping take the stress away from you.
It would be useful if you could post a statement of affairs to see the full extent of your finances and offer the best advice - http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

Have a read of this link as well IMPORTANT - Where to seek professional impartial advice about your debts.

themull1

Thats terrible, but really she needs to see what she can claim now.

secretshopper75

So sorry to hear about your gf's illness, she's very brave continuing to try and work..have you tried Macmillan Support with regards to if any benefits might be available?

[Deleted User]

Contact one of the cancer charities for help. You have enough problems coping with the cancer nevermind the debt. Best wishes.

cancerhelp.org.uk/coping-with-cancer/coping-practically/financial-support/grants/cancer-charities

Sorry, as a new user I cannot post links so add www. to the front of the url.

bast

Hi best wishes to you and your girlfriend... absolutely horrendous time for you both... While it is admirable that your g/f wants to work she needs to look into claiming DLA Disablity Living Allowance... 0845 123456 ... Please do this as she can work and claim it there is a special consideration given to those that are terminally ill...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DisabilityLivingAllowance/DG_10011925

roberts516

Hi read your post and can understand that you must be worried over illness and debt but there is good advise on this site and plenty of people here to help you. As suggested above ring one of the debt charities who will help you and take alot of stress away from you both. I wish you luck

NorthernLas

Bast - you beat me to it regarding DLA.

DLA is not means tested AND the sooner she claims the better. Given the diagnosis, she will be able to claim immediately and they will rush things through.

Do not wait until she is too ill to work.

Contact Macmillan Support for help on finances or other support

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/HowWeCanHelp/HowWeCanHelp.aspx

Luckystepho

I think that she should be able to claim DLA under 'special rules'.

How horrid for you both, sending you both love and best wishes. xx

Uncle_festa

Thank you to every one for your replies. I have taken on board what has been said. Reading about where to recieve impartial advice was very helpfull now I know where to go and where not to go to.

We did not realise quite how much help was out there. Me and my partner are going to speak to her mcmillan nurse when she comes over later today and look through the links posted.

This help has been greatly apreciated by the both of us. This site and everyone on here realy makes things feel a whole lot more positive and makes me boost into wanting to work off my debts.

I will keep people up to date with how things all go.

Thanks for everyones advice. :beer: