No way out?

Sadlady

I am in a situation where I really can't see any improvement for the next 8 years until I retire.I am a 58 year old widow with one son still living at home.I was made redundant from a 30 hr a week cleaning job 3 years ago and have been unable to find another job.Anyone who knows the cleaning industry knows most are only part time 10 or twelve hours.The only way I could survive is to take a fifteen hour job,if I could get it and hope to find another one but lately it has been hard to even find fifteen hour jobs.
Anyway I have managed on the little savings I had until now but am in debt to the council tax and water,the council tax have sent me an enforcement order if I don't pay in the next week they will add £200 to my bill and send the ballifs,not too worried about the ballifs as there is very little they could take and would not let them in anyway but why do they add money when people cannot pay? I have struggled all my life and never been in debt but jobseekers is just not enough to survive.
They expect me to pay council tax because my son works but he already pays all the rent plus buys his own food and I do not feel I could ask him for anymore.He intends moving out soon and that will probably be easier as I will get my council tax and rent paid but what to do now? I have a credit card I could use but would not be able to make the minimum payment except for maybe one or two out of my overdraft.Sorry this is so long,one last thing I get a small pension from my husband £300 twice a year but this is taken off my jobseekers so i am trying to survive on just over £60 pounds a week as when I get the pension it is usually needed for something else just recently i had to buy a new cooker as my old one broke.

nottoolate

complain to council saying youll be taking them to the local government ombudsman about the unfair increasing of your bill if they dont take it back off the baliffs and cancel their charges.

phoenixx

Hi Sadlady

How much does your son know about your problems with the council tax? Can he afford to help you in the short term - I'm sure he wouldn't want to see you struggle. As you say, benefits wise, things will be easier when he does move out. I hope things pick up for you. It may be worth posting a SOA here so people can advise you about making the most of what you have coming in. I think there is a Benefits board you could look at too.

Bobarella

So sorry to read your situation Sadlady. I realise you have probably wracked your brains every which way, but is there a way you can advertise your services directly, and state that you are seeking the hours that you are? Or is that just not how it works with cleaning?
Also, apols if this sounds rude, it certainly is not intended that way, but why only cleaning jobs? Could you consider looking at supermarket checkout work, dog walking, basic admin roles? I am sure a woman of your age must have about a million awesome skills to offer, sometimes it is a matter of being creative. But again I realise I dont know your situation and there may well be reasons for why you cant do anything else.
Really hope it gets better soon for you.
Bob

When_the_going_gets_tough

Op do you claim housing benefit? I know there will be a non dependant deduction on HB and CTR for your son but this should not be the whole rent?

themull1

Could you become self employed and do your own cleaning jobs?

Sadlady

phoenixx wrote: »

Hi Sadlady

How much does your son know about your problems with the council tax? Can he afford to help you in the short term - I'm sure he wouldn't want to see you struggle. As you say, benefits wise, things will be easier when he does move out. I hope things pick up for you. It may be worth posting a SOA here so people can advise you about making the most of what you have coming in. I think there is a Benefits board you could look at too.

My son knows but has not got £800 to give me,he could maybe give me a little extra weekly but I don't think it is fare he only has a little box room and as I said pays the rent and buys his own food

Sadlady

Bobarella wrote: »

So sorry to read your situation Sadlady. I realise you have probably wracked your brains every which way, but is there a way you can advertise your services directly, and state that you are seeking the hours that you are? Or is that just not how it works with cleaning?
Also, apols if this sounds rude, it certainly is not intended that way, but why only cleaning jobs? Could you consider looking at supermarket checkout work, dog walking, basic admin roles? I am sure a woman of your age must have about a million awesome skills to offer, sometimes it is a matter of being creative. But again I realise I dont know your situation and there may well be reasons for why you cant do anything else.
Really hope it gets better soon for you.
Bob

I have sent out lots of spec letters but had no luck,of course I am willing to do anything I am capable of but most supermarkets are only setting on part time and I am sure they would prefer school leavers for even basic admin roles.Do you know they even have pre selection interviews for packing jobs and even poundland these days? had a few at the work program but there are lots younger than me looking for work

atolaas

They can't discriminate against you because of age. Many supermarkets take on more mature employees as they tend to be more reliable than the younger generation. Have you tried applying to job agencies? They can help you to put together a decent CV and will actively try and find work for you. Temporary work can also lead to permanent positions. I got my last permanent job by starting at the company in a temp position, I'm in my 30's so not a fresh faced school leaver!

FatVonD

When I was made redundant last December I applied for a Christmas job at a local supermarket to tide me over until I could find freelance work doing what I do normally.

You're right that there are lots of students at the group interviews but I fairly quickly realised that they were desperate for online shoppers who do the dawn shift which the students probably wouldn't be able to do if they didn't have transport. I stressed how I used the store, loved food shopping and knew what everything was and where to find it (something maybe younger people haven't learned yet) and was offered a job pretty much there and then (and it would have been ongoing after the Christmas period too.) I didn't take it in the end as I was offered other work but being older can sometimes mean you have skills which they will be very glad of (and less of a social life so happy to take on odd shifts!)

I'm 55 by the way so no spring chicken!

Bobarella

That's a very inspiring tale FVD.

Sadlady- how are you today? Are you still applying for jobs now or do you feel so down you have stopped?