Benefits/credits advice

dseventy

Mrs_Mul wrote: »

my children are 12 and 9 and in full time education and we dont live near the schools so i need my car to take them
i do get some c/t/c and the normal c/ben but also i have to put one of them in child care whilst i work in school holidays but because its £20 a day i wont get any help for that either, so i cant win and to be honest what i pay in childcare i get a days wages...its not worth me working at this rate because im losing

A couple of points here, some easy to do, some harder.

As the previous comment, go and apply for Local Housing Allowance (if you rent privatly) or Housing Benefit (if you are social housing).

You have nothing to lose by doing this (just filling in the forms).

Also, can your children go to a local school? Whilst thats a hard decision to make for them and you, needs must.

Also, post a SOA (statement of affairs) on the debt free boards , start here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/107280

If you have less money coming in then your outgoings, you either need more income or less outgoings, so its probably time to start asking the awkward questions.

D70

viktory

Mrs_Mul wrote: »

you would think so wouldnt you.....E-on and now im in arrears i cannot move to a cheaper company :-(

Are you giving them regular meter readings?

Mrs_Mul

merlin68 wrote: »

Have you actually been to your council and applied for HB and CTC, because you would get some on that income. My gas and elctric for 4 is only £120 a month.

Hi Merlin

yes and have filled out all the forms and was brilliant because i then had reduced rent and council tax which was brilliant....we could finally eat and have pleasures in life lol. But since opening my post this morning to find my rent is now full and so is council tax because they didnt take into account the small child tax credit which i now recieve, there mistake not mine, but with this i find it a struggle to come to terms with all household bills etc over run what we physically bring in....ive cut back on soo much that we still do not have enough funds even to put food in my childrens mouth, let alone ours......an appointment will be made to CAB for monday, so i guess a few sleepless nights until then :-/

Mrs_Mul

viktory wrote: »

Are you giving them regular meter readings?

Viktory

it got to the point of not being able to pay my DD that i have 2 hugh bills adding to £800 nearly and thats just for a quarter lol.....im just waiting to see what life has to through at me now, but then again there is always someone worse off then us i guess

But i must quote, that i do understand why some families do not work.....we work for the little extra each month to find out we are a hell of alot worse off, trouble is we cant pinch from paul to pay peter because the funds are just not there

i would just like some simple answers to say yes they got it wrong....and this is what your entitled to, at the end of the day im british and what is this country doing for me and my families and everyon else out there....NOTHING!!!!

Mrs_Mul

can anyone tell me how precise Direct Gov website is???? because the figures they come up with will help no end, whereas inland rev is completely different, so who is right????

dseventy

Mrs_Mul wrote: »

i would just like some simple answers to say yes they got it wrong....and this is what your entitled to, at the end of the day im british and what is this country doing for me and my families and everyon else out there....NOTHING!!!!

What has your nationality got to do with anything?

Mrs_Mul wrote: »

But i must quote, that i do understand why some families do not work.....we work for the little extra each month to find out we are a hell of alot worse off, trouble is we cant pinch from paul to pay peter because the funds are just not there

If you think you will be happier not working, then go for it. Really.

If you think that relying on someone else for your money (ie the state) is good for you, a good example for the kids then you are wrong. Do you really think your income will be better? What about pride?

Must admit ( I know you are a newbie) but your comments about "better off on benefits" and "my nationality" will put a lot of people off helping you (not all) as you just sound bitter.

D70

Mrs_Mul

dseventy wrote: »

What has your nationality got to do with anything?



If you think you will be happier not working, then go for it. Really.

If you think that relying on someone else for your money (ie the state) is good for you, a good example for the kids then you are wrong. Do you really think your income will be better? What about pride?

Must admit ( I know you are a newbie) but your comments about "better off on benefits" and "my nationality" will put a lot of people off helping you (not all) as you just sound bitter.

D70

im sorry if i have offended you but that wasnt my intention!

ive worked all my life and not once have been out of work, i have too much pride in myself to let everyone else pay for me, im a bloody hard worker and have been a single mum for the past 6 years and have bought my children up single handedly and still worked and kept a roof over our heads and yes i am very proud of this....but now have met a guy whom im marrying this year and with both our low incomes we are crippled. All i ask is for advice as im being given so many different answers from websites that im so confused and not getting any help

sorry again

rogerblack

Mrs_Mul wrote: »

and what with my energy bills hitting throught the roof at £240 a month

What are your current energy spendings - without any arrears?
If they are close to this - then you can make a big dent by energy saving measures.
Turn the heating down by 5C, wear more clothes, switch to energy saving bulbs - see if you are eligable for any home insulation schemes, turning the temperature of the washing machine down - all of these can together make a massive difference.

And yes, this is a serious comment - I'm at 14C at the moment.

https://www.eonenergy.com/At-Home/Products/EnergyFit/StarterPack/?WT.svl=4
They seem to not be supplying this anymore, but perhaps phoning them and asking if it's available is worthwhile - an energy meter can let you track savings much more easily - this was free, and it's saved me around a third on my bills.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Owl-Micro-CM130-Energy-Power-Meter-Electricity-Monitor-/110643132928?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item19c2d83a00 - is a similar device.

merlin68

Have you had your meter checked as my winter gas bill was only £120 and it was on permanently. If your in debt you need to get that sorted out as well. How about posting up a list of your incomings and outgoings. so that we can advise you. Your energy bills are extortionate.

bestpud

How much tax credit are you receiving? You say a small amount, but it shouldn't be that small with a joint income of £17k and two children...?

Book your annual leave early and spread yours and your OHs as far as possible to cover the school holidays. Also, start asking now if any parents would like to share childcare over the summer hols - I know lots who do this, including me in the past - it's particularly effective if a few of you work part time.

You didn't actually answer whether you submit regular gas and electric readings...? If you don't know your current reading then check it now and compare with your latest bills. Then make a note on your calendar and check it regularly - every week while you are trying to cut down your usage and every month normally.

Then work out how you can cut the costs - the stand by button can have a big impact if your children have their own TVs and you are leaving things like a computer and/or games consoles on stand by.

I can't see why you'd have heating on at this time of year - ours has been off for months - if yours is on, turn it off.

Pay what you own ASAP, so you can change suppliers.

Go over to the debt free wannabe and oldstyle boards for help with cutting costs as you need to trim your outgoings. Generally speaking, people with huge fuel costs will be overspending in a number if areas,
unless they have a disability or whatever that means they use more.

There will be lots you can do, and it won't all be painful, so take a deep breath and write down your actual outgoings. Post it if you like and then go down the list and see what you can do.