Husband on ssp...need help financially

mezrie

Hello, I'm hoping someone out there will be able to give me some advice regarding the situation myself and my husband are currently in. My husband suffered a mental breakdown over Christmas and since then has been receiving SSP which doesnt cover our outgoings. I work full time, i think this is one of the reasons we don't seem to get any help. We've both worked all of our working life but now when we need help are being turned away at every door. My wage is around £15000. If anyone has any advice or knowledge of any help we might be able to apply for we'd be ever so grateful.

Thank you

M x

cuddlymarm

Hi

Sorry I can't help but will BUMP this up in the hope that someone more knowledgable will come along:grouphug:

Cuddles:)

viktory

Once the SSP has been exhausted your husband can apply for ESA, but that is only £65 a week at the assessment rate. Your wage is reasonable, do you have children? Debts? It might help to post an SOA on the debt free board, they are very good at cutting costs.

MrsManda

Have you filled out the benefits calculators below:
https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp?_piref278_36249_278_36248_36248.__ora_navig=

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

It is possible to claim Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, and Housing Benefit for the duration of claiming SSP but it will depend on your household income not your outgoings.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/DG_175854

It may possible to reduce your outgoings, post a statement of affairs on the DebtFreeWannabe board and the wonderful people on there may be able to help.

You could contact the JobcentrePlus who will be able to help with what benefits you're entitled to and can often complete the forms over the phone.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/ContactJobcentrePlus/DG_186347
They'll be able to tell you whether you'll be entitled to a Crisis Loan or anything else.

mezrie

We have no children which is another thing that goes against us. We do have a 2 loans, my husband contacted the lenders yesterday and they said until we miss the next payment they can't discuss an alternative payment plan so it looks like our credit rating will have to suffer as a result of this. I've been in contact with the Tax Credit people twice and both times they were very unhelpful and rather rude:/ I haven't contact the Jobcentre yet, maybe they would be able to suggest something.

Thank you for your posts, really appreciate it

M x

[Deleted User]

Do you pay rent or Mortgage?

mezrie

rent

M x

Tehya

Hi, I kmow how you feel the government have a figure that a couple without children need to live on I think it's around £102 a week any earnings over this means no entitlement to benefits. When my husband first fell ill we were entitled to no help at all. Because I was caring for him I could only work 17 hours, earning £127 a week, a week
so we couldn't even claim tax credits. We got very little help with rent and council tax because i was classed as part time. Luckily though my husband's claim for DLA came through within four weeks and this opened up many other avenues to other benefits including Carer's Allowance and when his SSP came to an end he was placed in the support group for ESA.

If his condition will be long term, and many mental illnesses are, you could submit a claim for DLA if you think he has care needs (he needs to have had the condition for three months and expects for it to last another six). Like us this would open up routes for help.

Oldernotwiser

mezrie wrote: »

We have no children which is another thing that goes against us. We do have a 2 loans, my husband contacted the lenders yesterday and they said until we miss the next payment they can't discuss an alternative payment plan so it looks like our credit rating will have to suffer as a result of this. I've been in contact with the Tax Credit people twice and both times they were very unhelpful and rather rude:/ I haven't contact the Jobcentre yet, maybe they would be able to suggest something.

Thank you for your posts, really appreciate it

M x

Quite rightly, no benefits take loan repayments into account. Did you have any insurance in place to cover this?

mezrie

No we haven't.

Thank you very much for your posts, much appreciated x

mezrie

My husband has defaulted on his loan with HSPF, on initial contact they were sympathetic and made notes on his account about the situation. A few months on he has received a letter from a debt collection agency advising of the total of the arrears which are due by the end of June. This came as a total shock, the letter goes on to detail that if no payment is received then court action will take place etc. It made us both feel sick. On speaking to the loan company they advised that we have done all we can do and they have made notes on the account of everything relevant to our situation however they have a debt collection agency that is automatically called upon regarding arrears over a certain amount. Basically, they are aware of the situation and are accepting the defaulted payments however their debt collectors will carry on trying to get the arrears. If we can only just afford the defaulted payment how can we afford to clear the arrears now on the account? Things just seem to take one step forward and five back