please can someone give me some positive advice.

Willbedebtfree1day

Just wanted to wish you luck. Sorry your school are being so awkward. Have you contacted dwp regarding your child tax credits and getting it paid weekly and then you will get sent up to date paperwork for the school dinners.

Make sure you look after yourself as well your son needs you.

Take Care

trinibini

i am going to ring them now, thank you , and i will

kazwookie

What food do you have in your home?

Who at the school is being awkward, it it the head or the school secretary? Have you spoken to the head, if not ask to do so and explain the hardship / meals to them, at the same time ask about the hardship fund.

What area of the country are you in, (if you tell us this we can help find a local contact for you, if there is one) as food parcels etc are some times available via soup kitchens / local churches etc

annibee

Hey

Sorry to hear your having a rough time. As annoying as it will be your best bet is to stand your ground as others suggest with the jobcentre....i know most are alright. Ive had several crisi loans in the past for various reasons and theyve all been issued the same day if you (as someone rightfully suggested) nag enough

you can get any amount the most I had to get once was 80 and you pay it back a tiny bit each time out of your benefit. also theres no linit as to how many you can get I once had to get three in the space of 2 months (dont ask lol) and the payment went up by a pound a time or something daft.

Job centre are there to help.....again as someone also suggested CAB are very helpful as they have experts in all areas and i think (correct me anyone if im wrong) they are free

but first step crisis loan that can keep you going till you get your benefits sorted. but ring now as they have a time limit for same day pick ups (i think its before 2pm and youll make the 4pm pick up)

If you get a job in the mean time they will let you pay it back at a suitable rate (i paid mine off a little each month) and so its probably ideal for you. Use the money to get some food for the packed lunches too so make sure you ask for enoug (oh and ask for more rather than less the most they will do is say we cant give you that much but we can give you this much and then theyll tell you to just apply again in a week for any more you need.)

After youve sorted that pressing issue re money go and have a look at the up your income board for tips on how to make a few quid (its not straight away life changing amounts but it will/may help just to have a bit extra to take the stress away)

Hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck with it x

RadoJo

Hi Trinibini,
It sounds like you are under a lot of stress - whereabouts are you? There are local organisations around the country who can help (you don't have to give your address, just a rough area!).

kazwookie

Are you due any tesco's vouchers, or have any necter points you could use in sainsbury's?

gerryscot

trinibini wrote: »

i am going to ring them now, thank you , and i will

Trinibini dont want to appear cheeky but you need to get to DWP office a.s.a.p. to get your Giro and cash it before the post office closes.

Be honest regarding your circumstances, you need to be prepared to stand your ground and you'll get your payment.

Good luck x

gerryscot

kazwookie wrote: »

What food do you have in your home?

Who at the school is being awkward, it it the head or the school secretary? Have you spoken to the head, if not ask to do so and explain the hardship / meals to them, at the same time ask about the hardship fund.

What area of the country are you in, (if you tell us this we can help find a local contact for you, if there is one) as food parcels etc are some times available via soup kitchens / local churches etc

kazwookie i dont mean to be rude but i laughed so much reading your post. You sounded just like my mother (god rest her) thats a compliment. :T :T

If anyone every gives me any hassle I'll be calling on you to sort them out. lol :rotfl: :rotfl:

All joking aside its nice to see that so many people care and are trying to help. :A :A :A

Gerry x

Pandora_Peroxide

With the school go in and see the Head or the child's class teacher, don't speak to the secretary. Explain what the situation is and that you will be entitled to free school meals. Ask if they can help out until then - there is usually a way for this. As for shoes the school may have some they can let you have - where I have worked we often had them donated when kids had grown out of them or lost property we have had for ages and we issued them to kids in need; I know it's not ideal but it may tide you over - even a pair of pumps may help to wear in class if his feet have gotten wet on the way in and his shoes can be left to dry on a radiator.

It used to be the council offices which dealt with free school meals paperwork - a call or popping in usually gets things speeded up (been there!).

ETA - please don't do the web-cam stuff. It's one of those things that will be stored somewhere and in the future your kids could see it and I can't imagine either of you would want that.

sickasachip13

Hi Trinibini

Sorry to hear of your circumstances.

I was a single parent for many years and went through some very hard times. The loneliness is hard especially when problems come around.

Definitely go down the crisis loan / social fund loan route. As someone else said, check out the local Salvation Army (in some places they have food parcels for people who've hit hard times). There are also food banks in some parts of the UK:

http://www.trusselltrust.org/content/foodbankfranchise/ukfoodbanks.htm

It also sounds like you could really do someone to talk to - think about Gingerbread, a specialist charity working with lone parents : http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/content.aspx?CategoryID=324

or

Parentline: http://www.parentlineplus.org.uk/

They might have some advice / ideas or might just be good to talk too.

The very best of luck, I know it seems absolutely desperate right now but hang in there and try not to go down a route that you might regret in the future. Let us know how you get on.