Heating oil help when on benefits?

brittone05

I wish I had a family who would offer to help hun - I don't have any family in my life and my husband's family are not able to help us.

I am not in a position to work - I am my husband's carer and also don't drive. Living 8 miles away from the nearest town/shop makes working quite difficult in itself x

FBaby

I know I am going to be flamed again for this, and I do sympathise with your situation OP, but your question is any help with heating costs when on benefits and you are already getting help. If not through winter payments, through the DLA your husband will be getting.

There is often debate on this forum about what DLA costs are for, and many explains that being disabled means that they have higher electric/gas costs. That's fair enough and what DLA is indeed for.

I do feel for you in that noone is perfect and sometimes our budgeting skills fail us. I've been there, but that's where the issue lies, in insuring that you budget your income to take into consideration all likely circumstances, including a very cold winter rather than expecting more benefits on top on what it is already providing for.

Like many people who are struggling to pay their heating bill, you will have to look at how you can juggle your other bills, see what you can sell, see if friends would be prepared to loan you the money etc...

beecher2

Can only suggest purchasing a heater which can be used to keep one room warm, and posting on Debt Free Wannabee for help in budgeting in order to put enough aside to afford the oil you'd need in a severe winter.

brittone05

FBaby wrote: »

I know I am going to be flamed again for this, and I do sympathise with your situation OP, but your question is any help with heating costs when on benefits and you are already getting help. If not through winter payments, through the DLA your husband will be getting.

There is often debate on this forum about what DLA costs are for, and many explains that being disabled means that they have higher electric/gas costs. That's fair enough and what DLA is indeed for.

I do feel for you in that noone is perfect and sometimes our budgeting skills fail us. I've been there, but that's where the issue lies, in insuring that you budget your income to take into consideration all likely circumstances, including a very cold winter rather than expecting more benefits on top on what it is already providing for.

Like many people who are struggling to pay their heating bill, you will have to look at how you can juggle your other bills, see what you can sell, see if friends would be prepared to loan you the money etc...

My husband doesn't receive DLA.

We get ESA which, between debts that we were left with when his health saw his business go under and general day to day living expenses ( no 50" TV's and such like - we live very basic lifestyles ) doesn't really leave us a great deal to save. I have started the MSA sealed pot challenge to help towards the oil costs though.

We do have an electric heater in the living room but the problem with this is that we are now using in excess of £30-£40 per week in electricity which is not something we can afford to do either.

Kind of stuck between a rock anda hard place but appreciate everyones input so far x

xylophone

In the longer term, could you consider moving to a ground floor flat with gas central heating and near enough to town to enable you to look for part time work?
For the moment, is it possible to set up a regular payments plan with your supplier?

Would your husband qualify for DLA?

FBaby

brittone05 wrote: »

My husband doesn't receive DLA.

We get ESA which, between debts that we were left with when his health saw his business go under and general day to day living expenses ( no 50" TV's and such like - we live very basic lifestyles ) doesn't really leave us a great deal to save. I have started the MSA sealed pot challenge to help towards the oil costs though.

We do have an electric heater in the living room but the problem with this is that we are now using in excess of £30-£40 per week in electricity which is not something we can afford to do either.

Kind of stuck between a rock anda hard place but appreciate everyones input so far x

Then I apologise for jumping to that conclusion. It seemed that your husband had quite serious health issues and you said you were his carer, so it was the logical assumptions. Can I ask why he is not claiming DLA?

brittone05

I don't know about my husband being able to claim DLA hun - I think he possibly could because of his mental health problems apart from the physical side.

Moving wouldn't be an option for us really - his mental health means he doesn't cope well in busier towns etc and the fact that we have 2 children under the age of 11 mean we would struggle to move to a smaller property which still enabled them to have their privacy from one another etc

I can set up regular payments but they work out at £30 ish per week according to the oil company. Add that to the cost of electricity while we don't have oil in the tank and it could prove to be something beyond what we could afford

brittone05

FBaby wrote: »

Then I apologise for jumping to that conclusion. It seemed that your husband had quite serious health issues and you said you were his carer, so it was the logical assumptions. Can I ask why he is not claiming DLA?

I don't know if he would qualify hun. I use the term carer as that is what I do - I don't recevie benefits for caring for him, it is my job as his wife IMO.

His health problems are complex and several are totally unrelated to one another. One on it's own would mean he could work but added together, he is not able to. His psychiatrist and community psychology nurse whom he sees weekly agree that his mental state is not one which would place him into society in a working position without it greatly impacting on him and those around him.

I am certainly going to look into DLA and perhaps get some help from the CAB filling in any necessary forms etc xx

FBaby

It definitely sounds like he should look into DLA. Even if he only receives the lower care component, it would be extra funds to help with heating. Once again, I apologise for jumping to the wrong conclusion as I can now understand how you can be stretched to the limit.

brittone05

Thanks FBaby

I will see if I can download the forms for DLA xx