DRO application help please

username200

Would very much appreciate some help applying for my DRO.

I am not working but my husband is. I am a fulltime mum/housewife.

I have all the WTC and CTC and CB come into my account as housekeeping. My husband sometimes needs a bit of it as his earnings are low.

It so hard filling in all the forms knowing how much to put down for each thing.

all I know is my income is not enough to live and we have to sacrifice many things, we are on very low income and have not enough to pay the bills coming in.

I have a couple of thousand debt built up just overdrafts and CC and mobile phone thing, and a grand or so water/gas electric, also council tax demanding a years worth upfront which is £1700. But total is well under £15K

Is it possible for me to do a DRO without my husband finding out about it? He has a car in his name but its old and not worth much, he hasnt got any savings or investments either.

Its so hard how to fill in the application, who pays what bills? How much should I put down for food and for the kids but not my husbands food or what?

Is there any sample DRO application forms with the max amount acceptable to put down for each thing, like phone clothes and all?

National_Debtline

Hello there,

It is generally expected that you would complete a joint financial statement for the DRO - although only your share of the income/outgoings would be considered. You don't have to inform your husband about the DRO - although it is possible that he could find out, as it is a matter of public record. If the car is in his name it would be perfectly safe.

Why not have a go at posting up your statement of account, we'll be able to let you know if you're on the right track as regards the amounts you're looking to list for food etc.
http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

Best wishes,

David @ NDL.

username200

Thank you very much for your help.

I am a bit worried though you say they will take into account both our income. How does that work?

My husband only earns about £8 x 16hrs week. We have about £200 week WTC and CTC and CB. We get about £800month housing allowance but out rent is £1100.

How can we put both our outgoings down when its only my debt, my husband hasnt got any debts.

National_Debtline

The principle is that you would list both your income and your outgoings. You then list the entire household outgoings. The intermediary will then calculate, as a percentage, how much of the income is yours. They'll use this percentgage to calculate how much of the availbale income (if any) is yours once all the essential outgoings have been considered.

For example, if your income is £200 a month and your partner's is £800 that equates to 20%. If the available income is £200, your share would be £40.

The reason it is done this way is fairness.

I hope that makes sense. Your partner is not directly implicated within the DRO.

David.

fatbelly

username200 wrote: »

I have a couple of thousand debt built up just overdrafts and CC and mobile phone thing, and a grand or so water/gas electric, also council tax demanding a years worth upfront which is £1700. But total is well under £15K

Is it possible for me to do a DRO without my husband finding out about it?

It sounds like some of those debts may be joint:

overdraft?
Water?
Gas?
Electric?
Council Tax?

The general principle is that your liability is cancelled and a new account opened in the other party's name.

username200

fatbelly wrote: »

It sounds like some of those debts may be joint:

overdraft?
Water?
Gas?
Electric?
Council Tax?

The general principle is that your liability is cancelled and a new account opened in the other party's name.

They are only in my name. How can it be worked out I dont know.

I just found out our Gas and electric is actually in my husbands name! even though I was supposed to have been paying it.

If I include that in my DRO will it affect his credit score?

If I change it into my name now, will they see I only just changed it?

longtermplanner

It sounds to me as though your problem is you don't have enough income for your outgoings. I know that is the reason most people get into debt, but if your income is below your outgoings even if you pay nothing to your debts then this is your priority problem and it will not be made any better by a DRO.

I think you need to look at how your income can be increased (possibly by extra benefits - I don't understand why you are not getting almost all of your council tax paid by Council Tax Support?).

Is your housing benefit shortfall because you are renting somewhere too large or the bedroom tax? Is there another adult living in your house?

Your husband is very likely to be jointly liable for the council tax even if only your name is on the bill. You have to discuss this with him.

username200

longtermplanner wrote: »

It sounds to me as though your problem is you don't have enough income for your outgoings. I know that is the reason most people get into debt, but if your income is below your outgoings even if you pay nothing to your debts then this is your priority problem and it will not be made any better by a DRO.

I think you need to look at how your income can be increased (possibly by extra benefits - I don't understand why you are not getting almost all of your council tax paid by Council Tax Support?).

Is your housing benefit shortfall because you are renting somewhere too large or the bedroom tax? Is there another adult living in your house?

Your husband is very likely to be jointly liable for the council tax even if only your name is on the bill. You have to discuss this with him.

We are doing the best we can, we have young children and we are really struggling.

Our tiny flat is too small for us all the kids in one room and we are in the other only just big enough for our double bed.

We do get some help with council tax but still a lot to pay ourselves.

After this DRO we will live very simple lives, My husband and I now go a couple of days per week without food, and we are always cold no heating.

I am not exaggerating this is how bad its getting for many people. Most of our income goes on rent.

I have all the debt companies threatening to take our possessions to recover some money, but we really do not have anything!

wba31

username200 wrote: »

We are doing the best we can, we have young children and we are really struggling.

Our tiny flat is too small for us all the kids in one room and we are in the other only just big enough for our double bed.

We do get some help with council tax but still a lot to pay ourselves.

After this DRO we will live very simple lives, My husband and I now go a couple of days per week without food, and we are always cold no heating.

I am not exaggerating this is how bad its getting for many people. Most of our income goes on rent.

I have all the debt companies threatening to take our possessions to recover some money, but we really do not have anything!

Rather than trying to do this alone (or kind of alone with us lot on here willing to offer advice) get some help! NDL rep has posted on here (0808 808 4000), Step Change have a DRO specific team (0800 138 1111), your local CAB may have an intermediary that you deal with 121 and can help you sort stuff out.

They will help you with the budget, and work out how to split it when it comes to putting your share on the DRO forms (it helps if they see the household position first!) they may also point you in the right direction to sort out things like arrears in Mr's name, getting extra benefits etc etc

username200

wba31 wrote: »

Rather than trying to do this alone (or kind of alone with us lot on here willing to offer advice) get some help! NDL rep has posted on here (0808 808 4000), Step Change have a DRO specific team (0800 138 1111), your local CAB may have an intermediary that you deal with 121 and can help you sort stuff out.

They will help you with the budget, and work out how to split it when it comes to putting your share on the DRO forms (it helps if they see the household position first!) they may also point you in the right direction to sort out things like arrears in Mr's name, getting extra benefits etc etc

I have been to CA a lot, also on the phone to stepchange a lot. They all tell me a DRO is prob my best bet.

We are getting all the benefits we can, people like us just have to live a very thrifty life.

I am still not sure about my arrears for gas/electric and water. Also phone and internet not to mention old mobile contracts saying I owe over £1000.

Can anyone tell me the council tax and utilities arrears which are not all in my name, is it a case of being able to put half in my DRO application?

vics1928

Surely that us not right - have you popped your details into the benefits calculator?