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No outgoings taken into consideration?
Comments
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Not excessive but probably a bit on the high side. BUT they could be running a tumble dryer a lot for the incontinence issues. Prepaid meters aren't the way to go if you're a high user in all honesty.
Mine is about £100/month for both, which I think is pretty high, but I'm at home all day and do keep the place warm, especially in winter. I think there are some things that could be cut though.
Like the sky and internet could be found for a smaller price etc.
I do think you need to get that watermeter checked though, cos something doesn't sound right there.
There are other benefits claimable though like ESA that we don't know if the OP is in receipt of.
So £5 more than you and as you say the OP probably uses the washing machine a lot and drying/heating too.
I believe most meters are charged at the same rate as a bill now, I think the law was changed or something.
I have a gas meter and bill for electric, |I was told I'm on the same rate as I would be if I chose the bill option.0 -
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.0 -
OP
why do you need a car?
Is this is another luxury you could consider binning?
And please tell us your FULL income....
And i appreciate it was more of a rant than a request initially - which i sympathise with - however the world has become a much tougher place these last few years.0 -
But there's discounts available if you're getting them both from the same supplier too. My washing machine is on constantly, teenager in the house
Although I have got rid of my tumble dryer in the hope to save money, pity I did it on the wettest summer ever lol.
Think people aren't really understanding about the job situation at the moment either, there isn't a lot out there.
Without exact figures it's really quite hard to say whether there may be other help available.
Edit: BTW I still think mine is way too high and could be cut down a lot if people learned to switch things off!!!4 Stones and 0 pounds or 25.4kg lighter :j0 -
I know it's frustrating that people who don't work have more than you, however you do have nearly £200 a month for food and clothing while still servicing your debts and that is completely do able.DEC GC £463.67/£450
EF- £110/COLOR]/£10000 -
Isn't there some kind of yearly prescription pass that costs £120 or something?
Your water is WAY too high!
You need to get off the pre-payment meters and get a better deal.
Are you saying you get £305 a week PLUS all the disability benefits/car? Or is that included in the £305?0 -
But there's discounts available if you're getting them both from the same supplier too. My washing machine is on constantly, teenager in the house
Although I have got rid of my tumble dryer in the hope to save money, pity I did it on the wettest summer ever lol.
Think people aren't really understanding about the job situation at the moment either, there isn't a lot out there.
Without exact figures it's really quite hard to say whether there may be other help available.
Edit: BTW I still think mine is way too high and could be cut down a lot if people learned to switch things off!!!
So the OP should get a discount but you shouldn't
I take it you both do and as said £5 extra from what you are paying is expected when someone is disabled.0 -
Other posts from the OP say that her husband is currently off work on the sick for chest pains but has been diagnosed as having a fatty liver. It seems he is on basic wages.
Is the £305 a week his basic wages?
How much extra are they getting with the disability benefits?0 -
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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.
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I'm surprised you appealed a means tested benefit simply because you weren't aware that it is based on income, not expenditure. Claimants get means tested (income related) benefits based on what is coming into their household, not how good/bad they are at budgeting their personal spending.
Debts and personal expenses have never been taken into account for any type of benefit. Clearly, there are a number of ways your personal budget could be massively improved, and as such, shows why it is entirely wrong for benefits to be calculated on what a household spends....
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, ...
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Your disposable income would be almost double if you could get on top of your debts. The previous posters have given moneysaving advice for how to reduce your energy, water and telecoms bills which could even treble your disposable income.
Download the MSE budget planner and work through the website to identify how to slash your living costs.
The Direct Gov website has good info on debt management and the HA lady is right - your loans and HP payments are considered non-priority debts compared to others that have greater impact if they go unpaid, such as council tax or the rent. It is not necessarily the case that your creditors will take you to court or employ debt collectors - some will be happy to renegotiate lower repayments.
See the following links for info on your options or post on the Debt Free Wanabee board on this website.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingDebt/index.htm0 -
Other posts from the OP say that her husband is currently off work on the sick for chest pains but has been diagnosed as having a fatty liver. It seems he is on basic wages.
Is the £305 a week his basic wages?
How much extra are they getting with the disability benefits?
Oh didn't realise it was the same person, in that case I think I saw the OP say he was on £235pw.0
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