Wages don't cover the basic bills

SnooksNJ

Ianwindowman wrote: »

we work 30+hours between us
the kids dont like packed lunches, besides, we wouldnt save much money there . and if we did. we have plenty of other bills. i only wrote the basic ones.
we constantly try to increase working hours, but the work isnt there

I am old school because if I told my parents give me money for a school lunch because I don't like box lunches they would say tough.

Bogof_Babe

Seems a shame if the kids have to have cold lunches during this current really cold weather. Even a flask of soup would be better than just sandwiches etc.

chelle_bell

Ianwindowman wrote: »

jan11-jan12 was approx 21k as i was employed
jan12-jan13 was approx 6000
yeah they know we have two children

we must have made an error somewhere on the forms. we couldnt understand most of it! but who could go through the forms with us to see if we did make an error??

The tax year runs from April to April, so just now we're tax year 12/13, in April we will be 13/14. The current tax credits you get are always based on the previous tax year. So, in the previous tax year (11/12) you had earnings of 21k, meaning you are getting a reduced amount because your wages were high. And when it gets to April you will get moved onto the 13/14 amount. Does that make sense?

I'm not 100% on this but it sounds like thats whats happened. Phone the tax credits helpline, if they say thats what you are entitled to, fair enough, but ask them if thats based on 11/12 income. And ask what the amount will be in the new tax year in April. Because that isn't too far away.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Miss_Havisham

does the children's dad pay child support ?

sammyjammy

Ianwindowman wrote: »

not sure about the council. would cab know all about this sort of thing? as you get no info whatsoever from the jobcentre benefits advisers

That's because they are not Benefit advisors, their job is to help people Back to Work.

As an aside I do wonder why DWP doesn't have a benefits expert in each Jobcentre, it would solve an awful lot of problems.

Pipichka

Ianwindowman wrote: »

not sure about the council. would cab know all about this sort of thing? as you get no info whatsoever from the jobcentre benefits advisers

CAB Are VERY good! We went there recently, they set us up an appointment with a specialist benefits advisor, who looked through everything, in come, rent, etc and gave us a write up of exactly what we were entitled to. Not only that, but once we had applied he told us that if we did not receive the estimates that he made, to contact him and he would tackle them directly!
They are also largely volunteer run, so the majority of staff are genuinely there because they want to help!:T

Good Luck!

flight747

Ianwindowman wrote: »

we will just go on the dole and get everything we have ever wanted. we give up

I agree with you, I don't blame u. But I think you should get £126 a week on child tax credits because u had two children. Ring up tax credits if I were u.

Viberduo

Most of your questions are answered but £80 pw is crazy high for food since my parents can spend less than half and feed the same amount of people with massive portions but thats because they cook home made meals. and still throw stuff out at end of week.

I guess your food is processed and pre made and that would be why

[Deleted User]

Ianwindowman wrote: »

we will just go on the dole and get everything we have ever wanted. we give up

so another troll

dawn_rose

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Seems a shame if the kids have to have cold lunches during this current really cold weather. Even a flask of soup would be better than just sandwiches etc.

In the school my kids go to flasks of anything hot are banned. (health and safety) my kids have packed lunches and a hot meal at home for tea. At weekends they get a hot dinner and a hot tea in winter.