The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

monnagran

Nutty: You won't forget Christmas 2014 in a hurry will you? Can only echo what others have said - That was a rotten thing to do to staff on Christmas Day. They must have known what was on the cards and given people a hint of what was to come. Guess they didn't want people jumping ship at the busiest time of the year. You know we are all here for you, don't you? Rant, rave and weep all you like here, we will hug, understand and weep with you. Then ww will be as positive as we can be to help you. Chin up.

Kidcat: I think you were remarkably generous to give your DM a steam mop. I would have been tempted to give a tin of polish, some rubber gloves and a pinafore. And what is wrong with wearing jammies all day? Give me half a chance!

Most of you seem to have had a good day and we can be thakful for that. We had a good service at midnight on Christmas Eve and a packed house for the Christmas Morning service, enlivened by the Rev and the organist wearing identical stupid Christmas jumpers. Not planned which made it funnier.
We got home, put on the TV and both fell asleep. Woke up, ate our steak and chips and went back to sleep again. Woke up, toasted crumpets, watched a bit of the TV that we'd slept through before and dragged ourselves off to bed before 8.30. And so we celebrated Christmas.

We have DS2 and family arriving Monday (probably) and then we do Christmas properly.

Until then I will be doing what you have already done. Wish me luck.

x

ivyleaf

Good luck monnagran Have a lovely time with DS and family :snow_grin

burtha

Nutty: alful news ,fingers crossed you get sorted out sooner rather than later . keep posting on here,its so good to wright things down and know that your not alone (so to speak) this place has saved me swinging of a high bridge a few times ,
We the house now just has me dh youngest dd and ds ....its so nice :j 16 here yesterday most didn't leave till very late last night ,then most came back this morning ..just gone 30 mins ago after all feed and watered lol ....no doubt more will come home after watching the football ....perhaps I can hide

Merry Christmas to you all

PS if its any help my mum also makes comments if kids still in Pjs past 10am ...must admit its like water of a ducks back now ...fingers in ears I carnt hear you

X

mama67

Knit_Witch wrote: »

Anything from a week to a year , depends on the administrators and how things stand. Get your OH signed on as soon as though, he may not get money BUT he should get his "stamp" paid at least

Also even if not claiming tax credits now claim those as well as might qualify you for free prescriptions and dentists etc.
When signing on should also get forms for housing/council tax benefit

Can't remember if your DD2 is still at college but also contact them as might have a bursary scheme which could help with transport/meals etc if she is

Hopefully things won't take too long to sort, keep copies of anything sent in though regarding claim for pay etc, as forms can and do get lost.

nuttyp

thanks everyone, never had to claim or sign on so all a bit new to us. DD is 19 and still in full time education at collage.
Tried the entitled website and it says we aren't getting anything. I work full time on around 15k a year so that's why I suppose. Our rent is £77 a week with the local council. In one way as we both have been bankrupt we have no debts as such. So I suppose we are better off than most.


OH has a meeting Monday at 6am, we will know more then. He intends to go straight to another company and see if they still have some jobs going. The only thing will be that he needs to do another driving test for a lorry.


Well I am home sitting in my pj's and feeling very sorry for myself. I have a cold and a major cough and a headache. All related to this worry but tbh its the 3rd cold ive had, or its just the forst one comeing and going as it pleases!!!!!


Take care all, off for a hot bath and soak.

silvasava

Just been catching up as had visitors from last Saturday until this morning when we took them back to the airport. Both DH & I both shattered - not used to coping with lively 6yr & 2 1/2yr that don't go to bed until about 10pm!
Nutty - what absolutely sh#tty news. Can only offer support & hugs & the hope that a better door opens.
Kidcat - Brill -would love to have seen Mothers face! If she gives you household goods she can't complain haha
Too late to wish everyone a Merry Christmas but hope the rest of the holiday is great for you all - you've all put so much time and effort in for your families you all deserve standing ovations
Love and Hugs to you all xx

meanmarie

So sorry to hear your news nutty......at least you can barely manage on what you earn, I am sure that OH will get something soon.....but make full use of the shoulders here to rant when/if you need to.

Kidcat....congratulations, you played a blinder re parents!

Feeling tired with all our visitors, DS1, DDIL1, DGD2 hear tomorrow for an overnight, as DD2 and family are off home very early Sunday morning....and then back to what passes for normal here....found the whole thing so tiring here, probably not as fully recovered as I thought.

Regards to all

Marie

kidcat

Nutty, at 15k you would surely qualify for working tax credits, make sure you get good advice and claim just in case. You should hopefully get some rent paid as well which is a benefit that opens doors to other benefits. If you lived closer there are places here talking on I believe, and of course with any luck they will find a buyer for the company now is been all over the news. I know it's easy to say but I hope you both get some rest this weekend before Monday hits.

We have snow here tonight, our friend came to dinner and then the snow started. The kids were so thrilled, the cats were very confused and OH looks glum. He is leaving at22.30am to drive to London so is not happy about the snow. DS16 had promised he will climb into shed tomorrow to retrieve the sledges and we can spend the day playing. I popped to shops today as we had run out of bananas yet again and bread, so I don't need to go anywhere and have no plans other than play and relax. There are plenty of leftovers so I won't be cooking.

Sending hugs to you all and thanks for all the support you all share with us all. Take care in the snow and ice this weekend .

nursemaggie

Nutty You should get the following, working tax credit, child tax credit until DD2 is 20, some housing benefit and council tax credit. You should claim all of those in your name. You can claim them on line so put in all you claims over the weekend, then you will be first in the queue on the day they go back. Of all the departments I have had to deal with since I left my husband Tax credits have been the most helpful. You will have to phone them when the offices open because they are the only department that know no one ever gets paid after a company goes into receivership.

It always happens like this when the official receiver is brought in. The company is told to say nothing to anyone. It has nothing to do with the time of year or them being mean it is just procedure. Employees are right at the end of the queue of creditors.

DWP will assume you will get it despite the proof that it is rare as hens teeth. When your DH gets a new job you must tell each department. Tax credits and housing benefit will then reassess you. If his pay is low you may still get a little bit. It is important you make the claims in your name. It could take 6 months longer if your DH does it because he is entitled to holiday pay and overtime. Tell him not to mention redundancy pay because a company that can afford to make all it's staff redundant does not go bankrupt. It will only delay his JSA of 12 months or more.

If you get working tax credits you will automatically get free dentistry and vouchers for glasses. Take advantage of them as soon as you can.

It is well worth going to CAB and checking everything out. They do seem to be a little ignorant on benefits when you have an older child. As long as DD is in full time none advanced education you are entitled to benefits for her. The day she becomes 20 she has to claim for herself.

And this is where I came in. In other words I joined MSE when DS hit 20. Child benefit goes not stop as long as your DD is at college. She should get that until the first Monday in September next year.

We have had snow too.

fuddle

Nutty I am so sorry that you have been caught up in the closure of the courier company. It was a disgustingly timed announcement. Given I know how little a BR has to live on, I know that you can cut your cloth accordingly and get through this period. You've been there, done it and got through it in worse circumstances eh? I hope you can access some financial help and if not, you will have alsorts of strategies stored in your memory for coping that will manifest themselves into ease of action when, and if, they are needed.

Was due to deliver care yesterday - working 7am till 1pm. Cue no life at all in my car at 6.45am Boxing Day morning. Quick call to emergency phone, special permission granted to break the rules in order to deliver care, which resulted in a husband chauffeur and two children with me on my run. Battery charged and had a run out but I think it's a new battery needed as yesterday was the first real cold snap and it obviously couldn't cope.

We'll have to deal with it properly next week as we're leaving for Durham in the next few hours. It's been a sudden decision namely as we both have the next 5 days off. We're taking the girls up to stay with MIL till New Years Eve so DH and I can relax, switch off and enjoy time together. It's really very difficult having the children constantly without a break so it wil do us all good. We're staying with MIL Sat night then coming back down on Sunday. Thing is though I tried to deal with the feelings of not telling my lot we were coming up but it was effecting me too much. Last night I arranged to meet mam at sisters house for an hour but that wasn't good enough and soon got rail roaded into going out for a meal. Fact is I don't want to see them, have no desire to spend any time with them but, for their sakes, I agreed. I was in tears of angry frustration last night. I called mam up and insisted that I was coming up for me, it will be on my terms and I will be going to MIL's after the hour, as planned, so I can kick back, have home cooked food made for me, enjoy a chin wag and laugh and have some other people watch out for my kids while I do so.

Food over Christmas was not indulgent at all. We had a lovely Christmas dinner made by DH. It was simple with the addition of the cranberry sauce I made a while back and pigs in blankets. We had lamb which was a nice change. We had left overs so had a second dinner yesterday.

I'm getting itchy feet in that I feel like I need to organise, reorganise and rid of more clutter. Truth being I don't have much clutter left but I do feel like I need to simplify more by having everything in it's place and only having what we need. I can see the New Year as a real 'coming home' in that all I have learned these few years will be coming into practise as a normality, as a way of life and not just a practise or learning curve. The Not Buying It thread has really got to me to be fair and DH is really on side now. With my promotion comes a salary. The only thing I want in this life is home security. I don't know how to go about it, time is running out for the traditional way, but I want to save for it and try to figure out how to achieve it.