disposable income???!!!!grrrrr rant

calmspirit

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Before I rant I would like to thank everyone who helped and supported me when I posted my SOA a while back, still struggling through with very little and counting every penny!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=352126

NOW !

I am trying to divorce hubby who moved out more than 2 years ago, I applied for Legal Aid and thought it was bad enough knowing that equity in my home (after paying him half of this house to move out!!! ahem still sore point as he now refusing to give me anything from sale of croatian property worth approx 100,00 euros. and UK solicitor AND all croatian solicitors say unless I have paperwork I have no claim despite law saying I am entitled to half)

So back to rant ................Legal Aid has been given to me but I must pay a contibution of £18.61 per month ...for as long as the case lasts!!!!!!!!!!)
now 18.61 is a lot of money for me..........but knowing that I also have equity in my house from which they will also take costs ...or charge me interest !!!!!!!!!! According to Legal services commission I have 349.44 disposable income per month ................HOW????grrrrrrrrrrrr I WISH !!!!!!!!
I think I should give up and claim income support, get tax payers to pay my mortgage interest/living expenses/ or let Abbey repossess my house, get a council place, get housing benefit.......... why do I bother keeping in the jobs market, with intention of in 2 years when youngest starts secondary school to work full time ?

sorry just feel like I am hitting my head against a brick wall.......£18 is such a lot to me :-(

ok rant over I feel so much better now !

dumb_debtor

Hi Calmspirit

I'm new to this site but that does sound very unfair - maybe citizens advice could help?

How did Legal Aid come up with that figure??

calmspirit

well
income from wages = 550
income from tax credits and child benefit £709
=1259 income
deductions
income tax /NI 27.31
employment exps????no idea what this is 45.00
dependants 396.12
housing 442 (mortgage is 464)
total 910

difference is 349 gosh if I had 349 per month disposable income I would be happy !

ZTD

calmspirit wrote: »

well
income from wages = 550
income from tax credits and child benefit £709
=1259 income
deductions
income tax /NI 27.31
employment exps????no idea what this is 45.00
dependants 396.12
housing 442 (mortgage is 464)
total 910

difference is 349 gosh if I had 349 per month disposable income I would be happy !

Are you supposed to be eating somewhere in there?

nearlyrich

I had a similar situation when I got divorced (1988) my ex left with £10k from £20k equity) hadn't paid any child support or mortgage etc for nearly 3 years. When I sold due to the dip in house prices I was left with less than £8k and legal aid had a charge on my house.

Don't give up, I have got to the far end of raising my children and they have turned out fine, as time goes by that huge mortgage will seem less of a burden and you will be better off financially.

Keep posting.

calmspirit

lol yeah am apparently eating so well that I have 340 quid a month to play with ! Oh and I heat the house and pay council tax with beans!

Maybe I am just really bad with money!

thanks nearlyrich, like you I get no help from ex but am determined that my kids will grow up well adjusted and with a work ethic and respect for what they have! thats if we get past the malnutrition lol !Well done to you for hanging in there!
xxx

ZTD

calmspirit wrote: »

lol yeah am apparently eating so well that I have 340 quid a month to play with ! Oh and I heat the house and pay council tax with beans!

I'd be going back and chasing them up about those other expenses. Disposable income is income *after* the essentials have been paid for.

Eating: It's for life - not just for Christmas.

Seaxwyn

Is the sum for 'dependents' meant to include eating?

calmspirit

lol ZTD.....you eat at christmas ??? shhhhh dont tell my kids!
but yes I think a letter detailing my expenses is in order to them, I sense however that they will get every penny they can off me while ex is living a life of luxury with his new gf and baby

I reckon the 396 'dependants' is suposed to cover all essentials? I really have to look again....I am spending far to much on them.......will have to reduce their bread and water intake methinks!

ZTD

Seaxwyn wrote: »

Is the sum for 'dependents' meant to include eating?

So you're not allowed to eat unless you have kids?

calmspirit

ZTD wrote: »

So you're not allowed to eat unless you have kids?

oh I didnt think of that!!!