community care grant

AsknAnswer2

You won't be able to get a crisis loan. These were discontinued for household items in April last year - the only exceptions are where the items need replacing due to a disaster, such as a flood for example.

You are right about the budgeting loan - if you haven't been receiving the benefit for 26 weeks or more, you won't be eligible.

The only option available is to ask the IRS to review the decision. The IRS do overturn decisions by the Social Fund where they disagree with them. Think about it - what is the worst that can happen? They'll say no and you'll be in the same position you are now - but you are not going to lose anything by asking for a review.

fairy.fly

I think i'm going to do as you suggest i'm not losing anything by going through the review. But obviously the social fund don't accept i qualify which does worry me about the outcome.

I feel constantly tired and being like this while looking for a job isn't helpful. Would you employ someone who looked and acted like they were half asleep most of the time.

missmontana

transport alone is 15 pounds per week to get to and from the jobcentre along with any potential job interviews i get


JC+ should refund any travel expenses if you give them proof, like a bus or train ticket.

fairy.fly

oh i thought that had to come out of the JSA money i get every two weeks this wasn't explained to me.

thanks for the pvt message missmontana i've already been to visit one of the charities you mentioned and i'm going to continue looking.

I decided to appeal to the IRS nothing ventured nothing gained i looked on the IRS website and it does give guidance as to what it required. I think the IRS can interpret someones situation in different ways which does help with the appeal the jobscentre plus action is very strict and this does lead to countless refusals which the IRS do overturn. I do worry that the first two requests were refused outright which doesn't sit well in getting a more postitve outscome from the IRS.

boobies

missmontana wrote: »

transport alone is 15 pounds per week to get to and from the jobcentre along with any potential job interviews i get


JC+ should refund any travel expenses if you give them proof, like a bus or train ticket.

This is only the case for appts on non signing days, you cannot claim travel expenses for signing on.

Whiteknight

fairy.fly wrote: »

well where do i start white knight good screename btw

"surely a duvet on the floor is a much better that sleeping on a park bench"

Sleep on a floor for 5 weeks with just a duvet and a pillow and you might give a different answer.

"Others have suggested sites such as Freecycle or checking out charities local to yourself and it appears that you would much rather get the community care grant"

I've looked on freecycle and local charities but all the ones i've looked at need me to pick up the items which i can't do with no transport or pay for delivery

"What exactly do you need the community care grant for - What do you really need to buy and how much do you think you would need"

I have a cooker and a washer i have 2 cups a kettle one plate and a knife and fork thats it and i mean thats it. When i filled in the CCG application i put down 800 i didn't ask for everything just a bed storage sofa fridge cooking utensils hoover curtains etc. I didn't expect to get everything but hoped i'd get at least enough to get a bed.

"You mention you are getting JSA and I would assume help towards your rent and council tax so why are you unable to save up to buy these essential items you obviously need?"

i get my housing and council tax jsa is 135 every two weeks. i've had one payment of 135 so far. electricity gas water food transport . transport alone is 15 pounds per week to get to and from the jobcentre along with any potential job interviews i get. gas and electricity are ten pounds each per week and thats being very strict with myself regarding heat and having hot food. add in food and water my diet is quite poor but i do buy fruit i eat an apple and banana each day.
so how much out of the 6750 per week would you suggest i should be able to save white knight ?

It is very difficult for me to suggest an amount out of your £67 a week that you should save with such limited information. It might be worth you checking out some of the other forums on here the Old Style forum will be able to give you some fantastic ideas for eating well on a budget and you can get some fantastic deals on fruit and veg from places like Aldi or Lidl. (In fact I would highly recommend visiting them to do your food shopping if you live near one)

I also think you need to decide what essentials you need, you listed a few things that you needed -

Bed
Storage
Sofa
Fridge
Cooking utensils
Vacuum Cleaner
Curtains

I don't think storage is an essential, you can keep any clothes you own in boxes or bags, for anything that needs to be hung up I am sure you could obtain a hook and hanger (thinking about clothes for job interviews)
The same with a sofa - not really an essential.

Getting a fridge would be my first priority, you would find your food lasts longer and if you have freezer box you can bulk buy and freeze. Cooking utensils get as an when needed - I would get a tin opener and you can normally find other utensils and pots and pans quite cheaply from pound shops.

As for a vacuum cleaner in the short term I am sure a cheap brush would be just as effective along with a dust pan and brush again look in pound shops for these.

Curtains - well not an essential either in the short term you could use a sheet or look in charity shops.

Do you not have family or friends who maybe able to help you with collecting items - I still think Freecycle and such places would be the way to go.

I hope my post has not come across as being mean or nasty I'm just trying to offer you some solutions to your problems.

sunnyone

Whiteknight wrote: »

It is very difficult for me to suggest an amount out of your £67 a week that you should save with such limited information. It might be worth you checking out some of the other forums on here the Old Style forum will be able to give you some fantastic ideas for eating well on a budget and you can get some fantastic deals on fruit and veg from places like Aldi or Lidl. (In fact I would highly recommend visiting them to do your food shopping if you live near one)

I also think you need to decide what essentials you need, you listed a few things that you needed -

Bed
Storage
Sofa
Fridge
Cooking utensils
Vacuum Cleaner
Curtains

I don't think storage is an essential, you can keep any clothes you own in boxes or bags, for anything that needs to be hung up I am sure you could obtain a hook and hanger (thinking about clothes for job interviews)
The same with a sofa - not really an essential.

Getting a fridge would be my first priority, you would find your food lasts longer and if you have freezer box you can bulk buy and freeze. Cooking utensils get as an when needed - I would get a tin opener and you can normally find other utensils and pots and pans quite cheaply from pound shops.

As for a vacuum cleaner in the short term I am sure a cheap brush would be just as effective along with a dust pan and brush again look in pound shops for these.

Curtains - well not an essential either in the short term you could use a sheet or look in charity shops.

Do you not have family or friends who maybe able to help you with collecting items - I still think Freecycle and such places would be the way to go.

I hope my post has not come across as being mean or nasty I'm just trying to offer you some solutions to your problems.

Its not so much what he sees as essential but what crisi loand do and the fridge is never an essential unless you need to refrigerate medication so that one is out.

fairy.fly

Whiteknight wrote: »

It is very difficult for me to suggest an amount out of your £67 a week that you should save with such limited information. It might be worth you checking out some of the other forums on here the Old Style forum will be able to give you some fantastic ideas for eating well on a budget and you can get some fantastic deals on fruit and veg from places like Aldi or Lidl. (In fact I would highly recommend visiting them to do your food shopping if you live near one)

I also think you need to decide what essentials you need, you listed a few things that you needed -

Bed
Storage
Sofa
Fridge
Cooking utensils
Vacuum Cleaner
Curtains

I don't think storage is an essential, you can keep any clothes you own in boxes or bags, for anything that needs to be hung up I am sure you could obtain a hook and hanger (thinking about clothes for job interviews)
The same with a sofa - not really an essential.

Getting a fridge would be my first priority, you would find your food lasts longer and if you have freezer box you can bulk buy and freeze. Cooking utensils get as an when needed - I would get a tin opener and you can normally find other utensils and pots and pans quite cheaply from pound shops.

As for a vacuum cleaner in the short term I am sure a cheap brush would be just as effective along with a dust pan and brush again look in pound shops for these.

Curtains - well not an essential either in the short term you could use a sheet or look in charity shops.

Do you not have family or friends who maybe able to help you with collecting items - I still think Freecycle and such places would be the way to go.

I hope my post has not come across as being mean or nasty I'm just trying to offer you some solutions to your problems.

I appreciate the thought and yes i do already shop in alidi theres one not far from me i do try to balance the rubbish food i eat due to my budget and no storage facility and fresh fruit orange juice ect

as sunnyone said they don't see a fridge as an essential unless you have a medical condition.

I don't have any family or friends which is probably adding to my anxiety and the fact that things aren't much different to when i was living on the streets other than having a roof over my head.
Obviously thats an exageration but thats how i'm feeling which probably isn't a good thing and points to problems i need to overcome

you don't come across as nasty and heartless but its easy to write words and suggest things its different when your living in the situation. The comment that i should be able to save something from the 6750 per week is probably your weakest point i don't know your situation perhaps you have done it in the past ? If you have please suggest how you did it ?

i do think the IRS review is the correct next step although i'm still looking at local charity shops but even those currently are beyond my means.

skintandscared_2

Have you actually got curtain poles in the flat? I have some very lightweight faux suede chocolate brown curtains that have been stuck in the airing cupboard for 2 years that don't fit this property's windows. They might "make do" on yours. They have the large ring tops that go over standard round curtain poles. If it doesn't breach the site's rules, I'd like to post them to you. My OH slept rough for a while and I know how hard it is to build back up.

fairy.fly

I got a letter from the IRS today saying they had received my appeal and it could take several weeks to get someone to look at my case due to the backlog. I don't think this is a good sign that my outcome will be a postive one if lots have been denied by the social fund. I'll keep looking on freecycle and other sites for any beds and other stuff. My sixth week sleeping on the floor at least the weather has got milder.