Journey to happy skinflintedness

in_need_of_direction

Glad my 10 years at the benefits coal face was of use to someone. Now the nagging about carer's allowance starts!

ailz95

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Glad my 10 years at the benefits coal face was of use to someone. Now the nagging about carer's allowance starts!

Yes, of course, middle rate care allowance opens lots of doors. My hubby gets carers allowance - it's about £60 a week - and you can earn up to about £80 a week on top without losing any of it. Plus social services, occupational therapy all jump through more hoops once you get middle rate.

Higher rate mobility, in the Manchester area at least, leads into taxi vouchers - you pay a third of the value so that the taxi driver can give you change - last time I got them it was about £105 for £30.

I'm not sure whether they backdate carers allowance, so apply NOW.

Glad things seem to be turning around a bit for you.

Ailz

saraih

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Glad my 10 years at the benefits coal face was of use to someone. Now the nagging about carer's allowance starts!

I'm a bit stunned to be honest, I had no idea he could get this while working and we would have just struggled on because he needs to work more than we need money.

ailz95 wrote: »

Higher rate mobility, in the Manchester area at least, leads into taxi vouchers - you pay a third of the value so that the taxi driver can give you change - last time I got them it was about £105 for £30.

I'm not sure whether they backdate carers allowance, so apply NOW.

Oh my goodness, I've never heard of this and just looked it up, that would be incredibly useful. I'm going to call and get the application form tomorrow and see which taxi companies allow it round this way, but even if it's useful for central Manchester only he's there at hospitals often enough to use a couple of voucher sheets a year. WOW. Thank you.

I was a bit iffy on whether to apply for CA because of the casual work that is very handy for keeping me somewhat sane but that seems like a very generous allowance, much more than I would usually need.

Can't believe how much pressure this is going to remove, amazing. Thanks very much you guys :A

in_need_of_direction

Def get busy with the applications. They should backdate carer's as you had it in writing that you weren't to apply until the dla was decided. Also, at times of benefit change, there is normally some type of transitional protection for those already in receipt so the sooner you submit, the more protection you will have b

black_cat

Good luck with the applications!

ailz95

saraih wrote: »

Oh my goodness, I've never heard of this and just looked it up, that would be incredibly useful. I'm going to call and get the application form tomorrow and see which taxi companies allow it round this way, but even if it's useful for central Manchester only he's there at hospitals often enough to use a couple of voucher sheets a year. WOW. Thank you.

I was a bit iffy on whether to apply for CA because of the casual work that is very handy for keeping me somewhat sane but that seems like a very generous allowance, much more than I would usually need.

Can't believe how much pressure this is going to remove, amazing. Thanks very much you guys :A

I could use them for companies in Oldham and Sale, so they should be usable all round Greater Manchester. A very good benefit.

saraih

Thanks everyone. I got back just in time to phone for the forms for taxis and CA. Apparently they backdate three months for the CA so the sooner I get that in the better.

No other news, expect the back payment will appear soonish so I squeezed some travel money out of the bank, I'm sure it could be borrowed from the emergency fund if they drag their feet so it wouldn't be a disaster.

Son & heir is finding himself a bit short with his market job and is looking about for more hours. I don't want him overworking during college but a couple of nights a week shouldn't impact too much. I'll have to keep an eye on it and if it looks like too much we'll have to come to some other agreement.

I'm running it a bit close with the travel money so my hard skinflint face is on this week :rotfl:

saraih

They paid the back payment last night so we're sorted for travel money. Big phew.

I'm just going to carry on skinflinting because who knows when the Access to Work centre will get a handle on their backlog. Still a huge relief though.

No other news but this close to payday nothing is expected. I haven't been able to add anything to the emergency fund since the tax rebate and it would be good to get into a routine with that so we'll see what's left this week.

Cleaning has picked up thank goodness. I'm not the first choice for them because of not being able to do early mornings but they've been good about it when they get random jobs.

The house is perfect and plaster free again, looks great apart from massive chunks of wallpaper missing everywhere :rotfl: I did manage to get rid of a lamp and rug by putting them at the gate, they'd have been a pain to parcel up for ebay so I'm glad someone wanted them. The room looks a bit bigger/neater now.

I've been looking at side tables on ebay, good job there's nothing on there that's quite right really! Will check out the market and charity shops first.

black_cat

That's fantastic! Onwards and upwards...

saraih

Thanks black cat, I'm cautiously optimistic! At least the tax people haven't asked for their refund back so far :rotfl: