So poor I can't even pay attention

cleggie

Thats a shame Piq.
My cat is the same, as soon as i get her in her cat carrier she starts mioawing, and HATES the car!

suburbanwifey

Piquant wrote: »

You read all 35 pages? Wow, you must be mad! But it's lovely to have you here.

That does seem to be the system. It's very complicated, I don't know how people manage to fiddle it, they must be very clever indeed. I'm fairly sure one of us on my diary knows about benefits, I will read back later and see if I can find them and ask some advice.

I don't know what I'm going to do when the money runs out, it's worrying me a lot. I just have to keep looking and hope that something turns up soon.

Thanks for being so supportive, I appreciate it.

Piq

Yes, I started with the first post and kept reading, 3 hours later my eyes were very sore with staring at my Mac so long (I should have turned down the screen brightness I think, with hindsight) but I couldn't stop reading. I am a writer you know, been writing many years, made a good few pounds from it too so I seriously encourage you to explore that avenue rather than working for someone else if you can (you only line someone else's pocket when you work for them in reality don't you) I also read your blog. Your story and most of all your guts and determination to not be a statistic took my interest and will others, work on that skill, you have it

To my way of thinking, the insurance for the mortgage shouldn't affect benefits in any way, at all. I totally disagree if they say you have no entitlement because of that. That isn't income per se, its to cover your mortgage, not money in your back pocket to live on. It makes a mockery of protecting yourself with mortgage protection insurance.

I have faith you will get through this and I am sure all of us who follow your story do, keep the faith and never give up! Its that strength of character of yours that will get you over this temporary bad patch. How's the man pet behaving?

suburbanwifey

Piquant wrote: »

Thank you Peb for delurking :hello:
I think the insurance is going to pay directly into my bank account as they asked me for my bank account details so it will be classed as income, but it's not if it's my insurance, it's not as if I'd have it any other way apart from unemployment, is it?

I think I'll give them a ring and see if they'll pay it direct for me. I'll wager any money you like that the DWP will stop my jsa anyway and I'll have to jump through any number of hoops to get it back.

Don't worry about me, it's a blip and I should be feeling better tomorrow and fighting back to get a job and some income.

Does anyone know if you can get reduced vet bills for a cat if you're on benefits? [I hate saying that I feel like a dead-weight scrounger, but I do want the Bear looked after]

Thanks for your kind words Peb

Piq

I know the answer to that one! If you are on any benefits or unemployed, the PDSA give FREE veterinary treatment !!! I used to be a Foster Mum for them a years ago, they are excellent. Look up the one nearest to you and give them a ring, they will help you. They ask for donations if it can be afforded and are as happy with 50p or whatever you can give. They are wonderful

PDSA

Edited to add: I should have kept reading later posts before answering, someone else has kindly mentioned PDSA so ignore this post x

teapot2

Hello Piq, sorry to hear things are a bit carp at the mo - have one of those dodgy hugs :grouphug:. If the DWP do try to stop your JSA it might be worth contacting the CAB to get some clarity about your rights - after all if its insurance to pay the mortgage then its not there for other things?

I was going to suggest PDSA but looks like thats a non starter for you and the Bear :eek:. Re the Captain's insurance, is there a facility to pay in installments? I know this can incur a fee but if you can do that then at least you dont have to find the cash all at once - otherwise do you have a 0% interest CC you could use and pay it off bit by bit? Sorry if you've thought of all this already.

Take care - hope tomorrow is a better day and you get some sleep!

the_cake

Hi Piq
I too have been lurking and reading your diary so thought I would de-lurk and add to the encouraging words. Really enjoy your writing, and as a fellow horse owner I'm keeping my fingers crossed a suitable job comes along soon..... in the meantime, have you considered mystery shopping? It's been a godsend to me, as you just have to register with the tax office as self employed (quick and easy from what I can remember), then it's a job you can pick up and put down as and when you need to. You won't make a fortune, it's fairly hard work, but there is work out there. All you need to get started is on this forum under the Up Your Income (which always sounds a bit rude to me - am tempted to retort Up Yours!) section. With a bit of application I can generally make about £150-200 ish a week, but it did take me a while to build up to that. I have another, much more unpredictable self-employed job, and the mystery shopping fills in the gaps on quiet weeks. Might be worth considering? Some companies actually appreciate a bit of stylish writing too, it's not all Yes/No and box ticking. Would be very happy to help if you want to give it a go.
Anyway, have rambled enough, and I send you (and the Captain) my best wishes for a brighter future, soon!

Piquant_2

teapot2 wrote: »

Hello Piq, sorry to hear things are a bit carp at the mo - have one of those dodgy hugs :grouphug:. If the DWP do try to stop your JSA it might be worth contacting the CAB to get some clarity about your rights - after all if its insurance to pay the mortgage then its not there for other things?

I was going to suggest PDSA but looks like thats a non starter for you and the Bear :eek:. Re the Captain's insurance, is there a facility to pay in installments? I know this can incur a fee but if you can do that then at least you dont have to find the cash all at once - otherwise do you have a 0% interest CC you could use and pay it off bit by bit? Sorry if you've thought of all this already.

Take care - hope tomorrow is a better day and you get some sleep!

Damn and blast! Just lost my lengthy reply!

I don't want to pay by installments as I know I'm going to default in the near future thus rendering the policy invalid. I won't be able to get him the equivalent of fully comp anywhere else ever again. As horses get older they are only insured for accident. The Captain is insured for illness too. As they get older they are more likely to be ill than hurt.

I could put it on my credit card, I hadn't thought of that [how times change!] I haven't used it for so long I no longer consider it as an option!

I'll call the mortgage insurers today regarding them paying the mortgage directly. I'll keep you posted on the results.

Piq

Piquant_2

suburbanwifey wrote: »

Yes, I started with the first post and kept reading, 3 hours later my eyes were very sore with staring at my Mac so long (I should have turned down the screen brightness I think, with hindsight) but I couldn't stop reading. I am a writer you know, been writing many years, made a good few pounds from it too so I seriously encourage you to explore that avenue rather than working for someone else if you can (you only line someone else's pocket when you work for them in reality don't you) I also read your blog. Your story and most of all your guts and determination to not be a statistic took my interest and will others, work on that skill, you have it

I have faith you will get through this and I am sure all of us who follow your story do, keep the faith and never give up! Its that strength of character of yours that will get you over this temporary bad patch. How's the man pet behaving?

How wonderful that you're a writer, what do you write? Come on young lady spill the beans...:T

You made me well up last night with your lovely comments, thank you, not for the welling up, but for the comments.

I've been struggling with how to get published and you'll already know trying to find a magazine that takes non-commissioned articles and to write a suitable article for my assignment.

I'd love to do this for a living, I'm going to hate working for someone else, but I'm standing on the edge of an abyss at the moment and risk losing everything.

Today I will fight back again and get on with my ever-growing to-do list and see where I get.

Piq

Piquant_2

the_cake wrote: »

Hi Piq
I too have been lurking and reading your diary so thought I would de-lurk and add to the encouraging words. Really enjoy your writing, and as a fellow horse owner I'm keeping my fingers crossed a suitable job comes along soon..... in the meantime, have you considered mystery shopping? It's been a godsend to me, as you just have to register with the tax office as self employed (quick and easy from what I can remember), then it's a job you can pick up and put down as and when you need to. You won't make a fortune, it's fairly hard work, but there is work out there. All you need to get started is on this forum under the Up Your Income (which always sounds a bit rude to me - am tempted to retort Up Yours!) section. With a bit of application I can generally make about £150-200 ish a week, but it did take me a while to build up to that. I have another, much more unpredictable self-employed job, and the mystery shopping fills in the gaps on quiet weeks. Might be worth considering? Some companies actually appreciate a bit of stylish writing too, it's not all Yes/No and box ticking. Would be very happy to help if you want to give it a go.
Anyway, have rambled enough, and I send you (and the Captain) my best wishes for a brighter future, soon!

Hello Cake - wonderful name...what sort of cake are you?

Thank you for delurking, never lurk again, you're out in the open, we can see you and we like what we see...

Another horse person - hurrah! What sort of horse do you have?

I am signed up for mystery shopping, I did one not long ago, but I never got any response to my report. I'm wondering if they received it. There don't seem to be many shops available here, mainly banks.

I do lurk on the Up Your Income board [yes, it sounds dodgy :rotfl:] mainly on the blog thread. I will add looking at mystery shopping as another item on my to-do list! I can see I've got a lot going on today.

Thank you too for your support, at a difficult time you wonderful folk are really helping.

Piq

lucielle

Morning Piq, sorry not been about much, too much 'stuff' going on. Have some ((((((hugs))))). Hope today is a better day.
L

PinotGrigio41

Morning Piq,

Lots of wonderful de lurkers coming out of the closet as it wer,e to give you loads of encouragement and one of them is a writer an another a yummy cake ! What more could you ask for !

I do hope you feel better today, I have no words of wisdom ( I rarely have to be honest ) but sending you a big smiley hug on this sunny (well it is here !) morning to wish you a much better day today xx