Panic-ESA want money back-Advice please

skintmacflint

p999j wrote: »

. My credit is wrecked because I had more outgoings than income so I had no choice but debt.

Debts no matter how high, and their repayments , should be your lowest priority. Only repay what's left of your disposable income after paying your mortgage, food, utility, tv licence etc, other household/living expenses eg clothing, toiletries, internet .

Put a thread up on the debt wannabe forum and some excellent posters will help you deal with your creditors and suggest ways to save money on your other mothly outgoings. If you write to creditors and explain you are in fiancial difficulty they might not like it, but will have to accept reduced payments, even if it's just £1, and will freeze further interest.

Wahtever you do don't borrow any further. good luck.

vassa

Get rid of the TV licence and TV, they are costs that are unneeded, you could buy books instead and watch stuff on the computer for free.

You need to boil down your outgoings to what you can afford, starting with your debt - WRITE (never, ever phone) to them saying your circumstances have changed and you can only afford X amount.

You don't need to buy stuff like clothes on a regular basis, but if you do you should be going cheap.

Get every single outgoing down to the bare minimum - so get your food bill as cheap as possible by meal planning and portioning properly. Make sure you're on the best phone, internet and utility deals, make sure you're getting the cheapest insurance etc etc etc.

It's a case of seeing what you NEED and what you WANT, making the distinction, and then cutting the cloth accordingly.

pmlindyloo

I'm sorry to hear of all your problems.

First, the ESA overpayment. Hopefully you can appeal this (it looks like they are already looking into it) and they will either write it off because of an official error or you will be able to come to some arrangement based on your income and expenditure.

So, let's imagine this is all sorted

You are still left with the scenario of your income and expenditure.

I notice you have already posted a SOA on another thread so you are aware that you have a massive discrepancy between income and expenditure since you also have debts. You mentioned that you talked to Stepchange (the old CCCS debt charity?) Did you come to some arrangement with them? A DMP or token payments?

The way I see it is twofold.

Are you receiving help with your medical problems? Do you believe that you will be able to work in the future? Hopefully yes.

This matters because everything centres on your mortgage repayments. If this is a 'blip' in your working career then your mortgage lender may continue to be sympathetic and eventually you can get things on track.

However, it is your mortgage repayments that are crippling you.

Realistically you need to have a long think about the future.

Selling is an obvious answer and depending on the equity in your property may give you that fresh start which may help with your illness and lower your stress levels.

CAB may also have some ideas and access to schemes which may prevent you having to sell your property. I hope so as I know this is a really difficult decision.

Taking a lodger may be another option but you must do your sums correctly because of the possible tax implications as well as the personal inconvenience. It may not be enough income to make up the shortfall.

Owning a property and falling ill is always a difficult one in terms of benefit support but the positive side to things is that you hopefully have some capital to fall back on.

We are obsessed with owning property in this country. Renting can be a good experience and the relief of not having money worries may outweigh the benefits of owning your own home.

Wishing you better health and some luck.

p999j

Thanks all.
I have no surplus TV (like Virgin or Sky) and given that I live alone, the TV is company. Plus my eyesight and concentration are affected by my medication so I cannot read for any length of time.

Yes, I am going to go back for financial advice- I need to- I did come to agreements with some creditors but the ones that weren't too high, I kept on with the normal payments-that'll have to change.

I don't eat much and my food bills are minimal. I have plenty clothes.

I have thought about whether I need the car but I do. I have an elderly mother some distance away and because of my condition, I'm scared to take public transport (IBS). I am back and forward to hospital, doctor, etc all the time.

I have sold off surplus furniture, etc.

I feel worn out with everything, but I know there are many worse off than me- I will get by somehow.

vassa

p999j wrote: »

Thanks all.
I have no surplus TV (like Virgin or Sky) and given that I live alone, the TV is company. Plus my eyesight and concentration are affected by my medication so I cannot read for any length of time.

Yes, I am going to go back for financial advice- I need to- I did come to agreements with some creditors but the ones that weren't too high, I kept on with the normal payments-that'll have to change.

I don't eat much and my food bills are minimal. I have plenty clothes.

I have thought about whether I need the car but I do. I have an elderly mother some distance away and because of my condition, I'm scared to take public transport (IBS). I am back and forward to hospital, doctor, etc all the time.

I have sold off surplus furniture, etc.

I feel worn out with everything, but I know there are many worse off than me- I will get by somehow.

That's just an excuse, if your eyesight and concentration were so poor that you can't read a book for any length of time, should you be driving at all?

You can stare at your TV for extended periods of time? You also appear to do fine typing away on here?

You have things that are non-essential that you won't get rid of....are you going to keep paying for your TV by taking out more debt?? You can get things on your internet, which you're already paying for, for free. Watch endless documentaries, catch-up TV and things on youtube if you like?

There are also discrepancies between what you've said between both of your threads but i won't go into that.

At the end of the day your choices are to live within your means, which means getting rid of stuff you don't need and can't afford (like your TV) or to go further into debt.

I wish you the best with whatever you choose to do.

jacques_chirac

vassa wrote: »

That's just an excuse, if your eyesight and concentration were so poor that you can't read a book for any length of time, should you be driving at all?

You can stare at your TV for extended periods of time? You also appear to do fine typing away on here?

You have things that are non-essential that you won't get rid of....are you going to keep paying for your TV by taking out more debt?? You can get things on your internet, which you're already paying for, for free. Watch endless documentaries, catch-up TV and things on youtube if you like?

There are also discrepancies between what you've said between both of your threads but i won't go into that.

At the end of the day your choices are to live within your means, which means getting rid of stuff you don't need and can't afford (like your TV) or to go further into debt.

I wish you the best with whatever you choose to do.

The OP came here for help, not to be told off for having a tv!

vassa

jacques_chirac wrote: »

The OP came here for help, not to be told off for having a tv!

They got help and ignored it.

dori2o

vassa wrote: »

They got help and ignored it.

Stop being an idiot!

p999j

Thanks Dori20. Any contradiction in threads is likely down to memory problems. I have my computer on a custom very large print.

My TV is fully paid for, and frankly a second hand TV doesn't get much so ain't worth selling.

Aside from that, I don't feel the need to justify myself any further to Vassa who seems to have some obsession with TV's.

I will happily accept any constructive advice.

But NEWS!
I got in touch with the Advice Centre and THEY DO HAVE a re-application form from March to say that not only did I declare my PHI but on the form where it asks specifically about health insurance, I have stated I do receive it, and on the question asking about all income, I have cross-referenced to the Health insurance question. Massively relieved and will send on a copy to the Job Centre!

vassa

p999j wrote: »

Thanks Dori20. Any contradiction in threads is likely down to memory problems. I have my computer on a custom very large print.

My TV is fully paid for, and frankly a second hand TV doesn't get much so ain't worth selling.

Aside from that, I don't feel the need to justify myself any further to Vassa who seems to have some obsession with TV's.

I will happily accept any constructive advice.

But NEWS!
I got in touch with the Advice Centre and THEY DO HAVE a re-application form from March to say that not only did I declare my PHI but on the form where it asks specifically about health insurance, I have stated I do receive it, and on the question asking about all income, I have cross-referenced to the Health insurance question. Massively relieved and will send on a copy to the Job Centre!

:huh: I gave constructive advice, don't throw your toys out of your pram because it was advice you didn't want to hear/don't want to follow.