No benefit payment & 1st April changes.

alexandrajj

This is a serious question.

My Income Support was due last Tuesday (26th) but it didn't get paid. I rang on Tuesday and was assured it was simply an error & would be paid on weds. No payment on weds, told it would go in on thurs. rang in thurs & told it would go in that same day. It didn't. Obviously there's no payments over Easter. I've been left totally high & dry. No support agencies are open over Easter.

If I don't get a payment Tuesday morning (2nd April) then I'm totally screwed for food. My direct debits are already in a mess as they go out on 1st of the month.. I'm struggling for food now & have 3 kids. No family, no savings & pretty bare cupboards.

All my Direct debits go out on 1st of the month - housing, gas, electricity, mobile phone (so can't ring council/DWP) council tax (yep now I have to pay, I did set up a direct debit for the £18.56 but I'm going to default on first ever payment!!)

I know all support is changing from 1st April, so if I don't get a payment on 2nd April, what do I do & where do I go? When I say I might have to nick some food by next week, I'm really not kidding!!! I've never shoplifted or done any crime before. I can't believe I've been left like this. We live hand to mouth, a late benefit payment is bad but over a bank holiday has totally finished me off.

Thanks for reading

I_luv_cats

Is there a weekend number for the crisis loan team?


You can call Carers Direct on 0808 802 0202. Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends.


Read more http://www.kgbanswers.co.uk/is-there-a-weekend-number-for-the-crisis-loan-team/17299709#ixzz2P6QqXNU9


Might be worth a try.

Local Social Services.

Can you take anything to sell? (Cash Converters/CEX etc.)


Can your bank give you a temporary overdraft (or other measure) to stop any fees

mummyroysof3

Firstly do you have any family/friends that can help with the food situation. Secondly have you someone that can lend enough to pay Ito bank on Tuesday to cover direct debits to come out? I'm assuming they aren't huge ammounts but I don't know what you pay or how much your income support payment is

whitewing

As it's a bank holiday, the direct debits won't go out tomorrow, they would go out on the 2nd (assuming there is money in then to cover them).

Have you got any food at all in your cupboards? If you post a list of anything you do have in, even if it isn't much, on the Old Style board, they may give you some ideas for stretching it further.

alexandrajj

I do not have any friends and I am not in contact with my family. There's just me and my kids. I had left money in to cover direct debits but took that out on Tuesday to manage on. It was only small amount anyway. I am sending kids to local Sunday School in half an hour 'cos I know the church does a "family meal" for congregation in special days. I'm assuming there'll be one today as its Easter Sunday. We've skipped breakfast & I told kids to eat up while there. I'm hoping that'll basically sort us for today. I'm absolutely not a Christian but needs must. I feel quite bad about doing this.

You know I was watching a TV programme this week about police cells. They were handing out sandwich, crisps & warm drinks to those arrested and I thought that at least if you get caught you get food. This is so not me.

alexandrajj

White wing - I was counting on the fact direct debits don't go out until 2nd April due to the bank holiday. If money does go in on Tuesday 2nd then disaster averted. However they've told me it would 3 times now & it hasn't. I don't believe them. I feel I'm just sitting here waiting for impending doom in Tuesday. My original question was really so I will be prepared on Tuesday if if doesn't go in, so I know where to go.

whitewing

Will your bank give you a temporary overdraft to cover the direct debits? You could phone them and ask them because if they can they can probably arrange it today.

You may also want to consider cancelling your direct debits to avoid bank charges of them being unpaid. However, this will be a hassle to then have to contact companies and get them all set up again, so I'd try and get some advice first on here, as someone else may be able to point out any pitfalls of doing so that I haven't thought of.

alexandrajj

Thank you white wing - I have already tried to get a tiny overdraft to cover direct debits. You can apply online with online banking but I was turned down. Did that yesterday.

sofaspud1234

Sorry to hear of your situation, are there any food banks near you, just a thought. Good luck.

nannytone_2

i think you will find that the direct debits will have already been asked for. they wont wait til the 2nd to take then ... they take them early when there is a bank holiday. i have 4 direct debits due on 1st of the month, and they have already been takeb

richard9991

alexandrajj wrote: »

Thank you white wing - I have already tried to get a tiny overdraft to cover direct debits. You can apply online with online banking but I was turned down. Did that yesterday.

you need to speak to your bank about overdrafts online applications tend to be very stringent speaking to someone they often can overide systems in an emergency