Desperate, desperate situation with no help

sacha28

I am currently in a situation that I don't know how to get out of. I swallowed my pride and asked for help, yet was turned down as I am not on benefits (crying).

On Monday I ran out of gas (emergency credit gone too) despite my topping up a grand total of £100 since 25/11:eek: I never knew we could use so much gas in less than a month, bearing in mind that half of our radiators are switched off and the heating is used for 2 hours in the morning, 2 hours in the evening. We don't switch it on any other time as we simply cannot afford it.

I have a 21 month old son who currently has a chest infection. I am unable to heat my house, unable to cook him a hot meal, unable to bath him, unable to even do my washing up. I own an electric fan heater but don't have the electric to use it.

I applied for a crisis support payment of £60 on Monday as I feel that we have reached a crisis but they refused as we are not on any kind of benefit and, in their words, we earn sufficient amounts to be able to survive. This would be true if our outgoings weren't so high and our wages weren't so varied from month to month (last month both of our wages were about £150 down on the previous months wages making us £300 down and this is what has stuffed us)

This is now day 5 of no gas, we have 3 more days to go until payday. My first hope is that my son's health doesn't deteriorate due to our house being

I feel ashamed that I have even got to the position where I have had to ask for help, I feel devastated that we are not worthy of that help as we have dared to work hard for a living.

Sorry for what appears to just be a rant, I feel beaten

pinkneonmartini

I'm so sorry, what an awful situation to be in!

I had a boiler die in December and had no heating or hot water for 3 months, so can sympathise!

Is there no one you can go to for support? Even just borrowing £10 to put on the electric meter?

Have you approached your bank? existing lenders? trying asking for credit card limits to be increased? overdraft extended? I'm sure if you explain the situation and can prove that you have steady incomes then they would be able to give you atleast enough to get your electricity back on.

sacha28

If those were an option I wouldn't feel so out of my depth. We both have basic BA's, no CC's and no option of those facilities as we took out a DRO each in Jan (we were both left with debts from previous relationships. His were joint but she's on benefit so he is liable for them, I was taken for a ride by my ex who took out several things without my knowledge)

I borrowed £30 2 weeks ago and put it on the gas card. This was from my closest friend but I don't feel I could ask her again as she isn't exactly rolling in it.

I just don't know where to turn

pinkneonmartini

you could try these http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/benefits_w/benefits_help_if_on_a_low_income_ew/the_discretionary_assistance_fund/emergency_assistance_payments_w.htm

They've replaced the crisis payments and you don't have to be on benefits to qualify for them

Growurown

I know this might not be the answer you are looking for but have you thought of asking for some help from social services. They are there to help and your child's health is at risk.

Could you go to CAB and see if they have any contacts with charities etc. who might be willing to help or a local church group. If you have a food bank in your area you could get some help with food too.

You could also try and speak to your gas supplier and see if there is any help they can give you. I'm sure they have some sort of emergency process especially where the under 5's are concerned, and it is a health issue.

sacha28

Thanks for the link pink, unfortunately that help is for Wales

shop-to-drop

Have you got anything you can sell/pawn?

Could either of your workplaces give you an advance?

Can you go stay with family over Christmas?

sacha28

Growurown wrote: »

I know this might not be the answer you are looking for but have you thought of asking for some help from social services. They are there to help and your child's health is at risk.

Could you go to CAB and see if they have any contacts with charities etc. who might be willing to help or a local church group. If you have a food bank in your area you could get some help with food too.

You could also try and speak to your gas supplier and see if there is any help they can give you. I'm sure they have some sort of emergency process especially where the under 5's are concerned, and it is a health issue.

I have spoken to BG and they weren't really that interested. Quite rightly they have blamed the 15 year old boiler that is in our property (we have approached the LA about getting this replaced but they have said the LL is totally against that idea as it still works and passes it's safety checks).

Foodwise, we're ok. I always fill the freezer with meat and veg when I get paid, it's being able to cook it on my gas cooker that is the problem.

As for SS? Believe me, in my devastated crying mess when the gas ran out, my first thought was that my son needed to live with someone who could afford to keep him safe. This isn't going to happen but that just shoved me further into an emotional mess as my son is my priority and I'm letting him down.

I don't know how many more tears I can cry. I just cannot believe that, as someone who has had a full time job since I was 16 and have never claimed anything, we could be left in this situation by a government that apparently cares.

shop-to-drop

Just spotted it is only 3 days to pay day.

In that case, blankets, snuggle in bed and hot water bottles. Like the above poster we too a broken boiler one winter and had no hot water or heating for about 3 months until we could get it fixed. We have three children and we survived. Not fun but character building and toughens you up. I grew up in a house with no double glazing or central heating so knew we could survive.

It also makes you much more aware to be more prepared in future. We still aren't perfect but it was a lesson learned.

sacha28

shop-to-drop wrote: »

Have you got anything you can sell/pawn?

Could either of your workplaces give you an advance?

Can you go stay with family over Christmas?

We sold everything we could before taking out the DRO, on advice of the CAB, so we could clear some of the amounts to make us under the £15000 you are allowed to owe. We literally have nothing worth selling any more.

As for advances, I'm not sure how the NHS goes about this? I'm an A&E nurse, my OH works for our trust's patient transport service so we would both need to go to them but don't know if they do that sort of thing. I've never been in a mess bad enough to consider that but thank you for the point, may be worth trying to find out.

duchy

It is three days to payday ...... grit your teeth visit friends , sit in the libarary (most have toys as well as books) anywhere that has heating and is free -candles do throw out some heat -if you have some -light them. If you can get in at the CAB they may have resources they can offer -also try ringing the Salvation Army . I've being where you are -the working poor are often much worse off than those on benefits. There are things you can do long term but for now focus on getting to payday.

Do you work in a hospital? If you do would the hospital social workers have some ideas ? Just a thought.