We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Cannot afford to live
Options

spongerobsquarepants
Posts: 6 Forumite

Hi all.
I am looking for any general advice and whether someone can point me in the right direction of some help.
This is my background. I'm 34, previously fit and healthy. over a period of nearly 1.5 years I've had to stop work due to a number of issues with my back, a number of trapped nerves, causing sciatica, have 3 slipped discs, knock on effect of pain in my neck, stiffness, I can barely walk because of pain I'm in, and use my car for mobility purposes. I'm in pain most of the day and affects my sleep. Along with osteoarthritis and a slight curvature in my spine.
Anyway, I'm on UC. I applied for the health part of UC as well as PIP around a month ago, the forms were sent back to them and I'm awaiting any further information. It's very slow progress and my back is only getting worse in the meantime.
I cannot afford to live on what basic amount I am getting, of 598 a month. My rent is 358 so therefore I've 240 to spend on car insurance, car tax, fuel, TV licence, water, gas, electric, broadband, food.
If I could get rid of my car I would, however that is my only possible means of getting around, I also need my car for when I see my children, twice weekly.
I have no idea what to do for the life of me, whether there's anyone that can help, any organisation that can offer any advice to me or support.
Anything is appreciated as I'm struggling physically and mentally. Any sort of solution to getting my back sorted through the NHS seem a distance away as I've had these issues for a year and half with not much help.
Thank you, for any crumb of information in advance, as I'm struggling.
I am looking for any general advice and whether someone can point me in the right direction of some help.
This is my background. I'm 34, previously fit and healthy. over a period of nearly 1.5 years I've had to stop work due to a number of issues with my back, a number of trapped nerves, causing sciatica, have 3 slipped discs, knock on effect of pain in my neck, stiffness, I can barely walk because of pain I'm in, and use my car for mobility purposes. I'm in pain most of the day and affects my sleep. Along with osteoarthritis and a slight curvature in my spine.
Anyway, I'm on UC. I applied for the health part of UC as well as PIP around a month ago, the forms were sent back to them and I'm awaiting any further information. It's very slow progress and my back is only getting worse in the meantime.
I cannot afford to live on what basic amount I am getting, of 598 a month. My rent is 358 so therefore I've 240 to spend on car insurance, car tax, fuel, TV licence, water, gas, electric, broadband, food.
If I could get rid of my car I would, however that is my only possible means of getting around, I also need my car for when I see my children, twice weekly.
I have no idea what to do for the life of me, whether there's anyone that can help, any organisation that can offer any advice to me or support.
Anything is appreciated as I'm struggling physically and mentally. Any sort of solution to getting my back sorted through the NHS seem a distance away as I've had these issues for a year and half with not much help.
Thank you, for any crumb of information in advance, as I'm struggling.
0
Comments
-
spongerobsquarepants said:Hi all.
I am looking for any general advice and whether someone can point me in the right direction of some help.
This is my background. I'm 34, previously fit and healthy. over a period of nearly 1.5 years I've had to stop work due to a number of issues with my back, a number of trapped nerves, causing sciatica, have 3 slipped discs, knock on effect of pain in my neck, stiffness, I can barely walk because of pain I'm in, and use my car for mobility purposes. I'm in pain most of the day and affects my sleep. Along with osteoarthritis and a slight curvature in my spine.
Anyway, I'm on UC. I applied for the health part of UC as well as PIP around a month ago, the forms were sent back to them and I'm awaiting any further information. It's very slow progress and my back is only getting worse in the meantime.
I cannot afford to live on what basic amount I am getting, of 598 a month. My rent is 358 so therefore I've 240 to spend on car insurance, car tax, fuel, TV licence, water, gas, electric, broadband, food.
If I could get rid of my car I would, however that is my only possible means of getting around, I also need my car for when I see my children, twice weekly.
I have no idea what to do for the life of me, whether there's anyone that can help, any organisation that can offer any advice to me or support.
Anything is appreciated as I'm struggling physically and mentally. Any sort of solution to getting my back sorted through the NHS seem a distance away as I've had these issues for a year and half with not much help.
Thank you, for any crumb of information in advance, as I'm struggling.I see you have a shortfall in your rent, if you have just £240 per month left after your rent is paid, i'm assuming you live in a privately rented property, if so then you'll be receiving the shared rate rather than the 1 bedroom rate because you're under 35. You can apply for a discretionary housing payment (DHP) from your local council for the shortfall in your rent. It's not guaranteed and it's only paid for a short time before you have to re-apply. See link. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-paymentsOther than council tax reduction this is about all you can claim until you have a decision on the limited capability for work (LCW) and PIP, which could take several months. IF the decision on the work capability assessment is LCWRA then you'll receive an extra £336 per month from the 4th month of your claim, from when you sent evidence of a medical condition. PIP if successful, will be backdated to the date you rang to start your claim. Did you send evidence to support both of those claims?
1 -
Since I sent the forms off I have scan results as well as photos showing my posture etc to support my claim. I have an appointment today with the job centre where I shall offer them the evidence in support of my work capability claim. I will wait for an assessment with pip and take the evidence along with me there.poppy12345 said:spongerobsquarepants said:Hi all.
I am looking for any general advice and whether someone can point me in the right direction of some help.
This is my background. I'm 34, previously fit and healthy. over a period of nearly 1.5 years I've had to stop work due to a number of issues with my back, a number of trapped nerves, causing sciatica, have 3 slipped discs, knock on effect of pain in my neck, stiffness, I can barely walk because of pain I'm in, and use my car for mobility purposes. I'm in pain most of the day and affects my sleep. Along with osteoarthritis and a slight curvature in my spine.
Anyway, I'm on UC. I applied for the health part of UC as well as PIP around a month ago, the forms were sent back to them and I'm awaiting any further information. It's very slow progress and my back is only getting worse in the meantime.
I cannot afford to live on what basic amount I am getting, of 598 a month. My rent is 358 so therefore I've 240 to spend on car insurance, car tax, fuel, TV licence, water, gas, electric, broadband, food.
If I could get rid of my car I would, however that is my only possible means of getting around, I also need my car for when I see my children, twice weekly.
I have no idea what to do for the life of me, whether there's anyone that can help, any organisation that can offer any advice to me or support.
Anything is appreciated as I'm struggling physically and mentally. Any sort of solution to getting my back sorted through the NHS seem a distance away as I've had these issues for a year and half with not much help.
Thank you, for any crumb of information in advance, as I'm struggling.I see you have a shortfall in your rent, if you have just £240 per month left after your rent is paid, i'm assuming you live in a privately rented property, if so then you'll bAt the time I had no evidence other than giving contact numbers of professional individuals that I have seen.
I do feel like I'm going to have to sell my car to ensure that I'm able to financially survive and struggle with the pain in trying to walk short distance. Id love nothing more than to be able to return to work and earn again.
0 -
car insurance, car tax, fuel, TV licence, water, gas, electric, broadband, foodAs you say, it is extremely difficult to live on UC if under 35 and living elsewhere. Of the 9 items you mentioned, you need water, food and fuel. TV licence is also a must as is Council Tax (though you don't mention it). In the short term until the other benefits come through car insurance, tax and fuel are options rather than musts. You can review your need if you get PIP at the higher rate.
- All land is owned. If you are not on yours, you are on someone else's
- When on someone else's be it a road, a pavement, a right of way or a property there are rules. Don't assume there are none.
- "Free parking" doesn't mean free of rules. Check the rules and if you don't like them, go elsewhere
- All land is owned. If you are not on yours, you are on someone else's and their rules apply.
1 -
Was there any reason why you didn't send the evidence with the forms? For your PIP, i'd advise you to send the evidence to DWP and the health assessment providers, rather than wait for your assessment to hand it in. Sometimes, they won't always accept evidence on the day. The best time to send it is with the forms. Although most people do have face to face assessments, if there's enough of evidence to do a paper based assessment then they will do this, although it's rare.
0 -
I had no evidence at the time of completing the application, I've never had anything in the way of documents from the hospital regarding it. I had to go private to a chiropractor who did these tests.0
-
The Bootstrap cook is an excellent resource for food on a very low budget: https://cookingonabootstrap.com/ Although that does assume physical capability to cook, which with a health condition isn't always a given.
Is a TV licence completely necessary right now? I'm not saying live without it or iPlayer forever, just until you can better afford it. There are plenty of other TV on-demand/catch-up services that don't require you to have a TV licence, and lots of various free content online too.
If you haven't already, check to see if you can switch energy providers. The Cheap Energy Club gives the option of a full market comparison, and search for prices not accounting for cashback, as that tends to come through in 3-6 months but you need the best prices now. https://clubs.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub
Also check to see if there any way you can save any money on broadband. Unfortunately in modern life it is a necessity for living (but obviously not a necessity for staying alive). [Unless you have a local library with free internet access and can get a great deal on mobile broadband for the rest of the time instead, perhaps.]
I understand car being a necessity - or some vehicular transport, for sure. If you do decide you have to give it up, look into electric wheelchairs or scooters to keep you able to go out and put some of the money you save from your car towards that. They can be found relatively cheaply secondhand.
That's about all I can think of right now, other than to echo poppy's suggestion to send in copies of your medical evidence now to both assessment providers.
Oh, water - are you on a meter, and can you reduce your usage at all?0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.7K Spending & Discounts
- 244.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177K Life & Family
- 257.6K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards