Social Fund - Budgeting loan

wellynever

Simon7685 wrote: »

What a thoroughly grown up thing to say, you must feel very pleased with yourself you small minded ignorant person!:mad:

A lot of people who are disabled, working part time, or not able to work through their disabilities rely on the Social Fund Budgeting Loans to be able to afford things that most people take for granted or to replace high end items like washing machines, beds, carpets and other furniture.

As someone who themselves is or has claimed benefits, you should be ashamed of yourself and your attitude towards others who use the social fund. Also as someone who has or is currently on benefits, you should be quite aware of how difficult it is to manage on the benefits you receive and almost impossible to be able to budget for expensive items. Or is it a case of because you can't get one nobody else should?

All this is going to do is result in a lot of vulnerable people having to resort to illegal money lenders or use the likes of Bright House and end up paying £1200 for a £300 washer.

Please don't let uponahill get to you laugh at them like me

Best is that my partner will be off on holiday to Spain soon but it as nothing to do with DWP, Hope you manage to get a loan you need.

Mara69

Simon7685 wrote: »

Oh yes and just to add, I currently require a new washing machine because ours is on it's last legs, a new bed for my daughter and ideally a new sofa. Our worn out one was second hand when we got it but maybe I could budget out of our £105 a week!

Works both ways, my friend. I need a new sofa, new bed and a new washing machine. Maybe I could budget out of my £0 once I have paid my (just increased) rent, council tax, fares to travel to work, food costs, etc. Further, I don't have access to an interest free loan.

Whiteknight

Simon7685 wrote: »

Oh yes and just to add, I currently require a new washing machine because ours is on it's last legs, a new bed for my daughter and ideally a new sofa. Our worn out one was second hand when we got it but maybe I could budget out of our £105 a week!

Have you tried looking on sites like Freecycle or some of the large charity shops sell furniture these days - might not be new but can be just as good.

AsknAnswer2

Budgeting loans are not being scrapped. Other aspects of Social Fund are but the budgeting loan will be staying.

The maximum amounts are:

single person £348
couple £464
Family £812

Simon7685

Wellynever - I'm not letting uponahill get to me, sometimes though it just annoys me when someone comes on the forums asking for advice or trying to find something out (which is what forums are for) and other people have to have a go because they don't agree with it.

Simon7685

Mara 69 - I understand that it works both ways, I have been on both sides of the fence. I had my health, a business, foreign holidays, the lot. Then I became ill, didn't claim a penny for over 18 months, used up everything, sold things to live off and now have £105 a week for a family to live off. I am not moaning and am grateful for the benefits I now receive but just because I may be entitled to an interest free loan through the Social Fund does not give people the right to have a go or !!!!! about it.

I used to have access to plenty of cash and loans and credit cards but when you don't have those you have to utilise whatever is available to you. Incidentally Social Fund loans are also available to people on low incomes I believe, so if that applies to your situation, it may be worth having a look.

Simon7685

AsknAnswer2 wrote: »

Budgeting loans are not being scrapped. Other aspects of Social Fund are but the budgeting loan will be staying.

The maximum amounts are:

single person £348
couple £464
Family £812

Thank you for this, it's just what I was trying to find out:T

uponahill

Morlock wrote: »

The average UK household's debt to income ratio is well over 150%, but don't let the facts get in the way of your ignorant statement.

Having debts does not mean that you cannot budget out of other income!

I have a very low income, debts that amount to 120% of my annual income, a mortgage that takes up 25% of my weekly income, fuel costs that take up another 15% of my weekly income council tax etc., yet I manage to pay everyone something every month and still have about £50 left over for emergencies.

I don't drink, smoke or go out as I cannot afford to.

So don't tell me that you cannot budget - if I can so can many many others unless that is, that they choose not to!

uponahill

Simon7685 wrote: »

What a thoroughly grown up thing to say, you must feel very pleased with yourself you small minded ignorant person!:mad:

Yes it is a 'grown up thing to say - it's called being responsible for oneself!

A lot of people who are disabled, working part time, or not able to work through their disabilities rely on the Social Fund Budgeting Loans to be able to afford things that most people take for granted or to replace high end items like washing machines, beds, carpets and other furniture.

Yes, I am on benefits due to disability and sickness. I have never had to worry about having to replace or repair those things. I plan and save up out of my benefits. I do without so that I can save up.

As someone who themselves is or has claimed benefits, you should be ashamed of yourself and your attitude towards others who use the social fund. Also as someone who has or is currently on benefits, you should be quite aware of how difficult it is to manage on the benefits you receive and almost impossible to be able to budget for expensive items. Or is it a case of because you can't get one nobody else should?

Who says it is difficult to manage on benefits? Those that don't know how to live within their means?
If you have £100 a week coming in, save £10 a week, then you have £90 to live off. Not impossible at all. All it needs is some planning and thought.
I do not believe that people on benefit cannot afford to put £10 a week aside.
I have never applied for one as I have never had any need to. I prefer to take responsibility for my own actions.

All this is going to do is result in a lot of vulnerable people having to resort to illegal money lenders or use the likes of Bright House and end up paying £1200 for a £300 washer.

And how many 'claim' for items that they need the loan for yet spend it on other things?
Are you telling me that if a junkie or an alchi obtained say £100 from the social they would spend it on new bedding or maybe a new cooker? No way man, I live in the real world - it would go on crack, weed or a few cases of White Lightning.

More needs to be done to educate people on how to live within their means - not throw money at them via loans - which incidentally will have to be repaid out of benefits. Why not therefore save up in the first place using the same money that you would use to repay the loans?

uponahill

Simon7685 wrote: »

Wellynever - I'm not letting uponahill get to me, sometimes though it just annoys me when someone comes on the forums asking for advice or trying to find something out (which is what forums are for) and other people have to have a go because they don't agree with it.

Isn't that what a forum is all about? All points of view discussed whether you agree with them or not.

Or are you looking for people who will only sympathise with you and pass on comments that you want to hear?