Advice/Help Me! Social Fund crisis & support grants?!

NoLifeWithoutYou

**** SOLVED // CLOSED ****

Hi,

I'm hoping somebody could help me because I'm getting to my wits end with this. My gas cooker is broken and dangerous, I keep getting electric shocks from it... along with other problems but I don't have any money to buy a new one.

Last year (Jan) I was accepted by my local council for a Support Grant of £225 for a new fridge which broke around Oct 2013 and took out three crisis loans throughout the year. In Sep 14 I was awarded PIP and ESA, all back payments went towards my massive debt.

Now this year between Jan-NOW I've applied for another grant to cover a cooker because I'm struggling both financially and mentally without a fully functional one. But keep getting refused because I don't meet their requirements which I find weird?

Last year when I applied for the grant on a fridge freezer, I just said mine was broke and they gave me it instantly. This year, I even stated about my PIP + ESA and how this is effecting my BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) + making me depressed. But they don't give a monkey?

My local CMHT (Community mental health team) don't know anybody who can help me and I'm currently under going treatment for my BPD which is MBT but they can't help me either. On top of that I'm fighting my final bit of debt which I aim to be debt free by September.

Just feels like nobody wants to help me out and its making me feel worse. Can anybody shed some advice or light? I can't sleep cause of this cooker situation and hardly having proper meals now.

Thank you for reading, sorry its an essay.

NoLifeWithoutYou xx

:iloveyou:

sazaccount

Hi,

Sorry I cant help with the social fund aspect but I dont have an oven but have a mini oven which can be brought pretty cheaply something similar to:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9015742.htm
ebay seem to have a good selection for cheaper. I brought mine for £20
you can also get some with hob on top but they are slightly more expensive. but it might help in the short term until the cooker issue is fixed/replaced.

I cook a lot of things in mine you just have to think smaller portions then in a "normal" oven.

Other option is if you have any family or friends you can go round one day with ingredients and have an afternoon batch cooking eg chilli, soups, pasta bakes etc. put them into containers and freeze then you can just re-heat in the microwave (if you have one).

Sorry I can't help on the benifits side but if you pop over to the old style board and post with what you have available eg slow cooker, microwave they will be able to help with meal ideas etc

xx

NoLifeWithoutYou

sazaccount wrote: »

Hi,

Sorry I cant help with the social fund aspect but I dont have an oven but have a mini oven which can be brought pretty cheaply something similar to:
(Had to take link out)
ebay seem to have a good selection for cheaper. I brought mine for £20
you can also get some with hob on top but they are slightly more expensive. but it might help in the short term until the cooker issue is fixed/replaced.

I cook a lot of things in mine you just have to think smaller portions then in a "normal" oven.

Other option is if you have any family or friends you can go round one day with ingredients and have an afternoon batch cooking eg chilli, soups, pasta bakes etc. put them into containers and freeze then you can just re-heat in the microwave (if you have one).

Sorry I can't help on the benifits side but if you pop over to the old style board and post with what you have available eg slow cooker, microwave they will be able to help with meal ideas etc

xx

Hi Sazaccount,

Thanks for the reply.. it's keeping me sane just having somewhere to post and get a reply to my scream for help. I'm going to have a search via Argos and eBay for this item, just it's not only me living here and we don't have a microwave which is awkward lol. I also don't talk to my family anymore, it's just me and boyfriend. I do have one friend but shes in a worse of situation than me and lives 1.5 hours away by public transport and whenever I go to see her she asks for money .

At the moment we're living of sandwiches and fridge stuff which is becoming costly in a way because normally we have chicken and veg or pasta etc.

But honestly thank you! I never thought about that, when the other half is up I'll show him. Lucky for him.. he can actually sleep. Me? Nope, haven't had a proper nights kip since Jan :rotfl:

xx

Edit** - My 'friend' had a baby in dec and owe's me £204 which is included in my outstanding debt as I used a loan to get the money for her and baby!

merlin68

I got a washing machine from British gas energy trust. They do cookers as well. You dont have to be a customer. Have you though about doing a dro for your debts?

midnight_express

You can cook most things in a combi microwave and they cost a lot less than a cooker. I managed with one for about five years.

NYM

Have you tried your local Freecycle ?

dizzybee

hi,
have you contacted your local council, were we live they have a scheme were un wanted electrical items that people throw away are checked repaired and sold on for not much money, i recently got a gas cooker from them for £20 they wont install.

pmlindyloo

Go to CAB about your debts. They will be able to help you out.

They also should have a list of charities that help with household goods.

tea-bag

Freecycle, facebook buy and sell, and ebay. You can get a new one for as little as £140. And TBF you are getting more money than alot of other people on benefits.

NoLifeWithoutYou

merlin68 wrote: »

I got a washing machine from British gas energy trust. They do cookers as well. You dont have to be a customer. Have you though about doing a dro for your debts?

Lucky you! I never knew that did that in all honesty and that's great they do cookers too. I'm with first-utility myself.

I don't really want to do a DRO (debt relief order) because I get high PIP and ESA. With strict budging, managing a spreed-sheet and doing the snowball method. I could and hopefully will be debt free by Sep 14.

midnight_express wrote: »

You can cook most things in a combi microwave and they cost a lot less than a cooker. I managed with one for about five years.

Yeah I'm defo looking into it hun, the other half went to his gym (free as he PT sometimes) and will be back soon so we can discuss.

NYM wrote: »

Have you tried your local Freecycle ?

Yes, even ebay for cheap giveaway ones and on Facebook groups. Nothing... I know some people just give them away when they get new ones but here in London.. well my part nope lol.

NoLifeWithoutYou

dizzybee wrote: »

hi,
have you contacted your local council, were we live they have a scheme were un wanted electrical items that people throw away are checked repaired and sold on for not much money, i recently got a gas cooker from them for £20 they wont install.

Sadly yes, they direct you to where I was applying, they don't repair old items.

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Go to CAB about your debts. They will be able to help you out.

They also should have a list of charities that help with household goods.

CAB in my area is always full, busy or can't see you. Ended up taking action myself spoke to stepchange and turn2us. I'm fine managing my debts, just I don't have money for a cooker and didn't account for an emergency fund hence why I'm starting now lol.

Yeah all the Charities they gave me (locally) don't help with this situation or expect you to do some chairty work yourself in order to get help. Which I find difficult because I struggle in leaving the flat due to my mental health so left that one out. :rotfl:

Also applied for a budgeting loan, but got declined because I'm paying off about £1497 (since last checked) worth of loan debt to DWP.

tea-bag wrote: »

Freecycle, facebook buy and sell, and ebay. You can get a new one for as little as £140. And TBF you are getting more money than alot of other people on benefits.

Er.. I know I'm getting a lot of money compared to other people but I also have debt and my money goes on things like cabs to my appointments etc which as nonnegotiable because of my mental health. I also tend to impulsively spend without noticing till afterwoods, which DWP has accounted for (BPD thing) too. I may get more money, but there's a reason I do so and I don't abuse the amount I get.

I was in a worse situation before, homeless at 16 in women hostels till I was 18 and got bullied none stop til I got my flat. Between that time? I was on Income Support/JSA. I didn't get ESA or PIP until Sep LAST YEAR. All backdated payments went on debt too, I was in over 10k of debt. So please don't judge me on the amount I get without knowing where my expenses go. I've now allocated between £250(may)-£470 towards my debts which means we have to cut back on our food shops which is £120-£160 every two weeks down too £60 every two weeks. With a personal trainer in the house it's not easy..

As stated above to previous also I have tried them suggestions. Sorry wasn't having a go just feels like you quick to judge on the money side of things.