Help and Advice Needed

Missb12

So it seems the summer is over for us!
Ok so my partner as lost his job, he's applied for JSA (takes 2-3 weeks). I'm on Maternity leave getting about £750 a month + Child benefit £80 a month. I've asked for Tax credits forms this process could take 5 + weeks. Housing benefit forms on the way could take another 3 weeks +.
So here comes the problems Rent Private Landlord through agent rent due 25th £525. Council Tax due £115 28th. Water rates £50 due 28th. Other bills of over £200 due, plus food etc. We’re in debt with payday loans due 25th for over £350. What’s the best we should do, Landlord does not accept HB, so do we pay that. Which is fine if this a short term thing or do we not pay rent explain situation and worse thing we need to be re housed into Council property (very tempting cause it seems you don't get one if you work). How are we meant to life till all benefits start rolling in! Our daughter is 6 months old. Oh and the car Tax and MOT is due end of month...... We live in a rural area so need car to sign on, interviews if my partner gets any!!!! Any ideas?

Poppie68

Missb12 wrote: »

So it seems the summer is over for us!
Ok so my partner as lost his job, he's applied for JSA (takes 2-3 weeks). I'm on Maternity leave getting about £750 a month + Child benefit £80 a month. I've asked for Tax credits forms this process could take 5 + weeks. Housing benefit forms on the way could take another 3 weeks +.
So here comes the problems Rent Private Landlord through agent rent due 25th £525. Council Tax due £115 28th. Water rates £50 due 28th. Other bills of over £200 due, plus food etc. We’re in debt with payday loans due 25th for over £350. What’s the best we should do, Landlord does not accept HB, so do we pay that. Which is fine if this a short term thing or do we not pay rent explain situation and worse thing we need to be re housed into Council property (very tempting cause it seems you don't get one if you work). How are we meant to life till all benefits start rolling in! Our daughter is 6 months old. Oh and the car Tax and MOT is due end of month...... We live in a rural area so need car to sign on, interviews if my partner gets any!!!! Any ideas?

Are you able to go back to work early? I don't know where you have heard that working people can't get council housing, plenty of council tenants are employed. The problem for you is that it could take you years to actually get offered a property, it's not an overnight process. Also if you stop paying your rent and get evicted, they will more than likely see it as you intentionally making yourselves homeless.

cateerob

If I was you I would pay your rent, leave the rest for now, the wont cut you of for missing a month, you don't want to get evicted and the council will not rehouse you until you have been evicted and then you may end up in a B&B, not ideal with a baby. Could you not go back to work early now your husband is at home?

quidsy

council tax can be suspended whilst housing claim goes through, speak to them abou ti.

As for the rest, pay rent & urgent bills, payday loan is a must imo as the interest is horrific.

Is there nothing you can sell on ebay, clothes, TV, laptops, tablets etc? to tide you over till the payments get processed?

Missb12

I could go back to work, however this would take at least another month minimum as I have to give notice I wish to go back earlier than planned. My biggest problem is that any benefits we're entitled to won't kick in til over a month. I talking about short term problem's. I just wondered if anyone had any advice on which way to turn. I'm not going to make our self homeless. I have £750 to pay for everything. If I don't pay some then I will get charged, which doesn't help the situation.

Missb12

I'll try and sell stuff, but got a feeling internets gonna get cut off soon if I don't pay the bill....

DigForVictory

Please have a lok at this - it may not add £ to the situation, but may save you some:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/527092

pmlindyloo

Missb12 wrote: »

So it seems the summer is over for us!
Ok so my partner as lost his job, he's applied for JSA (takes 2-3 weeks). I'm on Maternity leave getting about £750 a month + Child benefit £80 a month. I've asked for Tax credits forms this process could take 5 + weeks. Housing benefit forms on the way could take another 3 weeks +.
So here comes the problems Rent Private Landlord through agent rent due 25th £525. Council Tax due £115 28th. Water rates £50 due 28th. Other bills of over £200 due, plus food etc. We’re in debt with payday loans due 25th for over £350. What’s the best we should do, Landlord does not accept HB, so do we pay that. Which is fine if this a short term thing or do we not pay rent explain situation and worse thing we need to be re housed into Council property (very tempting cause it seems you
don't get one if you work). How are we meant to life till all benefits start rolling in! Our daughter is 6 months old. Oh and the car Tax and MOT is due end of month...... We live in a rural area so need car to sign on, interviews if my partner gets any!!!! Any ideas?

You will need to priortise things.

First of all rent. Your landlord will not know that you receive HB as it is paid directly to you. You could telephone him/her and say that your husband has lost his job but you have applied for help with the rent and ask for some time to pay. He cannot serve you with a notice for possession unless you have 2 months of rent arrears. Even if he says that he does not want to continue your tenancy (maybe receiving HB is contrary to his house insurance for example) then he cannot serve you with a possession order if you are still in a fixed term and would need to give you 2 months notice if you are on a month to month 'rolling' tenancy. You will receive your HB before this happens so put this to one side for the moment.

All other bills. Ring your creditors and explain the situation. Ask for some leeway. Most creditors are happy to help as long as you keep them informed.

Payday loans are possibly the exception here and because of the high interest rate may need to be paid. Anything you can sell? Borrow from family?

You may find you are in credit with your water company or electric/gas. If you are in credit with the water company ask for the money!

Unlikely to do the same with gas/electricity but more likely to give you time to pay (don't forget to cancel DD and then reinstate)

Tax and MOT are more difficult. Depends how rural you are. Work out cost of taxi for necessary journeys - no buses? Cadge a lift?

You will have to be inventive for the next few weeks so use what money you have for the essentials.

Good luck!

quidsy

Cutting outgoing are easy really, get rid of sky, call up internet & phone provider, ask them if there is a better cheaper tariff you can go on, get rid of any gym memberships, walk or public transport where possible to save parking & petrol costs. Look at your food cupboard & freezer items, make a list then find meal stretcher receipes, learn to budget, buy at end of day when items are reduced & only what you need, use half the meat for example in a bolognaise sauce, most receipes call for 500g I use 250g, it makes no difference to the taste & is better for you & more cost effective. Bulk out meals with cheap seasonal veg, make stews, casseroles, batch cook large quantities & freeze, buy reduced bread & ham then freeze straight away with some parchment paper seperating the slices so that youc an just take & defrost as & when you need a slice. This will cut down on wastage.

FBaby

How are we meant to life till all benefits start rolling in!

I think everyone is expected to save some money for emergency when they work so that if they are suddenly out of work they have a -small- egg nest to keep them going until they get benefits???

wildwestfan

Does he expect a final paycheck? Holiday entitlement etc?

I think with a £750 a month income you may be disappointed with the benefits you will get.