Is this the worst SOA ever..!!!??

portsmouthali

So sorry things are bad for you at the moment, sounds like you're doing all you can to sort yourself out so you should pat yourself on the back for that. I know what you mean about the cost of moving, with deposits, removal costs etc. you could have to find something like £1500, in order to save very little each month. I also live in a seaside town with high living costs but low wages, and am also in loads of debt as a result so I know how you feel. I can't tell you how many sleepless nights I've had over money but I do know that this site has been a godsend!

I can't really offer any practical advice that hasn't already been given, just wanted to give my support and best wishes. Keep us updated.

lolabug_2

I just had a quick look at entitled.to.co.uk for you and it would seem that you should be getting much more money than you are at present.

£95.78 tax credits per week (did you earn much more last year? if you did you need to update them with what you are earning now)

£87.30 Housing benefit per week (This is only an approx mind but you need to hassle the council about this asap, make sure you have taken in EVERYTHING they ask for and get a receipt as the often 'lose things') It may be worth making a fresh claim tomorrow and ask for benefit to be backdated to your original application. Even if they turn down the backdate (you can appeal mind) you will at least be getting benefit from the following Monday you put your new claim in.

Also if you are over 25 (I am assuming you are!) you may be entitled to tax credits for yourself if you work over 30hrs per week and are on a low income. (when tax credits stop for your child)

Good luck x

miky36

Thanks Portsmothali. support is very important to me right now..
Lola..that all sounds good and promising..though once again its all going to be so slow..with all of my cards stopped now i am desperate. I will go to them tomorrow though i have done them a letter and stressed that it is urgent. I will phone them tomorrow and see what happens. Thanks for all your effort there.
One piece of advice i would like. Should i go to my bank tomorrow? i'm really scared of doing this and wonder if it might make things worse. I woud have to appeal to their better nature (which i believe they don't have, unless their robbing you in interest) Do i go to them??

lolabug_2

I doubt the bank will be overly kind as they will be aware that any money you borrow you will struggle to pay back. If you have no money at all I would advise you to call the the department of work & pensions/jobcentre plus and fill in an application for a crisis loan. You don't need to be on benefits to recieve it. They will possibly try to talk you out of it and they will probably only give you £30 or so if you are successful but thats £30 you have to use for food etc. http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_013949.xml.html

I would also stop paying all credit debts straight away until payplan is sorted. You simply can't afford to pay them.

Also if you are really stuck most salvation army's provide food parcels, not ideal I know but sometimes needs must.

Hugs x

miky36

Lola, your reply reduced me to tears, not for the first time today though.
You've been so helpful Thank you x

bandraoi

I work in the care sector and asking for an increase will get me no-where. Why would they pay me extra when everyone else gets Min wage?

Because you know how to do the job and you're good at it?
There is never any harm in asking for a pay increase. The worst they can do is say no, after which you're still in the same situation, the best that can happen is more money and an improvement.

Other organisations/individuals may pay you more if you look around. If you don't ask, nothing will ever crop up to suprise you.

miky36

Just an update. Spoke to payplan and they have reassured me a little. Went to housing benefit office who have assured me i am entitled to something, though there is only a small chance of gettin my payments backdated.
Am about to open an account with nationwide (basic one)
Feel a little better today though am very tired after a bad nigths sleep.
Thanks again everyone for all your help. Hopefully with all the good advice i can get myself motivated and moving-something i seem to have found really hard to do lately.

bandraoi

I have applied for housing benefit and been told i earn too much!!!! have now appealled but that was ages ago and each month i get further and further into debt.

Surely if they misadvised you, then they are liable to backdate to at least the date of your original claim. I wouldn't accept their "no backdate" without a fight.

benbenandme

have you been to the jobcentre and seen there lone parent advisor? They are fab!! They can put various different scenarios in a computer and tell you what you would be entitled to based on if you increased/decreased your working hours and they can put in different salaries to show how it would affect your benefits. Its a free service and I found it really useful in showing me the exact affect extra hours at work would have (sometimes I find the website calculators give strange figures:rolleyes: )
Good luck and keep posting:beer:

Broken_hearted

miky36 wrote: »

Not had a holiday in 16 years but if i carry on this way i should end up in a funny farm, does that count as a holiday??

Had to thank you for that statement. It sometimes feels like a good way out:D