Circumstances changing-new S.O.A

Deano_66

Evening folks. I went BR in August of last year, The plan was, get the year out of the way and move in with my partner. However, a few weeks ago, we discovered she's pregnant, so as of the 18th of this month, i've gave up the flat i was renting and moved into her house. My question is, what kind of percentage of the bills will she be expected to contribute ? She's obviously contacted the DWP to cancel any benefits she was receiving, so the £136 per week child & working tax credit has now been stopped and she only receives the child benefit of £21 per week. My salary is £1,485 per month and she works 20 hours on minimum wage which brings in £120 per week. With the new baby on the horizon there's everything to buy, cot, pushchair, clothes etc which i think is impossible to break down into a monthly budget-how would i word this on the S.O.A form ? Any advice gratefully received, if anyone needs me to pop the S.O.A on here, i'll do it tomorrow after work

Cheers in advance

TheGardener

Based on those figures you should still get some TC's and you should make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to as a couple.
Contact your OR and give them your new SOA - also let your collection agent know (Clarke Willmott?)

Deano_66

My partner did an online calculation and we're not entitled to anything due to the combined wage.

Teen_the_Drama_Queen

Hi Deano - life has a way of kicking you a curve ball, eh? (Congrats on the baby btw).

My son was in a similar situation (he is self employed) - he and his partner did an online calculation and it came up with zilch! They already had a baby and with another one on the way, there wasn't any way his partner could work (child care costs would have been counter productive).

Try and get to talk to a 'real person' regarding benefits if you can, my son and his partner did and it appeared they WERE eligble for something after all (the computer didn't take into account all sorts of things!). Although having said that after receiving some financial help for a whole month they have now had it cut by £130 a month, I really don't understand the system..... don't get me started on people coming to live in this country and getting rent and benefits paid to them, I will go 'off' on one.

National_Debtline

Hello there,

It could be worth contacting 'Turn 2 Us' as they'll be able to check to see if you're entitled to anything. You can reach them on 0808 802 2000.

As far as income is concerned, the general approach is consider your share of the total household income as a percentage and then apply that percentage to the household 'disposable' income. The Official Receiver should then take that amount for the IPA. I really hope this makes sense.

Best wishes,

David @ National Debtline.

Deano_66

Thanks for all the replies people. Would i be right in assuming i'd be responsible for around 75% of the household bills based on both our incomes then ? There's also the issue of needing everything for the new arrival too.

TheGardener

RE the benefits - do try again, those figures are similar to mine and I get TC's about of £100 per month for child TC but I don't get any WTC and I only have 1 child. £25 a week doesn't go far but it does pay for school lunches and the school bus fare which is a big help for me. Once baby is born it will make a big difference to your eligibility.

Deano_66

Put an S.O.A together, anything further i need to add ?

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1482
Partners monthly income after tax....... 500
Benefits................................ 21
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2003

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 500
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 85
Electricity............................. 80
Gas..................................... 80
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 40
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 40
TV Licence.............................. 13
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 60
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 400
Clothing................................ 100
Petrol/diesel........................... 100
Road tax................................ 15
Car Insurance........................... 36
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 60
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 10
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 30
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 30
Emergency fund.......................... 30
Trade Union Membership.................. 12
Total monthly expenses.................. 1746


Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 500
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 500

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,003
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,746
Available for debt repayments........... 257
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 257

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 500
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -0
Net Assets.............................. 500

There'll be myself, my partner and her 6 year old daughter in the household.
The 'other child related expenses' section refers to my son when he stays-additional petrol & food.
The 'satellite/cable tv section is Sky-£60 covers tv, landline & broadband and is already in place in my partner's house.
My car was exempted by my OR in the first instance, so this should be fine.
£40 is for both our mobiles, £20 each.
£21 is child benefit, received for my partner's little girl.

Any questions/amendments, please fire away, i need to get this filled in and returned asap, thanks for any further help received

egrescrimp

Add something under prescriptions, something like £10 should be fine (your partner will get a exemption card for prescriptions so you can't claim for her).

Do you wear glasses? if so, put down a monthly sum towards covering eye tests and glasses £10 to £15 should be enough here.

What about after school activities and trips for your son and step-daughter, you could try and do £15 for each child

Do you get free school dinners?

Helpmeoutofthismess

I'm hopeless at soa's but just wanted to say child benefit is £21 a week and not a month, everything else looks reasonable enough to me though . What about £10 a month in the medical expenses section, it would be horrible to need some dental treatment or something and not be able to afford it.

H x

Deano_66

Ohhh of course it's £21 per week H, it's late, i'm tired etc etc