Self employed/too ill to work what do I do?

Mouser1022

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82180069#Comment_82180069

Thankyou everone. The stock has built up in years. I am a milliner. It also includes stock inherited from my mum when she retired. The equipment isnt a great deal, the most exoensive item is a steamer which probaby £250 second hand.

I may have typo on the original post but i have no mortgage arrears.

There isnt anywhere for Mum to go. My Dad died 12 months ago. She will be contributing £400 pm when she moves in. She does have savings but thats hers not mine.

Yes 19 cats. We were fosterers. Its not an unhealthy house as we have spare rooms etc. Its not a small house. We have one room which is soley litter robots and cat trees etc. We have a very large catio. Food/litter is supplied by the charity. My husband would go spare if i even suggested rehoming the cats (its not always the cat mum who is the cat hoarder lol). All the rooms the cats go in are disinfected with anigene daily .. a £40 solution supplied by the charity, mopped and hoovered. The cats dont go in the rooms where my Mum will be.

Ive been paying tax and national insurance for those who asked

My main worries are my husbands health and how to help reduce debt, bring in an income and care for my mum. Youv'e all given great advice thankyou and i will actually do some things today and tomorrow when CAB, the bank and the benefits line open.

Xx

Mouser1022

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82180268#Comment_82180268

Hi 😊

The stock is based on wholesale value at todats prices. But not what it woukd sell at ... i doubt i would get half of what i paid for it.

marcia_

thats good that you can foster so many cats and the charity takes care of the expenses. I thought it must be costing you a small fortune, my 4 cost enough. You are doing a lovely thing.

KxMx

19 foster cats is still a lot for one household where the only able caregiver works full time on top of all domestic chores and some caring duties.

Do you have any cat cuddlers that come in & reduce your husband's load? If not, can you request this from the charity? Do they give practical support with Vet runs (beyond expenses)?

Maybe in time as the cats are adopted, you don't have a 1 out, 1 in policy.

Perhaps you become fosterers for the most needy, emergency cats rather than the next one on the waiting list.

I also volunteer in animal rescue so I don't speak from inexperience - I'm certainly very familiar with Anigene 😆

Spoonie_Turtle

As you've been paying national insurance you should be eligible for ESA even if your household income (or capital) is too high for Universal Credit.

For either benefit, your Mum's contribution and savings would be irrelevant - but I echo the concern about practicability and the likelihood of your husband burning out if she also needs care beyond having someone prepare meals and run the household.

silverwhistle

PS Thanks for coming back to reassure us that you've been reading the advice. :-)

Muttleythefrog

Credit to you for fostering the cats (I know a few people who may have similar set up to yourself doing same)…. and reassuring that all is well. Hopefully you can make this all work as changes are made… and that you can get stability of income/benefits resolved as relevant (useful mum is contributing as that looks like it'll cover a lot of bills). Complex (to me certainly!) and plenty challenges but it sounds like you know what you're doing!