Help - I dont want to lose my home, I just need help until I can get work

AlisonCVS

After being in debt due to my husband being out of work for 3 years. We just started getting it together when he got a job. These debts were cleared eventually and we just started to start living and saving when we got hit again.

I was diagnosed with MS. I lost my job over a year ago (grievance, untenable situation, settled out of court). I made 6 months wages in compensation last over a year by eeking it out and cutting back.

I was constantly searching for work being the main breadwinner but after hundreds of applic and countless interviews - still nothing. I am well qualified and experienced and the Jobcentre could do nothing to help but tell me I was so very employable.

In spite of my pride and stuborness I eventually succumbed to claiming JSA based on contributions but in spite of paying NI all my working life I got only 6 months of a pittance then it stopped. I was told I was not entitled to JSA based on income because my husband works full time albeit for £213 per week. He is on SSP at the moment (6 weeks so far) due to an injury so not even earning a wage now.

I put in for Tax credits quoted a likelihood of £11-£49 per week maybe. Not entitled to Income support as I own a house so this counts as assets over £16,000. I have put in for council tax benefit - heard nothing yet.

I have got the mortgage company to drop my repayments temporarily this was 3 months ago and they are not going to keep that going forever.

I am in the situation where I will lose the house I worked hard to achieve. It seems that I am being punished for achieving it and that for being hardworking I am not entitled to benefits or support I will have to sell it to live off and live off the proceeds. Until that is all gone and I will be on the breadline like those who have been on benefits all their lives.

Due to my disability I would never be able to get another mortgage and i suspect this is partly why I am not managing to get another job - equal opps be damned - I live in the real world.

I hate being unemployed, I hate not earning my own money and now I cant even get any money on welfare to help me out.

If anyone can come up with any ideas I am open to suggestions. I am desperate.

marybelle01

Try the benefits board? Or the debt free board? More likely that you will find advice on keeping your house there.

As for employment help, we couldn't really suggest anything as we know nothing about your employment experience, or what you have tried to get in to work! It might help in terms of advice if you tell us more about you and your efforts and why you think you aren't getting anywhere.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Try Benefits and Work their Guides are fantastic. Get Welfare Advice from CAB, get all the knowledge you can.
You also need to keep your spirits up as you can only survive this if you are positive.
Maybe put in a Social Housing Application?
Keep abreast of the Welfare News in Society Gaurdian.

AlisonCVS

marybelle01 wrote: »

Try the benefits board? Or the debt free board? More likely that you will find advice on keeping your house there.

As for employment help, we couldn't really suggest anything as we know nothing about your employment experience, or what you have tried to get in to work! It might help in terms of advice if you tell us more about you and your efforts and why you think you aren't getting anywhere.

Thanks I will try that board.

And thank you for wanting to help on the job advice front but I am not asking for help on the employment side of things - I am doing just about everything I can to get a job and I am getting lots of interviews and really positive feedback but just cant clinch the post.

I am a very experienced and qualified project manager who has worked in the third sector and education sector for nearly 20 years. I am a very successful fundraiser, staff manager and trainer.

I have an HND in computer studies (level 5)
Cert in Managament Studies (post grad)
CIPD Cert in Personnel Practice
PTLLS (qualified trainer)

Member of CIPD and Institute for Learning.

I have applied for jobs in the following areas
Third sector
HR
Education
Fundraising
Admin/office manager

and more both at the level I was before (senior manager) to basic training jobs, sales or office staff at £10,000 less than I was on.

I have achieved interviews and been given really positive feedback.

No idea what more I can do.

If you have any ideas that would be great as I am at my wits end.

I have fought through my whole adult life through some really S*** stuff and I have stayed positive and pulled through when other people have said they would have given up but I just feel so powerless and so depressed now.

Sorry, it sounds I am on a self pity trip. I am not I just dont know what more I can do to pull myself and my family through this.

Emmzi

Have you signed up as an associate with all the big companies for day rate training? Manual handling, first aid, sales, whatever you can swing.

It doesn't pay a fortune but it pays more than dole. There are some right numpties doing it so if you are competent you should be in demand.

marybelle01

The dreaded word - but have you tried agencies? Not the general run of the mill ones, but those who recruit specifically for these sorts of roles. If you can get one assignment and prove reliable and good, you'll find plenty of work in the future. I use a specialist agency and am never out of work, and I know project/ programme managers who do nothing but agency work. Obviously location helps - if there are cities around you there is more work of this type.

Dunroamin

Do you live in the house you own or is this a completely separate property?

KiKi

Where are you based, OP? London?

paddedjohn

the value of the house you live in isnt taken into account for benefits, is it?

AlisonCVS

Dunroamin wrote: »

Do you live in the house you own or is this a completely separate property?

Yes I live in it.

AlisonCVS

paddedjohn wrote: »

the value of the house you live in isnt taken into account for benefits, is it?

I was informed that for income support, if you have more than £16,000 in captial assets you could not claim.

Other benefits I cant claim because my husband is FT not PT that includes JSA.