help needed just seperated where to start

hannah29_2

Apologies for the long story but here goes.... me and hubby have been together 10 years but have not been getting on for the last few years, we have 2 children youngest is 7 and is his, older one is 15 and not his.

He is a contractor and earns good money when working, there has been occasions when he has been out of work and we have had to live off credit cards. at them times he has not been able to claim any benefits due to earning too much within the tax year, so therefore had no choice but to use credit to survive.

He lost his last contract 4 months ago and has not been able to get another. we have been living off money he has earnt in the past but that has now ran out.

i work part time and earn £700 a month.

we live in private rented accomodation which costs 950pcm. we only moved in 2 months ago as our last rented property we were in got repossessed so had to find somewhere quick. we are tied in a 6 month contract.

we have a house in another area of which the sale is going through (fingers crossed) which will give us approx 34k in equity between us. (another reason we cant get any help)

i have approx 22k in credit debts and he has approx 26k, all of which are now shouting at the door. we have been selling things left right and centre for the last 2 months to keep our heads above water.

He has now walked out and is not coming back and cannot contribute anything. i have no idea where he has gone.

i decided to focus on my own debts, the children and what we need so i have been to the cab this morning who have made me an appointment for next week. they gave me a personal budget sheet to fill in which i have just done.

the result per month is as follows:

total income: 1217.80
essential outgoings: 2122.21 (i have included food in this total even though they dont class this as an essential outgoing!!!)

this does not include any debts for credit or store cards. i am in the process of writing to them to ask for some grace and to freeze it for 6 months.

these results are just mine and the children as i cant afford to sort his too.

i have no idea what to do next. i asked about a crisis loan at the cab just so i could get the rent and bills paid for july in the hope the house sale will have gone through by then and i can pay it back, but they dont do this any more. they suggested a budgeting loan until i pointed out to them i cant get that as have not been claiming benefits.

i have tried on numerous occasions to phone the tax credits helpline to order a form but once i get through it tells me its not available at this time please call back!

i am now considering a payday loan just to get me through unless anyone else can advise

hannah

BitterAndTwisted

Hannah, I think you would get more helpful contributions if you posted this over in the Debt Free Wannabe pat of the forum. There are a number of more experienced people there who can advise on your options.

I have only one thing to say to you and it is this: STAY AWAY FROM PAY-DAY LENDERS! Those sorts of debts just postpone the inevitable and will make the next month even more impossible to resolve than the current one.

Guest101

Crisis loans definitely do exist.

You may be able to get the tax credits form from the local JC+.

If you're married, i assume you are, then your debts and his debts, are jointly your debts.

You need him tracked down for CSA payments asap.

How do you have an income of 1200, when you make 700 pm? and how do you have 2k+ outgoings, rent 950, bills 300, s800+ on food? I may be wrong ofcourse, but...

And food is defintely an essential spend

DS4215

You need to split the debts into 3 piles; yours, his and joint. You will have to pay yours, but you are also jointly responsible for any joint debts so they can chase you for them.

If you go to DFW and post a full statement of affairs the people on there will be able to look at ways to help you out.

pmlindyloo

First of all you can claim for HB and CT reduction whilst your house is being sold as they can ignore this capital until the house is sold.

Your HB will be assessed on the Local Housing Allowance for your family make up. You can look this up on your local council website. It may be that your rent is in excess of the Local Housing Allowance. If this is the case then you must ask about Discretionary Housing Payment as you are locked into a 6 month contract and cannot afford the rent.

You must also put in a claim for Council Tax Reduction plus the single person's discount.

Plus, you must make a single claim for tax credits. As long as you are working 16 hours or more you will be eligible for working and child tax credits. It is very important that you so this asap as they will need the tax credits award to assess your HB.

As regards your debts you must write to your creditors and explain the situation. Say that you have an appointment with CAB and you would ask that they stop any further action until you have had your appointment.

In times like this it is always best to inform people who you owe money to and ask for their help until you get yourself sorted out financially. What they do not like is not being kept informed.

Do not forget that your ex needs to pay some Child Support. Despite his debts (they have nothing to do with you if they are in his name) he must provide for his child. It is up to him to get help with his debts so there is sufficient money to support his child. Any child support will have no effect on benefits.

Hopefully the money from the sale of the house will put you in a better position financially. Good luck with it all.

Dunroamin

Guest101 wrote: »

Crisis loans definitely do exist.

You may be able to get the tax credits form from the local JC+.

If you're married, i assume you are, then your debts and his debts, are jointly your debts.

You need him tracked down for CSA payments asap.

How do you have an income of 1200, when you make 700 pm? and how do you have 2k+ outgoings, rent 950, bills 300, s800+ on food? I may be wrong ofcourse, but...

And food is defintely an essential spend

Only if they're in joint names and marriage doesn't come into it.

Shovel_Lad

Guest101 wrote: »

Crisis loans definitely do exist.

Crisis loans do not exist anymore.
They have been replaced by local support from local councils.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/help_with_housing_costs/social_fund_grants_and_loans/crisis_loans

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/help_with_housing_costs/cash_in_a_crisis

hannah29_2

ok i get 733 wages + 350 maintenance from my eldest daughters father + 134 from child benefit.

outgoings consist of 950 on rent 170 on council tax, 58 on water, 12 tv license, 10 contents insurance, 80 gas and electric, 125 car hp (which is in his name but i cant work without) 550 on all food, cleaning, clothes, dinner money etc, approx 90 a month on fuel, car tax and insurance.

we have no joint debts as when we met he was unable to get credit, i was, and stupidly it built up. Also as he worked away alot it was easier for me to run the household and deal with things so i sorted them, hence my name is on alot of things.

i am not fussed about getting blacklisted for no credit as before i met him i was single with children and never lived on credit. i can do without it and am perfectly happy too, i am just scared about losing somewhere to live for me and the children

RAS

Go to www.turn2us.org.uk

Ring tax credits again NOW and put in a single claim.

What is the Local Housing Allowance as listed here http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/RentOfficers/LHADirect.html ?

You need to claim CT discount, CTB and LHA via your local Councils web-site. Can you do that today?

hannah29_2

RAS wrote: »

Go to www.turn2us.org.uk

Ring tax credits again NOW and put in a single claim.

What is the Local Housing Allowance as listed here http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/RentOfficers/LHADirect.html ?

You need to claim CT discount, CTB and LHA via your local Councils web-site. Can you do that today?

thanks i will try and thanks all for your help and reading i feel quite a bit better just reading these things. Its not easy trying to run the house, look after the kids, work and sort out this mess alone. Thankyou

RAS

It is not easy and you may well be a bit shell-shocked but the priority is getting money coming in to the house ASAP>

Is there anyone who can take the kids or at least the youngest for a few hours if necessary?