make do and mend for tougher times

kidcat

Bother had written along post and lost it.

Just wanted to say that I am glad fuddle decided to stay

Having read the stuff in question I also feel I should point out that the blog in question wasnt actually aimed at anyone in particular it was the following comments by a reader of the blog (who is not able to post here)that I think were the cause of the pain.

That being said I think maybe we should try to draw a thick line back underneath it and move on, we have been closed down for less and it would be a shame to allow one person to disrupt us and create dissension.

SDG - words are inadequate so I will simply echo the hugs


Its been a busy week with returns to school etc, DS8 amazingly went in and had a good day the new temporary regime appears to be working but it is early days.

DS14 did not return much to schools disgust, he was seen by his worker today and signed off indefinitely and she has said she thinks the reality may be that he is never up to returning. They have arranged home tuition for him from next week which is amazing although he is not so impressed at a stranger coming in.

LavenderBees

Byatt wrote: »

SDG, I'm so sorry about your friend. I don't know what else to say, it's so sad.

Yes, me too. That's awful news. Take care of yourselves.

LB xx

fuddle

I took everything to heart definitely. I took it as being aimed at me because I had a PM directing me to there. I commented loads on that blog but stopped checking in when it happened.

A thick black line for sure.

DH is having Sainsbury's basic tea and is not at all commenting - slipped under the radar there.

charlies-aunt

As part of my job, I've recently had some training in Discretionary Housing Payments - these are a different kettle of [STRIKE]fish[/STRIKE] benefit to Housing Benefit and for anyone worying about how they can afford the bedroom tax in April -or - struggling to pay the top up on their rent right now, they may be a godsend. :T

The crucial part of it is that you have to be in receipt of partial Housing Benefit now -or- were in receipt of partial HB for the period that you want to claim for. Claims can be backdated - up to 3 years.

DHP isn't paid to clear arrears but if you have got into arrears because of family circumstances (illness, loss of hours etc) you can apply for DHP for extra help to pay rent because of hardship . . . .i.e. couldn't pay the top up on the rent because you were paying bus fares to visit close family member in hospital or your travel costs for work have gone up because Company has closed the local office and you now have a 50 mile round trip every day or very high heating bills because you needed the heating on 24hrs a day whilst recovering from illness

If you are underoccupying next year but are living in a property that has been specially adapted for your needs & so can't move anywhere else - come April 2012, you can claim DHP for the shortfall. Similarly if you are under occupying and are desperately trying to downsize - you can also make a claim for DHP for the shortfall.

If you are a few months short of claiming pension credit next April and will be hit by the bedroom tax, you can claim DHP for those months for the top-up if you can show that your expenditure exceeds your income

Its really worthwhile reading up on this little known pot of money to see if you can claim and also checking with your local council as many have application forms on their websites. I will be happy to help via MSE too. Circumstances don't necessarily have to be exceptional but it is important to show that you are doing your best in a time of hardship IYKWIM. Claims have to be submitted with income and expenditure statements - showing necessary expenditure exceeding income, relevent evidence (copy of energy bills for example, doctors/social workers letters etc) copy of rent statement and either a completed application form or a letter of application.

DHP may also pay rent in advance or lump sum deposits if you can prove that the landlord requires these from all their tenants without exception - if the tenancy ends - the rent in advance is refunded to the tenant but it is a one-off payment and cannot be claimed again.

This may be a bit of good news for some amidst the gloom and doom of the bedroom tax - it is a discretionary payment so no right of appeal but you can ask for the decision to be reviewed - it costs nothing to do the claim and it is possible to make repeat claims so I hope this will help someone

prepareathome

Anyone want a husband, one free to a good home, shucks would even give half my stocks (am broke so cannot offer money). He is house trained just refuses to believe you when you say he cannot go to more weekends away for bowls as you cannot afford it so will get into a strop and ask why you wasted money on dutch ovens etc when it could have been used for outings ignoring the fact they were bought out of the birthday money son gave you and in Feb he spent his £200 towards a bowls weekend, your money is meant for house but his is for him ................................

Byatt

prepareathome wrote: »

Anyone want a husband, one free to a good home, shucks would even give half my stocks (am broke so cannot offer money). He is house trained just refuses to believe you when you say he cannot go to more weekends away for bowls as you cannot afford it so will get into a strop and ask why you wasted money on dutch ovens etc when it could have been used for outings ignoring the fact they were bought out of the birthday money son gave you and in Feb he spent his £200 towards a bowls weekend, your money is meant for house but his is for him ................................

PAH, I've paid my dues...:rotfl: so no takers from me.

kidcat

PAH - err no sorry got enough bother with my own.

Maybe we should start a home for unwanted husbands:rotfl:

Charlies aunt - that is really good news, that there is some hope for people and does answer alot of my questions definitely.

Fuddle - hugs

meanmarie

PAH...not a chance....been trying to get rid of the one I have for 42 years with no success, so not up to taking on another....thanks all the same! By the way....get out your atlas and see where I live......

Fuddle....glad that you have decided to stay with us...ignore the people who live to put others down.

SDG....sorry to hear your bad news.

Irish Mom.....failte....do you swim round the Blaskets or the Aran islands to get to New York??

Very jealous of you lot who are picking blackberries....haven't seen a ripe one here yet, will keep looking as DS3 has asked for blackberry and apple jam.

Going to make the courgette jam to-morrow, could sell courgettes so that will get rid of some, will dry more and maybe make a bit of chutney....not much eaten here so waste making lots.

Byatt....hope that dog is ok, don't like to see animals suffer.

Might watch a bit of that doomsday preppers programme that just started....might not.

Night all, sleep well

Marie

fuddle

kidcat wrote: »

Fuddle - hugs

picked and wrong one Canny group of toughies we have ourselves here. Business as usual.

Elderberries here are no where near ripe yet. I am wondering if I've misidentified my elderberries :cool:

Byatt

Our elderberries are ripe...:p