“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

PositiveBalance

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

Just a quick thing on Universal Credit...

Needing an advance is fine, repayment is over 10 months so you know excatly what you would pay back.
The problem comes when people see the amount they can get as an advance without considering how to pay it back each month.

With the advance you could always try and manage as much as possible and then if you need any money just take £50 and see if that lasts and if it doesnt ask for another £50 and so on rather than taking more than you need.

Most people in my job role hate UC but I can really see the benefits for a lot of people............

You should get the same amount of UC as you did your other benefits and now you have moved all bills to DD i think UC will really suit you.

Be careful of this, Wannabe - I know someone who works for UC and from what they have mentioned in passing it might not be so easy to claim a second or third advance as calling up and asking for one, even if they are small.

I definitely remember them mentioning that advances can be paid back from 3 - 12 months. It all depends on what you agree at the time you take it out.

WannabeFree wrote: »

Thank you it's such a nicer feeling.

I am quite worried about the rent arrears I'll have after the 5 weeks. I'm pretty sure it's 8 weeks arrears needed before there's court action though? They won't discuss repayments etc until it's happened so I can't decide if committing to the advance repayments of £50 and a grocery budget of £50 a month will be better than what the housing ask for towards the arrears. So hard because I know £50 a month for food and everything else is unrealistic for 10 whole months (especially as it will be over winter plus the holiday plus Xmas plus all 3 smalls birthday)

You might find that you get treated more kindly about UC-related rent arrears as thousands of families all over the country must have found themselves in the same position, especially as it's through no fault of your own and imposed by the government.

tunathe_cat

I believe there is a form at he council. Regarding universal credit . You have to ask for it . They do not tell you! It is for rent and council tax to notify them you are in the process of applying. This then stops arrears action taking place.

Hopefully someone from M.S.E or the council may be able to tell you name number of form to ask for.

Also drop a line to your local MP saying you will fall into arrears while the change over happens. Also delays in disability benefits.

Andrea x

WannabeFree

Good morning

Thank you for all the advice. The housing have told me to take the advance so I don't build arrears. I haven't done this and I don't think I should.

Yes beanie I agree I really don't think £50 a month for everything other than the bills is manageable. Not for such a long period. I think I'd just be setting myself up to fail and keep falling behind with things going forward.

Yes the only income is child benefit.

I have cancelled the rent direct debit online. I will have to pay on my payment card going forward like I use too. Not a huge problem. It's probably easier with the arrears etc tbh.

All the other direct debits have been changed so they aren't due until after the forest UC payment and going forward they come out just after the UC payment comes in monthly.

The weekly things the child benefit covers (except the rent) and the bot left over will help with food/school etc.


Thank you PB the housing are quite pushy on the fact the advance is there so I don't fall into rent arrears and choosing not to take an advance isn't a good reason to be falling behind.

Thank you Tunathecat I will have a look. Although I think the the council will be the same as the housing association and expect me to take the loan from UC worth looking at though.

Thanks again for all the replies x

WannabeFree

Good morning

It's dry again fingers crossed for some sun!

Think we might take a picnic to the duck pond/country park and get some fresh air in our lungs.

Smalls are all still in bed so having a cup of tea before waking them. Enjoying the peace

Hope you all have a happy Saturday

x

Honeysucklelou2

Sounds like a great plan for a Saturday. Have a lovely time .

teapot2

Hope you all have a lovely day, enjoy the picnic and the fresh air

teafor2

Morning WB it's lovely today isn't it. I think living on £50 for a month is hard enough let alone 10 months so I wouldn't want the advance either if I could get away with not taking it. When your first UC payment comes in will it clear any rent arrears? Have the HA said much would you have to pay Back every week to get up to date?

Have a lovely day out xx

WannabeFree

Thank you everyone's up and fed. The sun is shining

No Tea I won't be up to date. Universal credit is paid in arrears so when I get paid on the 25th and pay a months rent I'll have caught up but then by the next time I'm paying rent/recieving universal credit I'll be a month behind again

I think that taking advance loan from them is going to be my only option to be honest. I'm just worried how I'll manage while they are taking the repayments for it.

Although I'm worried I'm not letting it weigh me down too much yet. Trying to keep myself on a level keep reminding myself how much worse it could and would have been had it happened when it was supposed too.

x

teafor2

That's a good attitude to have. It's not of your own making it's the system that's put you where you are.

If you were at the stage of having £50 a week left over now you'd got straight and UC payments will be the same maybe after paying £50 to them £150 for food and everything else would be doable and would ease the stress of having to deal with HA. Not easy by any means though xx

WannabeFree

The amount should be near enough identical to what I get now if I understood right. It might even be slightly more depending how they take the deductions for the tax credit over payment etc.

The budget of everything in and out leaves £107 and pence for groceries/emergencies/school trips etc basically everything that isn't a bill but not bus fare as that's on direct debit so comes out as a 'bill' if that makes sense.

If I take the advance just enough to cover the 5 weeks rent she said the repayment is £50 over 10 months. So £57 a month left over. Unless I cancel the bus pass but then I'd have to pay it weekly and it costs more

x

We are at the park smalls have left me to go and play. It's amazing the difference the weather and getting out makes to how I feel.

Hope you're all having a lovely Saturday

x