As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

Kimitatsu

EstherH wrote: »

Thanks Bertiebots, I have got the council tax form to fill in. Made a start yesterday, will finish it and get in the post for Tuesday. Not sure what and how the system works. Find it all confusing. A friend told me that if she got a job for sixteen hours at £6 an hour she would lose all benefits and be worse off. She is on JSA at the moment having to look for work as they have put down the age for single mothers to stay at home.
We have a son here but his wage is very uncertain as he is self employed but with a part time minimum wage job for 20 hours. I thought that would stop us from getting the CTB. They want to know what he is earning but he doesn't even know that himself. Some weeks more then others but not loads. What's the NHS certificate?

Sorry to be dense. I am not at all well at the moment and find it difficult to read and take in information in this state. Hubby is wonderful, bless him, but I have always dealt with money matters better than him although we will try and work through it together.

Esther if your husband is in receipt of a pension do you qualify for pension credit?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/PensionCredit/DG_10018692

The salary your son gets wont affect your entitlement to benefits, all that will happen is that he will be classed as a non dependant , so he will have to apply for COuncil tax benefit in his own right. He can do that himself by filling out a form and sending in his last months wage slips.

If you are struggling with the forms why not pop along to your local CAB? They will do a benefits check for you either in person or on the phone and ensure you know just what you are entitled to - and how to claim them.

Lindy_-_Loo

Jedi - many congratulations on the birth Daniel xx

Esther - I think the NHS certificate is the one which we get. My OH works full time and as his salary is less than £15,000 we get free prescriptions, eye tests and dentists.

purpleheather2810

Wow, congratulations Jediteacher, you don't mess around do you? Enjoy this special time xxxx

That chick pea curry sounds nice. I love chickpeas - one of my favourite veggie options. I couldn't be a veggie as I love meat and fish, but I am happy to have veggie food and do so quite often for cost reasons as well as health and variety.

Busy decluttering today as we have a clothing collection (the blue bag people) at school after half term. The children are busy reading and DH is at the allotment.

I am (bravely?!) taking my girls camping for a couple of nights on Monday. They have been asking for ages - they've never been before. DH isn't coming - he has a bad back and really doesn't fancy it. The girls were a bit disappointed he wasn't coming so I've told them it's a girls only trip... The tent, although it hasn't been used for at least 8 years, seems to be ok (we pitched it at the allotment last weekend). I just need a camping kettle and I think we'll manage. I've asked on freegle. I will take a portable bbq and one of those blue gas burners. I will do a bbq one night and I'm not sure the other night - maybe another bbq, lol.

redlady_1

Congratulations Jedi....xx

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

Started elderflower champagne earlier this week using this recipe:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2011/may/12/gardeningadvice-gardens

Just did the first filtering (to filter out the flower mash and 1000s of thrips! Extra protein ) and added the sugar, juice and yeast. Smells a bit pooey, but the colour's perfect, so I'm guessing it's supposed to smell pooey at this stage...

Another step on the road to full self-sufficiency Plan to do turbo cider next week, and try brewing a basic white wine. I do love my wine, but HATE the fact I'm lining the government's pockets with £2.50 per bottle!!
:mad:
(plus I'm skint, so am looking forward to drinking wine that costs about 12p per glass!)

:beer:

silvermaid

jediteacher - Wow, that was fast. Hope you're OK. Welcome to the world baby Daniel. Fantastic outcome after all the worries x x

flowertotmum

:j yay jediteacher..congratulations...enjoy your little bundle of pure joy...take it easy too.
love
ftm

Kittikins

Welcome to the world young Daniel, and congratulations to jediteacher and Mr Jediteacher x

ginnyknit

Congratulations my dear Jedi teacher to you and yours. Welcome Daniel :T:T:T

Charis

EstherH wrote: »

I would like to know more though as I always believed that soya was good for us.

The Weston A Price Foundation claims to be an unbiased organisation and carries a soy alert on its homepage. I found the link to it by scan reading a book called 'The Whole Soy Story' on Amaz*n, which you can read large parts of online. The author has a blog on the same subject.

I was interested to find from the book that soy is not such a staple of the eastern diet as is generally supposed. It is elsewhere recommended that caution should be exercised if you have suspected thyroid problems or a history of breast cancer. I guess the most any of us can do is read literature that is backed by proper scientific studies, bearing in mind who funded those studies, ignoring any pro or anti articles that are just opinion, and make up our own minds. I tend to avoid soy and its derivatives as they are highly processed foods and not a part of our natural diet in the UK.