Need advice please - no money and no gas / electricity

Running_On_Empty

I know you prefer not to involve social services but you are in real trouble yourselves with lack of heating and cooking in this weather so I think you have to ask them for help with your gran. You would then be able to claim for yourself as a job seeker, I think.

If you got a job, not easy I know, you could perhaps supplement their care in the evenings by being with her and perhaps your husband being with her during the daytime, both of you acting as backup to SS. Also, if you got a job, your husband does not have to do the personal care tasks for her but simply be there with her.

My mum is now in Home so I do understand your very real concerns re unreliability and standards of SS carers and district nurses but most of the time they do their job and are reliable. My mum had meals on wheels from her local church centre and this was the most reliable service, staffed by volunteers, I think but not certain, but nevertheless SS and nurses did come it's just that their standards of care were not up to my standards of care. If you can swallow that then please ask for help, you need it almost as much as your gran.

timmmers

I know that some people will have obvious issues with this suggestion, but it could make sense in yur situation when you KNOW you have some funds coming pretty soon and help you past the last hump of this awful situation.

Wonga. (wonga.com) Very short term loans have a massive APR, that's the objection everyone raises stupidly in my opinion since they are easy to get and aimed at tide overs just like you need. Someone lending you a tenner in your local and you buying them a pint back as thanks has a much higher APR but is irrelevent in the same way ....it's the massive convenience and instant decision and payment just when it's vital to you that matters more isn't it?

I don't know how long, or how much you'd need but the site has a sliding calculator that is easy to use and shows the exact sums repayable so you can make a decision before applying. You probably won't be allowed a lot but you don't want a lot really ...to pay back. They take it back automatically so you'll need to make sure the money is paid in by then.

Just an option not already here, in desperate times sometimes a quick fix is needed that wouldn't make sense any other time.

I have a funny feeling that should you have just jumped off a boat having paid nothing into the system and not been doing the NHS's job for them up to now ....you'd never have had a problem and help would be everywhere around you. Sad this can happen to decent people here in our welfare state paid for by all of us to protect all of us from hardships like yours. Tragic. I feel for you.

I hope better times are soon upon you. Best wishes.

t

Joyful

Please don't use the above suggestion, even though it was given with the best of intentions. You need to be able to pay it all back and if you need the Benefits to live on this will not work out and you will get in deeper trouble.

christabell

I have just come on your thread today to see how you are getting along. Any help from CAB or MP? Fingers crossed for you.

Have you tried

http://www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/


Or this

http://www.wrvs.org.uk/default.aspx?page_id=1

Last but not least

http://www.homeheathelpline.org.uk/

CACHAF

Thank you all so much for your help and suggestions. I have contacted so many charities over the last week that you have all suggested and while they have been lovely, sadly no one has been able to help.

The good news though is that my gran got her winter fuel allowance today and has lent me some money to tide me over to next week when income support are hoping to have processed my claim and should make a payment so we now have heating and electric again! I hate having to borrow from her but she puts the winter fuel allowance away till Jan / Feb usually to pay the fuel bill and so she is happy to lend some to me till then which helps me out so much.

I had forgotten how different the house feels with heating and I cannot wait to go to bed tonight without so many blankets and without waking at 3am frozen through!

Its is not a long term solution to our problems but it is a big help now while we have snow and hopefully next week we will have a decision on the income support and can start to get back on our feet. In the meantime, my husband is applying for so many jobs that surely soon someone will hire himand we can get back to normal.

Thank you all again so much, your messages and support have really helped and have been so much appreciated when it felt like everything was against us.

Thank you xx

olly300

OP did you see your MP?

Have you contacted your local paper?

mrs-stressed

I have read this thread this morning and I offer my most sincere and heartfelt concern to you. I too am on the verge of 'going over the edge' and it takes all my energy to survive from one day to the next. I too have sold everything that is worth anything. I go round fields looking for wood and soon I shall be in skips for anything that will burn to keep me warm. I am ill too with asthma and copd so keeping warm is paramount. In an ideal world which this isnt the 'system' should be caring for you and your gran SOMEHOW without you having to tick boxes and being 'qualified' for money which is there for people like you who desparately need it but cant get it. Why do they constantly say that so-may millions of people arent claiming their rightful benefits - in your case I bet you wish sometimes you hadnt bothered. However, I am glad you got a few quid from gran for heating. Try not to look too far into the future as it will just depress you and I think you already have too much to be getting on with right now.

I cant help financially but I am certainly in your corner and I shall 'pray' that you get some relief soon.

Mrs s

davidgmmafan

Is there anyone living at the address who could be categorized as vulnerable? If so the supplier may remove the prepayment meters. Heck they might do it anyway if there is no debt, but some charge. Check thier policy.

If neither of the above is an option then perhaps it would be best to tell a little white lie and say your gran lives with you???

BTW just read the last bit and noticed you have money to tide you over. Still worth looking at getting the meters removed if you feel you can budget to cover the bills (DD and online billing is usally substantially cheaper).