Partner needs help with debt

ElleB_2

Hello, I'm new to this and wondered if anyone can help. My partner has been unemployed since October 2009 and because I'm working full time is not entitled to benefits (having exhausted JSA in June last year). He moved into the flat I privately rent in November 2009 and is not a tenant or named on any bills (council tax/utility etc) although the landlord is aware he lives here. He has ADHD and I've only recently become aware that he went overdrawn on his current account and owes money to his credit card company. It is not a huge amount of money (approx £1400 altogether) but it is to us as he has no way of paying it. He has applied for literally thousands of jobs and has had loads of interviews but no luck yet. I managed to persuade him to contact National Debtline as the credit card debt has been passed to an agency, but didn't really take in what they were saying and the pack they sent seems to talk about offering a token amount but as he has no money or assets (apart from his clothes) how can he even do this? I know I'm not legally obliged to pay his debts as we don't have any joint finances and am struggling to pay bills etc, particularly as I've just been told I need an operation and will need at least 6 weeks off work (most of which I'll only get SSP for). Can anyone help with some advice (we're in Scotland).

Thank you for reading this.

rising_from_the_ashes

Phew ... what a horrible situation Elle. I *presume* that if he was in his own accommodation he'd be entitled to benefits so it seems awful that because he's with you he gets nothing - although I also *presume* this is because they think your salary is high enough to support both of you?

I'm not sure what to advise tbh and I can see the logic of the debt charities saying he should offer token payments - but with no income at all, how is he supposed to make any sort of payment.

The only advice I can offer is that he contacts another debt charity or the CAB and getting someone to sit down and go through things with him and see if there are any benefits he may be able to get.

ElleB_2

Thanks for your reply. Yes he would be entitled to benefits if he didn't live with me and yes I obviously earn enough not to be entitled to any benefits but believe me that's not a huge amount (I work in admin so hardly a professional salary...) I'll certainly try to get him to speak to another agency but I think I'll have to go with him as he finds these things difficult to take in. Thanks again.

elaine12022

Threshold for benefits is frighteningly low isn't it? :eek:

Just wondering though are you entitled to tax credits or is your partner entitled to disability living allowance? (not that it's easy to get). Has he been on any schemes like scope/remploy? Is he entitled to eg free bus pass where you live? My OH has just started a paid course called ILM (Intermediate Labour Market) whereby he is partly in college & partly in a work placement. (just seen you're in Scotland so things may be different, are there similar schemes?)

As for debts - well, he can't pay if he doesn't have anything - is he sure that what he is being asked for is correct, did he have a notice of assignment of the debt? How old is the debt? when did he last acknowledge/make payment on it? Can the Debt Collectors provide proof of the claims they are making on him? I know these things matter in England/Wales so maybe they matter in Scotland too. It does sound like he/you needs some specialist help. Maybe the Consumer Action Group forum can help.

ElleB_2

Thanks - that all sounds like good advice.

I can't believe how poor the job centre has been, they haven't put him forward for any courses at all - I think they told him their priority was under 25s (he's just turned 40)! Again, difficult to know as I'm not allowed to go in with him (not his choice). I'm not able to claim working tax credits as I'm only just over the limit for this and I very much doubt he'd get DLA as although he does have difficulties through ADHD they're not severe enough to warrant this.

I'm not sure what paperwork he has received as he was keeping it all from me (not wanting me to worry!!) but I did see a letter from a company called KPR where his credit card debt has been passed to and the bank have also written to him demanding payment. He has only contacted them as I told them he was making matters worse by ignoring them but they're both saying token payments will be fine then they'll review. That's when I told him to contact National Debtline as my feeling was that he couldn't even pay token payment if he has no money. I think I will contact them again or another one such as CAB so I can make sure they have all the information as I'm not sure if he remembers to tell them everything.