No money at all for food and rent

Jacqui1964

Hi,
I'm completely at a loss at the moment. I'm so stressed and panicky. I don't know what to do.
My partner has severe mental health problems and has had gambling problems on and off through his life. We had this under control until I found out what has been happening the last few days. We self excluded him from all the betting sites but one he was excluded from allowed him to open a new account with all the same details as before, which I think is very wrong but not the point at all.
As you can probably guess, he has spent all of our money and I am left with nothing. My rent was due the end of last month and I was going to pay it yesterday but I can't do that. I've had eviction threats before because of an error by housing benefit. I am a full time carer for my disabled son. We have hardly any food at all in the house and I owe my son £300 because that was in my account to pay his car tax for him and that has gone too.
I am on ESA and carer's allowance. I will get about £300 next week but most of that will have to go to my son otherwise he can't drive to work and I can't pay any of the rent.
I've never been to the job centre or CAB for anything like this before so I don't know if there is any help I can get? I'm desperate and I don't want to lose my house. My son has a disability and mental health problems and he wouldn't cope with all of that.
Can somebody please give me some practical advice?
Thank you

HappyMJ

Install a program on your computer to stop the gambling once and for all. I use Blue Coat K9 protection (it's free). http://www1.k9webprotection.com/ You put it on and you set the password and don't tell him the password. He'll have to then go out to gamble which you'll have to speak with the bookies to get him excluded from.

Indie_Kid

If you don't have enough food in the house, your council should be able to get you a referral to a food bank.

BigAunty

The Shelter website has good info for tenants with rent arrears.

See the Direct Gov website about debt management. Rent is a priority bill to pay as not doing so leads to eviction.

I believe there are some kind of emergency loans available to those on benefits but don't know the details so hopefully other posters will.

There is a MSE booklet on this site that gives advice to those with mental health issues and debt.

You will find the relationship and debt free boards sympathetic to your plight as there are many posters there whose partner's addictions have affected the household.

Change the household bank account into your sole name so that he can no longer squander the household income and put you at risk of homelessness.

Ask the local council to pay the HB directly to the landlord. Usually households pay it directly to tenants but they are obliged to take into account vulnerable tenants who have difficulty managing money and can pay the landlord instead.

specialboy

Instead of just getting him banned from the sites stop him having access to your money, if you did this he wouldn't be abe to gamble it away.

Jacqui1964

Thanks for the replies.
I have bluecoat back on the laptop now so he has no access. I know how much he hates himself for it but it doesn't excuse it.
I just hope somebody can help me tomorrow now. Do I need to call a benefits line or go into the job centre? And could you tell me where the MSE booklet is please?
Thanks again

elsien

Here's the link for mental health and debt.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/mental-health-guide?_ga=1.114962183.1641182487.1404332811

busy_mom_2

Not much I can offer re your situation but I can advise you that neither JCP nor BDC deal with any crisi loans any more. You need to conatct your local authority and enquire about crisis support. If you cannot find the number ring your local JCP and they will have it.

SnooksNJ

Jacqui1964 wrote: »

Hi,
I'm completely at a loss at the moment. I'm so stressed and panicky. I don't know what to do.
My partner has severe mental health problems and has had gambling problems on and off through his life. We had this under control until I found out what has been happening the last few days. We self excluded him from all the betting sites but one he was excluded from allowed him to open a new account with all the same details as before, which I think is very wrong but not the point at all.
As you can probably guess, he has spent all of our money and I am left with nothing. My rent was due the end of last month and I was going to pay it yesterday but I can't do that. I've had eviction threats before because of an error by housing benefit. I am a full time carer for my disabled son. We have hardly any food at all in the house and I owe my son £300 because that was in my account to pay his car tax for him and that has gone too.
I am on ESA and carer's allowance. I will get about £300 next week but most of that will have to go to my son otherwise he can't drive to work and I can't pay any of the rent.
I've never been to the job centre or CAB for anything like this before so I don't know if there is any help I can get? I'm desperate and I don't want to lose my house. My son has a disability and mental health problems and he wouldn't cope with all of that.
Can somebody please give me some practical advice?
Thank you

Yes my advice would be to re-evaluate the relationship with your partner.

Rosemary7391

The folks on the old style board are very good for cheap recipes and making food stretch - you could try having a look over there or posting a thread.

Pricivius

OP, I'm a little confused. Do you have two sons, or are you a full time carer for the son who works? If the latter, can you work whilst your son works? Can the working son help the family out? Also, £300 car tax is a lot - is that correct?