make do and mend for tougher times

smileyt_2

PAH, I don't think there's any legislation passed to say they can force you out of an over-occupied home, yet. The bedroom tax thing is a penalty on someone's housing benefit if they have extra bedrooms. As long as you pay your rent you should be OK, I think. Anyway, you need two bedrooms because you are ill, so my guess is you're not under-occupying by that much.

Sorry to hear about your foot. If a bigwig comes to look at the repairs to see what needs doing, I'd be very tempted to whack them with my crutch ....

prepareathome

Pops remember they cannot take your DLA into account as income, its for you not running the home ( as shelter guy reminded me today, but its my DLA that means we can cope as we do so it does get used in the house as well as car but he told me never ever to include it in money we have to live on for anything, like in my case today LA).

Try not to worry to much, you haven't done anything wrong for them to sanction you with.

Popperwell

I always understood that they awarded you what they think is the right amount to be able to live and survive on but then it's up to you what you do with it. But if you don't spend it and it becomes seen as savings that's where the problems start.

But again every house has some spare cash for emergencies, etc...or should have. I mean earlier in May I had to find money to repair my pc...three times and it wasn't cheap. But until that was used it was money sitting there unused.

I have joked in the past(and you are fortunate if it is so)but sometimes it can be hard to actually spend money and get rid of it...but if you do manage you lose out and then when you perhaps have to ask for help again, you can't get it!

Popperwell

Shropshirelass wrote: »

Soap and water also good, face cloths go into washing machine. Bathing too often removes all natural oils from your skin, then you just have to moisturise.

I have heard that about natural oils...

The worst thing is you can feel cold while sponging down and if you have to put the heating on whilst you wash, you defeat the reason you are doing what you do...

I think some people don't wash daily or would like not to but are afraid of the reaction they'll get if they tell others. I said it about something else but when you get away from authorities or the media and talk at street level many think and feel the same as "You"

We are unique but in many ways...The Silent Majority often thinks similarly but is not heard. In the media it's those with the loudest voice and many who think that they know best. The so called experts and yes, the politicians...and as they are heard people sometimes think that is how we are supposed to behave.

Popperwell

prepareathome wrote: »

I am wondering if I have brought to the attention of my HA that hubby and I are over occupying as today.
Snag of course is I was hoping to keep my head down, pay my rent ( not claim the HB we could claim) keep in credit and hope they would not notice me for a bit when they start being squeezed to empty over occupied homes and this is going to bring us to their attention.

Not surprised you feel as you do and I am so sorry you had such a rotten day and have the worries of what will happening in following days...

I have been receiving HB(wish I could avoid some of the help but I have no savings/income and so have to take it)but like you I try to keep a low profile with the HA and the DWP but if you don't have to contact them for some reason, they will sooner or later come looking for you and usually not for good reasons.

Names come around on computers automatically every so often so you cannot be forgotten about even when you want to disappear...

Popperwell

prepareathome wrote: »

Pops remember they cannot take your DLA into account as income, its for you not running the home ( as shelter guy reminded me today, but its my DLA that means we can cope as we do so it does get used in the house as well as car but he told me never ever to include it in money we have to live on for anything, like in my case today LA).

Try not to worry to much, you haven't done anything wrong for them to sanction you with.

If I have some savings I may be able to absorb the Bedroom tax and stay put, they will save on the HB by reducing it and if I pay the charge they are still getting what they should but I am caught from both directions really. If I have no savings they still get the Bedroom Tax but I don't have a cushion and my income drops further making me poorer.

If things change as they will next year(DLA is scrapped next April)and if we qualify, the new replacement is not as much(I say if)so with the BT, reduction on PIP, and still paying the water rates, I'll be approx £56 worse off weekly(I think)and then still have to pay gas, electric, food and treats out of what's left.

If I don't get PIP or the dreaded ESA and HB, help with the CT I cannot survive. I would not have a roof over my head. If things could stay as they are I probably could manage.

No wonder we get scared.

Popperwell

smileyt wrote: »

PAH, I don't think there's any legislation passed to say they can force you out of an over-occupied home, yet. The bedroom tax thing is a penalty on someone's housing benefit if they have extra bedrooms. As long as you pay your rent you should be OK, I think. Anyway, you need two bedrooms because you are ill, so my guess is you're not under-occupying by that much.

Sorry to hear about your foot. If a bigwig comes to look at the repairs to see what needs doing, I'd be very tempted to whack them with my crutch ....

I think PAH is worried it's under occupied but as you say if two bedrooms are being used, hopefully things will be ok. Now my home is under occupied and I cannot find a use that will be acceptable under the rules coming in but hope that I can stay put, certainly for now.

kidcat

PAH - if you need one bedroom for your disability does that not entitle you to a council tax discount too? I know when we went into council and explained about having to add a bedroom for DS14 due to his ASD she told me that when he had his diagnosis I should go back in and apply for discount.

prepareathome

Kidcat I have never ever considered about getting a discount on council tax - I have my own room as hubby was getting so disturbed with me either being awake or moving around during the night. Also with spending so much time in here I have all my bits which meant hubby's ended up in another room.

Thanks for that will look into it, can but ask.

kidcat

As I say I dont know much at all about it its a vague memory from a converstation last year, but worth investigating, as it would mean that you were not under occupying either I assume.