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Not being able to make ends meet

I'm writing this on behalf of my Mam but i'm certain she's not alone in having this problem.

Her biggest worry at the minute is the Council Tax. She has been unable to pay the last 3 months so she received a letter stating that she had to pay the rest of the year's payment of £997. Obviously she couldn't afford to pay this so it's gone to a court order and it's now at £1077. She's filled in a form they've sent outlining all her income/outcome and it is as follows:

She has £1067.54/month income, which includes her wages (£880/month), the board she gets from my sister (£110/month) and Tax Credits (£77.54/month).

Her outgoings total approx. £1,111.50. These are (per month):
Mortgage £400 (£1500 arrears from before Dad moved out)
Council Tax £125
Water/Gas/Electric £120
Telephone £10
Housekeeping £300
Insurance £28.50
Travel to work £80
TV Licence £13
Credit Card £20 (£90 arrears)
Catalogue £15

She no longer orders from the catalogue and is just paying it off, the same goes for the credit card.

I just feel so helpless knowing I can't help her and she's obviously at the end of her tether not having a clue what to do. I go with her food shopping every week so i know she's not spending excessively here (we go to Aldi so it's not like we're shopping at the most expensive place) and I can't remember the last time I saw her buy anything for herself such as clothes or anything like that.

Dad's made a claim for PPI from a while ago when they were still together, but I don't know how much it's for or when it will come through.

Like I said, i'm sure she's not alone in being in this situation. Does anyone have any hints or tips they can offer? I just have no idea how she's going to pay the Council Tax off and neither does she. It also asks for how much she's willing to pay a week to pay it off but she doesn't have anything extra so lord knows...I couldn't feel more helpless if i tried :(
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Comments

  • Gareth19
    Gareth19 Posts: 135 Forumite
    On that sort of income surely there would be an entitlement to some degree of council tax benefit???
  • 1940sGal
    1940sGal Posts: 2,393 Forumite
    Gareth19 wrote: »
    On that sort of income surely there would be an entitlement to some degree of council tax benefit???

    I've just asked her as i know she does get Council tax benefit, which she said she forgot to include in the figures i've given. BUT, they've only taken £93 off the yearly total which works out to £7.75/month.

    Would she be eligible for Income Support? I know little to nothing about benefits and what she is/isn't entitled to.
  • Gareth19
    Gareth19 Posts: 135 Forumite
    1940sGal wrote: »
    I've just asked her as i know she does get Council tax benefit, which she said she forgot to include in the figures i've given. BUT, they've only taken £93 off the yearly total which works out to £7.75/month.

    Would she be eligible for Income Support? I know little to nothing about benefits and what she is/isn't entitled to.

    I think that the income is above the threshold for claiming Income Support and to be honest I can't think of anything else you can claim. Also looking at the Expenditure there isn't even a great deal that you cut down from that. The main problem is that the mortgage & council tax accounts for half of the income which means that's half of your wage gone for a start. Then out of the half that's left you somehow have to live and pay everything off. I don't really see many options unfortunately
  • LianneH
    LianneH Posts: 271 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Debt-free and Proud!
    how much is outstanding on both the credit card and the catalogue? Just wondering how long before the £35 will be freed up?

    Also could the board that you sister is paying be increased?

    what does the £300 housekeeping cover? is this just groceries for your mum and sister? if so im sure nipping over to the Old-Style boards will give you and your mum some ideas of how to save some more money?
    Debt Free Roll of Honor #598
    DFD 28/02/12 :j
    MFW 19 years - aim 11, prefer less!:D
    #222 EF £1k 60/1000 :cool:

  • 1940sGal
    1940sGal Posts: 2,393 Forumite
    edited 6 August 2012 at 5:44PM
    LianneH wrote: »
    how much is outstanding on both the credit card and the catalogue? Just wondering how long before the £35 will be freed up?

    Also could the board that you sister is paying be increased?

    what does the £300 housekeeping cover? is this just groceries for your mum and sister? if so im sure nipping over to the Old-Style boards will give you and your mum some ideas of how to save some more money?

    Mum thinks approx £300 on both the catalogue and debit card so a while to go on those.

    The £300 covers food for all 3 of us (i'm unemployed at the mo so no income), stuff such as cleaning products and the usual. I've told her I don't think she needs to go food shopping every week so we're going to start going every other week, which should save some.

    My sister can't increase her board as she too is on a low income and has her own outgoings.

    I'd like to say i'll have a job soon but nothing's certain :S
  • LianneH
    LianneH Posts: 271 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Debt-free and Proud!
    1940sGal wrote: »
    Mum thinks approx £300 on both the catalogue and debit card so a while to go on those.

    The £300 covers food for all 3 of us (i'm unemployed at the mo so no income), stuff such as cleaning products and the usual. I've told her I don't think she needs to go food shopping every week so we're going to start going every other week, which should save some.

    I'd like to say i'll have a job soon but nothing's certain :S

    would you not be entitled to JSA or something and so could contribute something towards your board?

    i cant really think of much else, maybe check the old style boards and the upping your income boards - you and your sister could maybe do some ebaying or surveys?
    Debt Free Roll of Honor #598
    DFD 28/02/12 :j
    MFW 19 years - aim 11, prefer less!:D
    #222 EF £1k 60/1000 :cool:

  • LE3
    LE3 Posts: 612 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    I think the obvious is whether your sister is paying enough board?
    How many people in the household?
  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 36,136 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    1940sGal wrote: »
    Mum thinks approx £300 on both the catalogue and debit card so a while to go on those.

    The £300 covers food for all 3 of us (i'm unemployed at the mo so no income), stuff such as cleaning products and the usual. I've told her I don't think she needs to go food shopping every week so we're going to start going every other week, which should save some.

    My sister can't increase her board as she too is on a low income and has her own outgoings.

    I'd like to say i'll have a job soon but nothing's certain :S

    You need to sign on and claim JSA and contribute that to the family income.

    If you are not working, also try to cook from scratch, menu pan and use up left overs. You should be able to knock £40 off that spend if you are very careful - go over to the old style Money Saving forum for advice.

    Has Mum submitted evidence of the low income of yourself and sister to the Council re CTB?

    Also run a full benefit check thrrough here https://www.turn2us.org.uk
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If your sister is working she should be paying a lot, lot more than £110 a month. (depending on her income of course)

    Claim JSA and pay board to your mum, its not fair that she is buying your food for you and paying for your electric, gas, water.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • asparagus1968
    asparagus1968 Posts: 1,787 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    are you and your sister adults?
    aren't you able to claim anything/earn anything?
    seems your mam is keeping you both from what you've said.obviously i could be wrong as only going off info given here.
    maybe make a list of all 3 of your incomes/outgoings on the SOA ( link is in the newbie sticky )
    LIVE SIMPLY * GIVE MORE * EXPECT LESS * BE THANKFUL

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