SOA please offer advice.

anna_1977

Hi, I have just read the whole thread.
Like others I totally admire and respect that you are trying to better your kids lives.
I think a DRO sounds best for you, call Stepchange and seek advice as soon as possible.
As for the CMS, i do hope you have phoned them this morning, for both of the "gentlemen" concerned (& I use that word loosely!). Remember they are obliged to pay for their children. I understand not wanting to upset the apple cart but quite simply screw him - feeding and providing for those kids are your No. 1 priority.

As for the unpleasant comments it sounds like you have had - ignore them, they have nothing better to do than judge rather than help

Take care and let us know how you are getting on

mrsbee17

I didn't want to just read and not post. I just wanted to say that you're obviously doing a sterling job - keep hopeful and it'll all be good!

Darksparkle

OP are you sure your benefits are correct?

Assume you work at least 16hrs per week, your tax credits alone should be approx £3011 per month. Child benefit £505 per month. Plus help with housing benefit/council tax.

enthusiasticsaver

Darksparkle wrote: »

OP are you sure your benefits are correct?

Assume you work at least 16hrs per week, your tax credits alone should be approx £3011 per month. Child benefit £505 per month. Plus help with housing benefit/council tax.

As I understand it the OP has 7 children now with the 8th due shortly. Are those benefits worked out on 7 or 8?

OP as many others have told you probably a DRO would be best for you especially if some of this was not your debt initially but your exes. However this will affect your ability to get credit card, bank account etc in the future but this may be for the best anyway.

I suggest you break down entertainment into essential and non essential. Essential are the odd school trip or tell the school you cannot afford to contribute. Limit outside activities unless they are free, a NT membership is a good idea but only if you can get to these places. Driving with so many kids is problematic and public transport is expensive so for the next few years until your children are older and you may be able to work more hours the local park or museum may be your best bet with maybe a swimming trip at the local leisure centre once a month. I cannot see how a gym membership is possible as surely you don't have time to go?

Food wise, I would do packed lunches and batch cook casseroles, spag bol, roast chicken etc for one decent meal per day. Lidls, Aldi and Asda are the cheapest. Travel I would imagine is a problem but I guess you have some support with that? You are managing an extremely tough situation, I struggled with 2 DC and a part time job so I shudder at the idea of coping with 8 so well done with managing to work too. Budgeting for everything is the best way forward and trying to put away a little every week for emergencies as credit cards will not be available to you so if car goes wrong you need a back up plan. I will subscribe to your diary.

[Deleted User]

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

especially if some of this was not your debt initially but your exes.

If it wasn't your debt, then it still isn't.

You cannot be forced to take on someone else'd debts.

ERICS_MUM

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

If it wasn't your debt, then it still isn't.

You cannot be forced to take on someone else'd debts.

True but I get the impression that a lot of the debt is in OPs name even though incurred by her ex. If this is the case, she's in a tough situation bless her.

kimplus8

Darksparkle wrote: »

OP are you sure your benefits are correct?

Assume you work at least 16hrs per week, your tax credits alone should be approx £3011 per month. Child benefit £505 per month. Plus help with housing benefit/council tax.

I don't know where u got those figures from but my figures are correct according to my entitlement letters and what I paid each week.

Darksparkle

kimplus8 wrote: »

I don't know where u got those figures from but my figures are correct according to my entitlement letters and what I paid each week.

Just saw again that baby number 8 isn't born so those figures are based on 8 children. The tax credit and child benefit increase for the 8th child will be approx £290 per month.

Child benefit

7 children £445 per month
8 children £505 per month

Tax credits I could only estimate based on income and childcare in your soa. Done a recalc as I think I used the wrong figure for your childcare help. Sorry!

So with 7 children £2090 per month and with 8 children £2322 per month (based on existing childcare, will be more of childcare increases).

kimplus8

Darksparkle wrote: »

Just saw again that baby number 8 isn't born so those figures are based on 8 children. The tax credit and child benefit increase for the 8th child will be approx £290 per month.

Child benefit

7 children £445 per month
8 children £505 per month

Tax credits I could only estimate based on income and childcare in your soa. Done a recalc as I think I used the wrong figure for your childcare help. Sorry!

So with 7 children £2090 per month and with 8 children £2322 per month (based on existing childcare, will be more of childcare increases).

Child care is capped, they only cover 2 children as 2 or more is same amount.

Darksparkle

kimplus8 wrote: »

Child care is capped, they only cover 2 children as 2 or more is same amount.

Not quite, the cap is 70% of £300 per week (£210) for 2 or more children. Your SOA shows you are no where near that yet so you'd still get further help with childcare until you reached £300 per week.

https://www.gov.uk/working-tax-credit/what-youll-get