Expecting my first call from StepChange would like some info...

Dubluv

I am in debt to about 120k after I lost my job back in 2010.
I contacted StepChange last week after seeking advice on this board and have a phone interview set up.
There are a few things Id like to know.
I am claiming jobseekers due to being out of work but have been part time at college and now university. I have received bursaries along this time and done occasional week or two and some occasional days of temp work, which when it went on for at least a week I informed the JSA office - I was always made to sign off then submit a new application each time. There were days when I did not declare. That might sound harmless enough but I got paid around £300 per day and my bursaries do pay for books, my travel and costs to go to uni. Which I ensure I go almost every day - though my course is less than the 15 hours per week required to be part time.
I know this is all a bit dishonest, and the work was back in around 2011 and I don't take it anymore, but if the system would make it easier for me to accept day to day work by docking me instead of having to be re interviewed and provide a wealth of documentation after only a week away. I also, at the time, was very peeved that I paid taxes etc for 27 years and got treated like a total sponge when I needed help I was made to beg for benefits some 6 months after my redundancy, lost my house and am now officially homeless as I sleep between my girlfriends house, and family as I cant afford a deposit for my own place. From this september I hope to go to uni full time if my results are good.
Anyway, will I get all this money checked on my account if I head towards BR? The account has now went into a bad debt and I operate a new basic account as a result.
I also own a motorcycle I use to get me to uni - will I be allowed to keep it?
Any money extra I did get I got stuff for my new born daughter, like a cot, a pram etc. Do these things get looked at - I mean my debit card expenditure? And will they take things as assets?
Thanks for looking.
D

Rylynn

Goodness where do I start.

I am going to ignore some of your post as I cannot answer it I hope the people phoning you will be able to help on those matters.

On the motorcycle how much is it worth?

On cots and beds, no they will not take those away as assets, they would not make a baby lose it's cot. If you can prove these are the things you bought all the better, but no they will not take them away.

As for the other points I am really sorry I have no qualified knowledge to reply to them. Being dishonest does always though have a way of catching up with people, and you may have to face the music on that. Lets be honest if you were being paid £300 per day you should have been declaring that.

RL

Dubluv

Thanks.
The money did go on things for my child and my debit card does prove that. I only did 3 days work like that over the space of 6 months and when I signed off after my week long stints I never signed back on right away once I stopped work. It was all just more of an inconvenience / didn't get around to it thing.

Anyways I will be signing off for good come September and trying to live on student loans. I just thought after working for such a long time and never having claimed before I might have gotten help with trying to re educate myself - but they were dead set against it.

The motorcycle is worth about 6k and while it might be extravagant it is very reliable and takes me to uni everyday and works out way cheaper than getting 4 busses each day. It was completely paid for in cash with my redundancy as my only mode of transport I knew would be cheap enough to sustain when I had no money, my insurance is only about £90 a year and I maintain the bike myself.

I guess I just have to wait and see what the interviewer says. I hope not to get into trouble over it and I don't keep very good records of anything. I have been drifting through these last few years trying not to concern myself with my circumstances but when I leave uni I will be earning a good salary again and would like to rebuild my life and not live as I have been.

D

Rylynn

I wish you the very best of luck, and I hope after uni you can get back to an even keel and be debt free and happy.

Let us know how the interview goes and if you need any more questions answered there is always someone who will be able to help you here, they are all wonderful people they saw me thru BR back in 2008.