Advice please bad situation.

Rfo91

Hi, i am new to this forum and have come here to hopefully get some advice from some people.
Firstly, i am not working, i am on Income Based JSA, believe me i hate been on benefits and i love working but i can't seem to find a job at the moment.

My situation is, i was homeless due to a relationship break-up, now i have moved into a house (thankfully).

I have now hit a problem money wise,

My rent is £325 PCM
i have been notified that housing benefit will pay a total of £220 a month, so the other £105 pound i have to pay each month.

I currently get £210 a month from JSA. So minus the £105 will leave me with £105
£60 Gas & Elec
£16 water
£22 TV

Them other bills ^^ add up to £98 a month which leaves me with £7 a month for food

I don't know what to do, i really don't want to be homeless again, plus i have a daughter which i have 3 days per week and if im homeless i will barely see her.

My house situation is bad, i have no cooker, washer, fridge freezer, etc, i put in for a community care grant and they replied with 'You don't meet the circumstances' which really has put me down.

has anyone got any advice i will really appreciate it..

Many thanks

Ryan.

19lottie82

Possibilities, include, find cheaper accomodation? If you ahave your own place and are under 35, the council will only fund a room in a shared house, not your own property.

Ditch the TV?

Also, contact your housing benefit team, you MAY be able to apply for a discretionary housing benefit top up, if your benefit doesn not meet your rent, meaning that you are struggling to pay it.

Oldernotwiser

Unless you are over 25 (soon to be over 35) you're only eligible for rent based on the shared accommodation rate, so renting a whole house was not really a good idea.

Could you have a word with your landlord to see whether getting one or more people i to share would be possible?

Mrs_Arcanum

Are you in a shared house?

If so, your rent should include the Gas & Electric as this is a shared bill (water you always have to pay yourself). If the rent were higher would HB pay more?

Rfo91

Thanks guys, i currently live in it on my own, i guess my best bet would to contact my landlord and see if someone else could also move in and share the rent/bills?

tbs624

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Are you in a shared house?

If so, your rent should include the Gas & Electric as this is a shared bill (water you always have to pay yourself). If the rent were higher would HB pay more?

There is no obligation in a shared house for the rent to include utility bills.

Why would HB pay more if the rent were higher wehn it is clear that the local rate will not even cover the present rent?

krlyr

Try your local Freecycle for a washing machine, fridgefreezer, etc. - lots being given away or you could put up a "wanted" plea (please remember your manners - a "please" and "thank you" will probably go a long way towards people being more likely to offer stuff)

sariebeth

Rfo91 wrote: »

Thanks guys, i currently live in it on my own, i guess my best bet would to contact my landlord and see if someone else could also move in and share the rent/bills?

This is a really good idea, and I'm sure if you ask the landlord first he wont have a problem with this. If he doesn't want another tenant, consider asking him to reduce the rent for a period, i.e 3 months, to help you out. we sometimes arrange this for our most in need tenants.

Also I think it's a bit mean of him to rent a house with no cooker!

Other ideas, definitely apply for discretionary housing benefit top up. Also, maybe try for a crisis loan to cover you for a few months.

Most importantly apply for as many jobs as you possibly can, as the best way to get back on track is to find work.

In the short term, could you maybe sell anything?

Rfo91

sariebeth wrote: »

This is a really good idea, and I'm sure if you ask the landlord first he wont have a problem with this. If he doesn't want another tenant, consider asking him to reduce the rent for a period, i.e 3 months, to help you out. we sometimes arrange this for our most in need tenants.

Also I think it's a bit mean of him to rent a house with no cooker!

Other ideas, definitely apply for discretionary housing benefit top up. Also, maybe try for a crisis loan to cover you for a few months.

Most importantly apply for as many jobs as you possibly can, as the best way to get back on track is to find work.

In the short term, could you maybe sell anything?

Thanks for the info!
If i apply for the discretionary housing benefit top up, could this effect the benefit they are giving me now? for example they stop my benefit altogether?
Edit: I don't have anything to sell

Mrs_Arcanum

tbs624 wrote: »

There is no obligation in a shared house for the rent to include utility bills.

Why would HB pay more if the rent were higher wehn it is clear that the local rate will not even cover the present rent?

I am used to dealing with paying the utilities for our companies shared houses (which is allowed to be included with the rent for HB purposes). It is an option, but only applies to shared places & this is not, so my comment is irrelevant.

TBH I am surprised the OP managed to find somewhere to rent like this given his current financial straits.

OP. Definitely try for another person to share with you.

tbs624

OP - the job situation is grim for many at the moment and relationship break ups obviously exacerbate financial difficulties but you should have checked what the LHA rate was before signing yourself up to a tenancy.

Your LL may agree to you going early rather then being stuck with a T who will be building up rent arrears but the fact is that s/he can insist that you stick with the contract.

If they can get another T to take on the tenancy in your place they may just ask for you to pay towards the advertising costs.Or, as others suggest you ask the LL whether he would agree to you having a lodger/co-tenant.

There are some discretionary benefit payments available but much depends on the specifics of your situation which are probably best not aired on a public forum.

You say that your TV is costing you 22 quid per month whilst you have no basic "white goods". TV is not an essential. Have you checked for local charities in the area who may be able to help with the provision of household goods? Some may require you to be "referred" to them.

Can you use a computer at the local library to access Freecycle, a site on which people give away items for which they no longer have a use? [Edited to add: Freecycle flagged up in post 7 by another poster)

You may it helpful to contact Community Legal Services - they will have a lawyer in your area who deals with housing and benefit issues and will be able to advise you

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