Completed an SOA, what next? help

bonnie_2

You should be able to get housing benifit on your income, have you got the single person council tax. Some authoritys offer uniform grants. It's worth checking on this one, they are all different.
Have you considered bankruptcy, because even with cutting back, which you can't really do and live it's obvious you can't service the debts. I would make an appointment to see the cab to go through it all with them.

mrsspendalot

You can probably halve your shopping bill!! I spend less than that for a family of 5 and that includes a baby in nappies. Get over to the oldstyle board and get some great advice about shopping on a shoestring. It will save you a fortune.

tigtag02

Hi again babydoll

Some of these maybe be duplicates but based on your update:

Check with the council tax for your 25% discount.
Also check that if you are entilled to HB benefit and/or clothing vouchers.
Shopping is way too high for 2 and you will be able to get it much lower with a little planning
Sky does require the BT line rental (£11 per month) but you may get some tips on the utilities board about negotiating with them.
Talking of negotiation, would you be able to speak to your creditors and see if they can reduce any APR's?

Does your place of work owe you money? I may be able to help you with your rights if they do

tigtag

Prudent

Your food shop could really cut back. I am a single mum too and spent £90 per month for myself, teen daughter and 2 cats.

babydoll1

hi tigtag02 my place of work owes me a lot of money, i cant begin to say, i have been fighting a losing battle with them for a very long time i would pm you to expalin the sitaution as it stands. thanks in advance.

oops can i clarify that the £30 shopping is an estimation actually i have not gone out shopping with £30 in hand in a long time.
*typo on food shopping, we actually dont spend anywhere near £250, £150 is the most we would spend on food. (sori, i was begining to wonder why everyone was talking about our food shopping being high)

* i cant begin to tell you about my council except that i'm better off not claiming benefits from them as i'm yet to understand the last letters they sent me, i got sent 20 pages of letters, each letter was telling me i qualified for different amount of benefits each week, when i wrote them to send me a simple to understand letter informing me of my qualification, i was then hit with a bill, again a group of letters asking me to pay different amounts but fo rteh same dates. I wrote to challenge them and they wrote again to say actually i didnt owe them.

angelavdavis

Hiya Babydoll

Don't you get any contributions towards your upkeep from your child's father?

Ref Haringey: I suggest you take copies of your piles of letters and send a letter to your MP over the council's behaviour and point out that you are now suffering terribly financially over this screwup! Send the letter recorded. The MP will then write to the council and they have to respond back to the MP within ten working days of the received date.

Ask for assistance in getting this resolved. It is wrong for a Local Authority to be allowed to place more hardship on someone because of their screwup.

mrsspendalot

I bet you could still lower your food bill more than that - we spend about that for 5 inc. nappies. Oldstyle board is fab for helping you get the lowest possible food bill.

TallGirl

You a quick thought. You say you are a member of Unison - they have a welfare department who might be able to help you. Speak to your local Unison Welfare Rep or call the Unison Debt Line on 0800 389 3302, they dont charge and have advisers ready to talk to you.

DawnW

Hi,
Have you tried emailing your local councillor (look on their website) about all the mix-ups with Haringey? I found that a silly muddle over council tax was cleared up very quickly indeed when I did this (it was very silly, they would not send me a bill!)

You should at least claim single person's discount on your council tax BTW - you are entitled to it!

Well done for taking the positive step of getting your SOA together, and best of luck with it all. Why not contact the CAB for advice?

poppy10_2

Are you entitled to housing benefit? If not you need to downsize your home, you can't afford a £651pcm house on an £871 salary.