How much do you live on per month?

Sequeena

ani_26 wrote: »

Hi there everybody :hello:

I've tried that tack, this week. The upshot being i MAY be elligible for some working tax credit, but i'm inelligible for housing benefit and council tax, on a minor technicality, which puts me right back to square one, on the housing and rent front. Will just have to work, work, work and work even harder, and then some. It IS very annoying. I don't know how some people do it? How do you get money from the benefits pot? Answers on a postcard please.

We are in the same situation. OH has just qualified for working tax credit so that will help us but we private rent and he is paid too much to get housing benefit or any help with council tax. We usually manage to scrape by (and that means we can't pay every bill) but my OH has been very ill for the last 6 weeks and dropped down to statuatory sick pay. We have almost nothing money wise this month (usually have about £200 left though some emergency always comes up). We are off to CAB on Monday to speak to an advisor from Shelter who may be able to help us as we have a £500 discrepancy every month on paper OH earns a good wage but in reality he brings home nowhere near that wage. We are in the middle of paying council tax arrears and just cannot afford to pay council tax each month on top of it. We will work it out in the end I'm sure.

I just can't believe how financial situations can change so quickly in only a few months

beachie

Lucy1010 wrote: »

You live on porridge and sardines on toast?

This is what angers me, there are people out there sat on their lazy backsides (through choice) living on generous benefits handed by the the government. These people have their rent, council tax and God knows what else paid for them and can still afford a big weekly shop in Tesco.... HOW?!

Don't even get me started on that. I know someone who got pregnant on a one night stand, had the baby, claimed her mum was going to chuck her out, get given a brand new council flat with ipod docks in the walls and then because she could not work, get her rent, council tax and other payments paid for her. She may not be rich, but she has a much nicer flat than mine.

Saying that I do own my flat, have paid quite a bit off and in the long term this will benefit me.

Also, I heard a girl moaning the other day that she could not afford her mortgage anymore because of the rise in makeup and beauty products :rotfl:

Lucy1010

ani_26 wrote: »

Hi there everybody :hello:

I've tried that tack, this week. The upshot being i MAY be elligible for some working tax credit, but i'm inelligible for housing benefit and council tax, on a minor technicality, which puts me right back to square one, on the housing and rent front. Will just have to work, work, work and work even harder, and then some. It IS very annoying. I don't know how some people do it? How do you get money from the benefits pot? Answers on a postcard please.

I have come to the conclusion that some folks LIE to receive benefits. There is one chap I know of who works day and night in his taxi yet his family receive FULL benefits because he only claims to work 16 hours per week. They have just returned from a holiday in Florida... 2 weeks in Orlando for a family of 5 'on benefits'

beachie

Lucy1010 wrote: »

I have come to the conclusion that some folks LIE to receive benefits. There is one chap I know of who works day and night in his taxi yet his family receive FULL benefits because he only claims to work 16 hours per week. They have just returned from a holiday in Florida... 2 weeks in Orlando for a family of 5 'on benefits'

I would report him! :rotfl:

Most councils have a form you can fill in. If he is found breaching his claim he could be asked to pay it back.

ani_26

Sequeena wrote: »

We are in the same situation. OH has just qualified for working tax credit so that will help us but we private rent and he is paid too much to get housing benefit or any help with council tax. We usually manage to scrape by (and that means we can't pay every bill) but my OH has been very ill for the last 6 weeks and dropped down to statuatory sick pay. We have almost nothing money wise this month (usually have about £200 left though some emergency always comes up). We are off to CAB on Monday to speak to an advisor from Shelter who may be able to help us as we have a £500 discrepancy every month on paper OH earns a good wage but in reality he brings home nowhere near that wage. We are in the middle of paying council tax arrears and just cannot afford to pay council tax each month on top of it. We will work it out in the end I'm sure.

I just can't believe how financial situations can change so quickly in only a few months

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling too.

Even if i receive the maximum amount of wtc, my income will still only be £9000 pa, so what happened to the shortfall for the minimum living allowance? I don't understand, and the people i speak to are clearly shocked on how little i manage, but seem unable to help?

Which reminds me, its a week since i applied for wtc, and i have'nt received my form yet. Proof of income, ( or not ), has largely arrived now.

Sequeena

ani_26 wrote: »

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling too.

Even if i receive the maximum amount of wtc, my income will still only be £9000 pa, so what happened to the shortfall for the minimum living allowance? I don't understand, and the people i speak to are clearly shocked on how little i manage, but seem unable to help?

Which reminds me, its a week since i applied for wtc, and i have'nt received my form yet. Proof of income, ( or not ), has largely arrived now.

You live on a lot less than we do!! I cannot believe you have no qualified for housing benefits/council tax benefit.

I feel very silly for complaining now when you're on auch a small income.

Do you private rent? My advice is to speak to Shelter. They're the ones who told us to go through the council and do a homeless application. Even though we have a home and struggle but manage to pay the rent it is apparently against the law for the council to expect us to keep living there.

Sorry I can't be of much more help, my OH is dealing with most of this right now as he doesn't want me becoming stressed (had quite a difficult pregnancy). Bless him, I don't think he realises I will stress anyway!

ani_26

Lucy1010 wrote: »

I have come to the conclusion that some folks LIE to receive benefits. There is one chap I know of who works day and night in his taxi yet his family receive FULL benefits because he only claims to work 16 hours per week. They have just returned from a holiday in Florida... 2 weeks in Orlando for a family of 5 'on benefits'

Maybe i should start lying? Or expanding the truth?

No. I just could'nt do it.

ani_26

Sequeena wrote: »

You live on a lot less than we do!! I cannot believe you have no qualified for housing benefits/council tax benefit.

I feel very silly for complaining now when you're on auch a small income.

Do you private rent? My advice is to speak to Shelter. They're the ones who told us to go through the council and do a homeless application. Even though we have a home and struggle but manage to pay the rent it is apparently against the law for the council to expect us to keep living there.

Sorry I can't be of much more help, my OH is dealing with most of this right now as he doesn't want me becoming stressed (had quite a difficult pregnancy). Bless him, I don't think he realises I will stress anyway!

Yes i do private rent, and yes, i've already been officially classed as homeless, and yes, i've been to Shelter, and yes i've............. sigh



You're in a more vulnerable situation, if you have a baby, and therefore in a stronger position. I'm just getting old :rotfl:

Lucy1010

beachie wrote: »

Don't even get me started on that. I know someone who got pregnant on a one night stand, had the baby, claimed her mum was going to chuck her out, get given a brand new council flat with ipod docks in the walls and then because she could not work, get her rent, council tax and other payments paid for her. She may not be rich, but she has a much nicer flat than mine.

Yes that is very common, my work colleague was telling me the other day that her friend's daughter had got pregnant and although there was room for her in the house, the mother wanted her to get her own place so pretended to chuck her out at 6 months pregnant... and guess what happened? Her daughter is now living in a brand new home with a massive kitchen and huge garden! (All paid for) Oh... and her boyfriend has conveniently moved in (the boyfriend that supposedly left her when he found out she was pregnant). You see the whole thing is built around deceit!

Now, whilst I don't envy a life style of these spongers, I do object to normal hard working people like Ani and Sequeena being denied financial support. These people are practically living on nothing! You can't call eating sardines and porridge everyday an acceptable way of life! It's not right

LyndaKelly_2

I couldn't lie either.......seems as though it's the way to go, though......and my car's an Ebay bargain of £600 cos' I had to give my last one back cos' I couldn't afford the payments any longer.......
I've been on the council list for 2 years and expect to be on it at least a further 3 years...every time another unmarried mother or immigrant with kids or someone on disability or a carer gets on it I plummet down the list.
I drive through a council estate a lot of the time nearby and it's full of newer cars than mine and the obligatory satellite dishes and people just hanging around on the streets.......you have to wonder who the idiot is.
I'd personally do a lot better getting my rent and council tax paid and not working.......but just couldn't face sitting on my !!!! at home all day doing nothing.

Lynda~