make do and mend for tougher times

meme30

Byatt wrote: »

This is the draft consultation document for my council and CTB changes in April 2013. From Sept this year I will be entitled to 100% because of the huge drop in my income. Then from April I will have to find 30% of any CT no matter how low my income (or my DD's income) is.

A summary of our draft local Council Tax Support scheme

The draft local Council Tax Support Scheme for working age customers in E D is, in summary, the current Council Tax Benefit scheme with the following five changes:
Change one: everyone should pay something towards their Council tax
Currently we are able to help people on the lowest incomes by paying all of their Council Tax (100 per cent). Under the new Council Tax Support scheme, everyone of working age who now gets Council Tax Benefit would pay an extra 30 per cent of their full Council Tax. This would be on top of whatever level of Council Tax they are already paying. This means the maximum amount of Council Tax Support that could be claimed is reduced from 100 per cent to 70 per cent.
Change two: limit the amount of Council tax support to a Band D charge
Currently there are no restrictions on the amount of Council Tax Benefit that can be paid. This means that a person on a low income could get all their Council Tax paid even if they live in a large house in a high Council Tax band. The lowest band is an A, with the highest being an H. Change two would limit this to the Band D charge, which is the average band. So, if you live in a Band E, F, G or H property, we would reduce your Council Tax Support to that of a Band D householder.
Change three: reduce the savings limit from £16,000 to £3,000 for working-age people
At present, a person is not entitled to Council Tax Benefit if their savings and investments are £16,000 or above. This includes savings of a partner. Under change three, working-age people with savings and investments of £3,000 and above would not be entitled to any Council Tax Support
Change four: stop second adult rebate
Currently, Second Adult Rebate can apply when there is one person in a property who should pay Council Tax but they live with someone over the age of 18 on a low income (not a partner, lodger or tenant). Council Tax Benefit of up to 25 per cent can be given without the main person’s income being taken into account. Under change four, Second Adult Rebate would be abolished and Council Tax Support would only be considered by taking both incomes into account.
Change five: additional support for exceptional cases of hardship /vulnerability
Under our draft Council Tax Support scheme, this new fund would enable E D District Council to provide a ‘safety net’ to ensure that where there is exceptional need, up to 100 per cent relief can still be given. We recognise that the circumstances of some of our working-age customers mean that further help will be necessary and this is why we want to include this proposal.

:eek: Bless you this is awful for you! I know that your income is drastically changing soon anyway, this must feel like the last straw! Talk about squeezing blood from a stone! :grouphug:

kidcat

Thank you all I am carefully writing a letter at the moment.

Byatt - you have prompted me to look at our councils scheme and I can honestly say I have no idea what the actual plan here is, its all wrapped up in huge documents that are so wordy and incomprehensible.
Without causing huge offence to anyone, can I ask why all pensioners are not affected? I understand that some are not in good circumstances but many others with the introduction of pension credits etc are now much better off. Surely if the measures we introduced across the board the need to increase everyones bill would be watered down as it were.
The worrying thing is that some councils have vast numbers of pensioners - how can they possibly manage to make cuts if almost their entire benefit pool is retired?

Byatt its all so worrying for you I know ((hugs))

It feels like poll tax all over again

Fuddle - dont stress it, you are bringing your house under control which will be good for your kids tomorrow when its all done some times you just need one of those days. Milk - if you plan on using UHT for you and OH and just using full fat for the kids, I just wanted to point out that you may end up having to buy smaller cartons and they work out dearer anyway.
I did something similar a while back using SS milk for me and OH and FF for kids, but found it was going off and being thrown away so it worked out false economy. I would suggest measuring your milk intake over a few days to see if its viable

Am still blinking exhausted and even napping hasnt helped am beginning to question whether my anaemia is back, its been ages since I was tested but am so dog tired permanently its looking likely.

My friend brought her house contracts for me to read yesterday, and good job too, there was loads of stuff she had completely missed and loads of charges she had no idea about hidden inside - its going to cost her close to £2000 more than she thought with the charges. Am stunned her solicitor hasnt pointed it out to her, more worrying she is buying a repo and has not had a building survey (she has cash from her sale last year) as the building is only a few years old:eek::eek:

annie123

katieowl wrote: »

The letting agent says it's nothing to do with him (again - to me this time) and I've told him I'm holding him equally liable, as he has be negligent in making sure the flat was fit to rent.Kate

Kate the letting agent is required to have seen or have a copy of the gas safety certificate and the electrical certificate prior to arranging a tenancy. If they are a member of ARLA http://www.arla.co.uk/ or the ombudsman (they can agree financial compensation) http://www.tpos.co.uk/ then contact them and complain, they will take action against them.

It is not the agents job or duty to check the property for damp/mice/leaks or any other problems unfortunately. Many will do their best to as their reputation could be affected but not all by any means. Always worth remembering that they act for the landlord.

It would be prudent to take photos after the work is completed and before they move all their stuff back in, just in case this guy tries to come up with a reason why he shouldn't give them their deposit back when they leave. If they have photos they can prove exactly what the place looked liked. I've seen this happen many times when LL like him have had to do repairs they try to get the money back via the deposit.

This flat could be more trouble than it's worth, I'd be looking for something else personally. Speak to one of the above to see if there are enough grounds to break the tenancy agreement and get their deposit back.

short_bird

fuddle wrote: »

I wonder if instant mash would be ok in a corned beef and potato pie?

Works OK on top of veggie shepherd's pie! I suppose if "home made" mash is lumpy in your house, you may have to add the odd lump of proper spud as camouflage:D

[Deleted User]

Afternoon all, I find the best thing to pad out mince is textured soya mince - I get it from Holland & Barrett and a big pack costs about £3. It's very easy to use, for enough to pad out half a pound of mince you need 2oz of dry TVP and 4 fl oz of stock, just soak the TVP for 15 minutes until the liquid is all gone. I add a beef oxo , some worcester sauce or ketchup and a little cooking oil (any will do from posh Olive to everyday sunflower) and a pinch of herbs. Mix it in with the mince and you won't notice it at all. Then just make whatever you were going to make with all mince. TVP is a bit bland if you use it on its own, but you can flavour it up however you like and it makes an Ok curry or chilli. Hope that helps, Cheers Lyn x.

fuddle

short_bird wrote: »

Works OK on top of veggie shepherd's pie! I suppose if "home made" mash is lumpy in your house, you may have to add the odd lump of proper spud as camouflage:D

:rotfl: you know me too well. Just batched up a load of mince, we're having shepherds pie with instant mash tomorrow now

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

I wonder if instant mash would be ok in a corned beef and potato pie?

I feel really bad. I am knee deep in cleaning the house and rearranging furniture. My hair slicked back, no make up on and indoor working clothes on. The kids still straggly haired and wearing yesterdays clothes. We're meant to be at my friends little girls party at 3 but I don't want to go and enjoying just getting to grips with the house in my own little world. I've told her we're not coming. I do feel really awful but I just don't want to go.

If today is a day you feel as you do, do what you want, there will be other days. My house needs a bit of work doing on it but I'll get there...slowly.

I think instant mash will work fine and you can make it different consistancies depending on how much liquid you add(water and/or milk and yes...some butter)

Popperwell

meme30 wrote: »

:eek: Bless you this is awful for you! I know that your income is drastically changing soon anyway, this must feel like the last straw! Talk about squeezing blood from a stone! :grouphug:

I don't know how much more they expect us to give or survive on...

I suspect many will still need total help if these come in and many who are not claiming but "Just" surviving will keep up a fuss.

Evie74_2

Good evening all and (((hugs))) to all in need

Kidcat - I am appalled at the way in which your DS's were treated. Some respite care! I would definitely complain.

Rosanna and SDG - thanks for the support and tips! I am glad to know I'm not alone in finding the blatant request for cash a bit off.

Katie - :eek::mad: to the LL and agent shirking their responsibilities. I would not hesitate to report the LL on health and safety grounds. He's obviously happy to take the rent money: he needs to keep his part of the bargain and provide a habitable home for his tenants! I hope you can carve out a little calm in all the chaos and things get sorted out quickly.

Fuddle - I am sure the instant mash will be fine on a pie. I'd be tempted to pimp it up a bit with some milk and butter; I bet nobody is any the wiser!

The kitchen is almost done! Just the cooker to be connected tomorrow morning and the remaining tiles to be grouted and I can finally get my house back! I can't wait! :j DH is going to start painting as soon as the builders have gone so hopefully I'll be able to start loading up the cupboards tomorrow evening when I get home from work. I have splashed out on a new roman blind which is due to be delivered Thursday... I did think about making one but the window is massive and the ready made blind was cheaper than buying just the fabric. It will be so lovely to have my clean tidy house back again (well, cleanish... and tidyish....:cool:.... maybe I should dip into the Flylady thread sometime )

Off to have a catch up on the rest of the OS board...

Evie xx

Popperwell

kidcat wrote: »

It feels like poll tax all over again

Yes it does in all but name and that article GQ posted last week from Guadrdian said as much. Unless, all councils have the same policy some people may be looking to move to an area under another council's care as it my be fairer. The council arund here is a County Council covering a very larger area so if they do something as bad "We're stucK"