Any Helpful Benefits Advice Needed

Ophie

Hi

Wondering if anyone can help me out at with this, any help or advice greatly appreciated.

I am currently receiving SAP (Statutory Adoption Pay) – I think its about £112 pw before tax and NI. My daughter gets DLA middle rate. I have been to the benefits place and have been refused Income Support as apparently I ‘earn’ more than the government say that I need to live on.

I am waiting for a decision regarding carers allowance – I am worried about that now as the cut off for that is earnings of £95pw after tax. I don’t get child benefit yet, nor tax credits. I get no other help with anything else as I live with my mother – but have to pay rent, council tax, food and obviously everything for my daughter. I have received no payments from Social Services at all for the care or anything to do with my daughter.

I have applied for help with prescriptions due to low income, but if I don't get that help I shall just stop my medication as I would rather spend the £7 on my daughter.

I have payments coming from my account every month of over £300, with those gone I am left with no money to live on never mind clothe and feed my child. Does anyone know of anything I can do in order to continue to survive. I don’t see that living with my Mum should negate me from getting any help. But if it comes to it I am willing to go to the council and ask them to house me and my child.

If I had know it was going to be so difficult I wouldn’t have brought my daughter home, I am starting to feel that I have been unfair to bring her in to an environment where we are struggling to keep afloat – I was told that money wouldn’t be an issue prior to the adoption. I am starting to spend so much time in tears and worrying about this now. I can’t go back to work as she has only been with me a month and I don’t feel we have a strong enough bond for me to leave her. Plus… child care expenses would cripple us completely.

Thanks

Zara33

Ophie wrote: »

I have applied for help with prescriptions due to low income, but if I don't get that help I shall just stop my medication as I would rather spend the £7 on my daughter.

Erm excuse me missus but...you need your medication and your daughter needs you so don't you dare even think about stopping it. I appreciate that it is hard for you at the moment but once your child benefit and tax credits are sorted out things might be a bit easier.

Chin up Ophie

Scarlett1

Did you have to show SS how you were going to support the girl before you adopted her, I would have thought that would have been one of the first questions they ask people who want to adopt along with how you live, are you overcrowded etc ?

I went to the council to ask them to house me and my child and Im still in rented accommodation being on the housing register for 8 years :rolleyes:

Graham_Devon

Bumps r us

nottslass_2

Congratulations on the arrival of your daughter !

Get in touch with your social worker,as they told you money wouldn't be an issue,ask them to explain how you are supposed to survive !! Perhaps she / He may be able to find out if there are any adoption allowances available- if nothing else they may be able to help hurry along your claim for Child benefit / Tax credits.

I know its easy for me to say,but please Try not to let this situation spoil the first precious weeks of you and your daughter getting to know each other, Hopefully the money situation will be resolved quickly - but in the mean time love and cuddles cost nothing ! x

Ophie

Thanks nottslass.

I'll speak to them soon - I just don't want to appear like I am struggling. I'm not as Mum will support me and I know that when the other things kick in I'll be ok, its just worrying me until those things do start.

When we all did the calculations it was no problem, but reality is sooo different - especially when my daughter is growing (how dare she )

computerwoman

you need to apply for an HC2 form for your prescriptions this give's you free pres.free dental.free glasses...free wigs.free foot wear...it last's for a year but you then renew it 1 month before it run's out...ring them on 0845 610 1104...it's in newcastle...you get other stuff free with it too...this is for people on low incomes...hope this helps and good bless you for adopting a child...cw

also go to your local CAB office and ask them to do a benefit's check for you to see what you can actually get...cw:D

nottslass_2

Ophie wrote: »

Thanks nottslass.

I'll speak to them soon - I just don't want to appear like I am struggling.

Hey, welcome to the land of parent hood !!

Ophie

CW - thank you for your advice, I shall find my local CAB and go have a word in their shell like to see if they can point me in the right direction.

MushyPeas

chin up Ophie, I have no helpful advice (sorrryyyy) but I'm sure lots of peeps here do! MPx

astonsmummy

Have you given your up to date financial details to the Housing benefit people, you wont have to pay full rent if your only getting £112 a week Ophie.