No outgoings taken into consideration?

Chrissiew

Our total weekly income is £305 per week, there is just myself and husband living in the flat, our rent is £96 per week, it's a HA place with 2 bedrooms.

Gas is £15pw
Electric £15pw (both pre paid meters)
Petrol £15pw
Water £25pw
Loan £25pw (morses, rather like provident)
Phone and Internet £10pw
Mobile £3 pw
Council tax £20pw
Tv licence £6pw
Sky £6pw
Medical prescription £5.43pw ( get them monthly but divided it weekly to go with every thing else)
Hp for furniture £17pw

That comes to £162pw plus £96 rent =£258 out goings leaving £47pw for food and clothing.

My husband had a full time job when we moved in 3 years ago but due to the firm losing a lot of work his hours and pay were dropped, we can't get WTC, I applied for HB but it was refused, I appealed but the appeal was not even considered as they said they don't take any outgoings into consideration just earnings and the amount coming in is more than enough to live on.

A money advice lady from the HA came to see us and said we have to stop paying the loan and the HP, as all that will happen is it will go to a debt collector, maybe court and we will be ordered to pay maybe £5 a week but will get a shot credit reference, she said as far as HB are concerned people shouldnt have a tv, phone, Internet, mobiles or anything that's non essential to living, as long as you have enough money for food and rent that's all they consider.

I find this incredible in this day and age and think it unfair that people are expected to have nothing to make life a bit more pleasant, no wonder there is so much depression in this country.

maginot

I find it incredible in this day and age that those who work are still left with less than those who don't! £305 a week, after tax, is more than the country's average wage.

A few things stand out:-

Why is water so high?
If you have sky, you can get phone and broadband for free (just need to pay line rental of £12.75).
As mentioned stop paying the loans, if you are using high interest firms your credit is probably not good anyway so it will make little different to your credit. You can then come to a more affordable repayment after defaulting.

Unfortunately in this day and age, with increased depression, it doesn't help when those working are paying for a more pleasant life for others but can't afford these themselves.

Firefox1975

Chrissiew wrote: »

I find this incredible in this day and age and think it unfair that people are expected to have nothing to make life a bit more pleasant, .

I don't get it? What isn't fair about it? you work, you get paid, you get to purchase lifes luxuries?

if you choose not to work, or you choose not to do a job you consider deeming or, heaven forbid, a job you don't want to do, then you will have no disposable income for luxuries.

I can save you £6 a week straight away, get rid of sky, that, to me - is a luxury you do not need.

dundeediva

I agree with above posters- sky is a luxury that you can't afford. So is the mobile or house phone and even the internet. If you cant afford to pay it and it's not essential why do you think taxpayers should pay it?

Try making some changes and live within your means. Either that or find a second job for your OH or work yourself to increase income.

Sorry to be blunt but what else did you want to hear??

Chrissiew

Sorry don't get it, my Husband DOES and IS working, it's not tax free money, I said he had a full time job and his wages were cut due to no work coming in I didn't say he gave up work, so no need for the high and mighty get to work approach

Chrissiew

Ah right so someone who has worked for over 20 years is not allowed a bit of help but instead has to go to work, come home, stare at 4 walls, not be able to communicate with the outside world, and get a shot credit file to boot, yea I get it now

paddedjohn

What do you want OP? The state to give you cash so you can have a night out? Seriously though your phone and Internet can be cut to £3, water should be more like £10 per week, cancelling the sky saves another £6 so in all you can save £28/week.

gingergee

I agree with the water bit!! How come so much? I pay £29 per month, and that includes paying off arrears. Maybe you should look into it. Also paying that loan of £25 per week, seems silly. I know, with provident, as long as you pay something each week, they cant moan at you until you have not made a full payment for 12 weeks. So once every 12 weeks, make the full payment. The company your with may not operate like that, google it. (I know this as my friend is a rep and told me the ins and outs).
I do agree though, its not fair x

recoverydust

there are some people on these forums who dont read and arent very supportive.

i understand your frustrations, we are unfortunately on benefits, after years of earning good money; however we are better off than you at the moment, my disabilities mean we get full council tax and housing benefit.

I dont think you should get less than us to live on, but to anyone complaining that we get more on benefit than they do working
a) its about a quarter of what we earnt
b) you are welcome to all my benefit - you just get to have my physical and mental health too

I dont know what to suggest, I have a debt free diary now and I have learnt how to be a super frugal saver from this site

kind regards
nicky
xxxx

headoutthesand

YOu don't me tion if you work or if there are children.

Do you have children?

Do you have the option of getting even a pt job to contribute?

sarahg1969

Chrissiew wrote: »

Ah right so someone who has worked for over 20 years is not allowed a bit of help but instead has to go to work...

Yes. Why not? How is that an unreasonable expectation, if you are capable of working?

I'm sorry, OP, but I don't understand what your problem is. You feel you're short of cash, so you go out to work and earn some more. It's what millions of us have to do, you know.