"Simply not solvent!

Seaxwyn

I've just posted this on the Benefits Board, however I thought it's worth posting here as well as there are so many knowledgeable people on DFW:

My OH is self-employed and takes pride in the fact that he's never claimed benefits. However he has long periods without any work, and that places a lot of strain on me.

He has no work now and I would like him to claim JobSeekers Allowance. He doesn't want to as he believes this is very hard for a self-employed person, that he would have to renounce his self-employed status and not work again.

Is this true? How can I find out more to counter his arguments? Please don't say 'go to the CAB' because it is RUBBISH here. They are never there when they are meant to be, even if you make appointments they don't show up.

hypno06

Ooh, no idea, but a very good thought.

Seaxwyn

Well I've looked into it a bit and it seems it's not just my OH being hopeless, it really IS hard for a self-employed person to get JSA. As I'm earning he probably wouldnt get anything.

Story of my life. Every time I've applied for any form of benefit, I've never managed to meet the criteria.

Edited to add: I've just looked on entitledto.com and found that we're actually eligible for a Funeral Grant. Goody.

Hypno has just reminded me of the existence of a half bottle of Pimms so I'm going to make myself one with some homemade ginger beer and cut up cucumber, just as an experiment. If it's nice, I'll serve it at a barbie I'm hosting in the near future.

hypno06

How did the Pimms go?

Seaxwyn

It was disgusting! The ginger beer was really sour and I threw it down the drain after about four sips. Even so, I still feel hungover today!

I will make a jug of proper pimms for my barbie though, just to get rid of the stuff.

I'm off to school this morning to help my DD3 give a presentation about her recent walk to Canterbury. She has done a powerpoint containing 27 photos, most of them showing her walking through various fields and the rest showing her eating pub lunches. I wonder how it will go down.

Then back here to work and thank goodness the younger ones are at after school club so I get a longer than usual day.

hypno06

Ooh hope the headache goes soon, and that your taste buds soon recover!!

My post has just arrived and I have a bill for arrears of National Insurance!! Not sure how this has happened because I pay by direct debit. Also I didn't need to pay NI last year because my earnings were below the threshold, but for the sake of £8 a month I thought it was worth paying simply because I didn't want to be told at any time in the future that I had not contributed enough to get pension or whatever.

Now I have a bill for £29.50!! Will have to give them a call. OK so it is not a huge amount, but I still don't understand why I have got it!

Seaxwyn

Thanks Hypno! I'm wondering if the Pims is poisoned, maybe I'll just tip it down the sink. My dad has probably had it for 30 years.

Just had a chat (ok, nag) with OH and he has agreed to move my desk and computer into the shed before the summer holidays start. He will hate this as it means losing his private domain but I can't think of any other way.

That means we'll both be working in there and that might be good at keeping us on the straight and narrow. I certainly wouldn't like him seeing how much time I've been spending on here!

I have realised I need to take my work much more seriously. I can't carry on doing it in this part-time way. Our monthly outgoings have averaged at £3741 this year, that's without saving for tax and not paying debts fast enough. To earn this much I need to work near full-time and in circumstances where I can concentrate.

I hope this constitutes a work lightbulb moment.

chevalier

Hi Seaxwyn, glad you have decided about the shed. I managed to get my essay done, but it isn't very good. Still I hope I will pass my course which is the main thing.
I have been doing competitions rather than starting the next block of the course, so I know how you feel. We are lucky that there we can afford some good holiday courses for my older son, which will get him out of my hair and the younger one will be at nursery still anyway. Are there any free events in your area you could send the children too? Or could they stay with either of your parents for a day or two, just to help out?
It must be tough know that you would like to be doing things with them through the holidays but not being able too? Perhaps you could find free things to do with them at the weekend at least?

On the other hand if OH is not working, and can't get JSA, then he will HAVE to take the children off somewhere so that you can work. That is the bottom line isn't it? But then of course you will have to keep your side of the bargain, and work your proverbial off when they are not there!!!

Best of luck
chev

Seaxwyn

Hi Chev

Well done on finishing that essay! Was that the last one, is the course finished now?

I'm less worried about the hols now I know (or hope) that I can work in the shed. The kids are usually happy to play at home and out in the street so summer should not be too bad. And yes, I will definitely take time out to do things with them.

I'm hoping OH might get some casual driving work which he did last summer, but he will be on hand to entertain the children a bit too. And my mum will have them now and again. It will be fine!

Youre right, the tricky bit will be keeping my side of the bargain and working away in the shed....

Sea78

HI

That sounds like a good plan - although is the shed a nice place to be? You got a little kettle etc in there?

You working today? What are your aims? I'm not doing much but HAVE to do the house as it's bringing me down now as it's really messy. Am going to try to do a few flylady challenges to see if that makes a difference.

Sea xx