Mooloo's struggle with babies and bills

SuziQ

Mooloo I sympathise with the council tax people. I am recieving full council tax benefit as on income support,but they have been trying to charge me for my daughter since she turned 18 in August. She has started Uni and I provided the Student exemption certificate well within their time frame but I have had 2 threats of court action even though every time I go to the office I am told there has been a mistake. I was also given a CCJ for my water rates even though I was up to date-I had a rude phone call from one of their advisors and put the phone down on him,he immediately placed my account onto Legal recovery and I ecieved a CCJ even though they admitted his original call was made in error and that I wasn't in fact in debt. I have had to find £390 pronto to pay the remiander of the rates and their legal fees to clear the CCJ decision within 30 days whilst I fight to have the whole thing overturned and have the legal fees refunded-it's a disgrace especially as they know I am on Income support. These people DO make major mistakes.

I think the call limiter would be a great idea to prevent your 2 girls running up silly bills. It must be so frustrating for you that you can't just reason with them. I really hope you get a break soon-have social services adandoned you again after admitting they failed you at your last home? Shame on them for not helping you to support your family,they know you are unwell and that you are saving them an absolute fortune by the girls and their babies not being in local authority care.

Eager_Elephant

Hi Mooloo

I was back at work yesterday and I have spoken to a knowledgeable colleague about your situation.

If your situation was someone within our Local Authority we would allow the tenancy to be changed into your name only, citing that the girls learning difficulties means they do not understand the terms of the lease and therefore they cannot be liable. You could also explain you have been misinformed.

I personally prefer the option of using the girls learning difficulties to say that they cannot be on the tenancy, maybe Social Services could do a letter.

See what the solicitor says on Tuesday.

Obviously the above is my Local Authorities take on this but yours may be different.

EE

Savvy_sewing

Thanks Everyone.
Ok so its a call to BT about the calls.
Will talk to the lawyer at CAB on Tuesday about the terms of the tenancy etc. Keep everyone posted.

Savvy_sewing

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

Hi Mooloo

soory you have come back yo so much C**P and all for trying to make a better life

Hope the rent if nothing else gets sorted

I know you have had problems with social workers in the past but would they be able to help in any way financially or by speaking to the council housing benefits section on your behalf

I am not sure but are you entitled to section 17(????) money to help keep the family together

I sympathise on your arm troubles finally had my diagnosis for my "trapped nerve"

Cervical spondylosis got to up the dose of gabapentin and go for physio but at least no operation ..................at this stage

i struggle somedays with a "normal" family life you have my utmost respect

Take care of you and good luck with the CAB (ours are fab)


Shaz

Hi Shaz, my problem is also spondylosis (or was that spondylitus?) anyway the treatment for me is Gabapentin and physio. The Gabapentin is about as much as I can take now. I take 4 x 300mg tablets 3 times a day, plus 100mg of voltarol.! Feel like I rattle sometimes.
Physio and Neurologist both say that stress doesnt help the situation as we tend to tense muscles when we are stressed.
Well right. I would love to removethe stress.
Yesterday I had a big slanging match/shouting match with twin2, and stress levels went off the richter scale!!
Today I am taking twin1 into town to get her glasses fixed. Another cost not budgeted for.!!
I am hoping that I can be as calm as possible.
Cant stay on the computer today, arm/shoulder is not too happy about position of laptop on the kitchen table at the moment. Need to sort out a better table to work on.

Errata

Cant stay on the computer today, arm/shoulder is not too happy about position of laptop on the kitchen table at the moment. Need to sort out a better table to work on.

Your physio will be able to give you good advice on the positioning of your laptop and also the best position for the driving seat in your car. HTH

shaz_mum_of__2

I know what you mean abou stress making the muscles tense and the pain worse..................

I also find driving hurts afterward too even being a passenger on long journeys hurts

Hoping you have had a stress free day

Shaz

Savvy_sewing

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

I know what you mean abou stress making the muscles tense and the pain worse..................

I also find driving hurts afterward too even being a passenger on long journeys hurts

Hoping you have had a stress free day

Shaz

I have a problem with driving. I cannot drive long distances anymore. I have a "tennis Elbow" support, that I strap on to my left arm, and it puts a pressure point on to the arm, that somehow helps. Not sure how it works but the Physio suggested it last year, when I was unable to drive much at all. It makes a big difference. I would like to be able to change the car to an automatic, but of course, thats pretty wishful thinking at the moment.
Yesterday was not too bad stress wise. Twin2 appologiesed, and opened up a little bit to me. (how long it lasts I dont know).
Anyway it was easier.
One of my old friends that I had lost touch with, came to see me yesterday morning. My son had seen her daughter at school, and passed on my phone number. So it was really good to see her. I dont feel quite so alone here now.
I knew that there would be people I knew from when I lived here 8 years ago. But I was not sure I could just sort of pick up where we last dropped off. But sitting talking over a cup of tea, and it didnt seem we had lost touch at all. She is working as a carer, and works shifts, so it was her day off yesterday, so that was good of her to take the time to walk up and see us.
With her visit that meant that we didnt go to town to get the glasses until after lunch. DS came home from school for his lunch. He had 2 tins of baked beans on toast and half a loaf of bread for his lunch!! EEK.
I must get the breadmaker unpacked and on the go.
Both twins and babies came with me into town. We got twin1's glasses fixed. At a cost of £20 (to me of course!), and then we walked through the town just re establishing our barrings. Went to the Pound shop, and bought some odds and sods and the start of some of the Christmas stuff, as we dont have much yet. so I spent another £16 there.
Then I had to buy a fire guard to stop the babies taking the Coals out of the gas fire in the front room. Another £15 there!! So a bit of an expensive day for me.
I will need to go to the hole in the wall today.
BBJ's Dad is coming over from Oxford on the bus today. He was supposed to be taking the baby swimming at the local pool but then he text Twin2 and said he had "got drunk" the day before and doesnt have any money left. So he cant take the baby swimming.! I suggested he got a single fair, and I will take him back this afternoon, when I go to see my BF. Then hopefully he will have enough for the swimming. But there is a method in my madness as then I know he is not hanging around, cant miss the bus like he did when I was away, and then it leaves the girls weekend free.
The arm is not too bad this morning, so I am off to do a little bit of ironing, infront of some day time tv in my bedroom. (Cant get ITV on the digital box in the kitchen!!).
Oh forgot, got a letter from BHF yesterday to confirm I am no longer entitled to wages, just SSP of £75.40 a week. Will take that to the council and see if they can recalculate the benefits again!!
So poverty ally here we come!!:rolleyes:

tinypawz

Hi Mooloo,

Your money problems seem to be getting worse, hopefully this is the 'storm' and it will be over soon.

Anyway, do the babies fathers work? Have the twins contacted the CSA. I am in the middle of doing this myself and the whole process seems relatively straight forward.

Anyhoo, this could mean that the twins have more cash on hand to help with phone bills, food, baby activities etc.;)

Just a thought.

You and your family are in my prayers.

Tiny

Savvy_sewing

Hello, just a quick line or two. Am back at the BF's for the weekend. If I stayed at home I would have gone doolally tap!
Yesterday twin2 and I spent about 2 1/2 hours at the council trying to sort out the benefits. I had to produce some documents for both of us, so I also quiried our situation. I know I am seeing CAB solicitor type person next week, but strike while the iron is hot. Anyway a very nice lady said she would look into each claim. Twin2 signed a letter to give me power to deal with her claim and to have her money paid to me. They have agreed her claim, and will be sending her a cheque this week which will cover all of her rent. Mine is more difficult as I was working and was paid in October, but the letter from work saying my money was reduced means they have to go and re calculate the benefits. But she is going to give it her attention as it is a "unique" situation. Tell me about it.!!
Then she spoke to twin1 on the telephone, as we wanted to know why they only allowed her the £50 leaving her £50 short a week. She has started to investigate that. I have to get twin 1 to sign a letter giving me power to deal with her claims and recieve her benefits too.
If that all goes ahead, we may just manage to make it. I have signed a letter to say that it is urgent as I am a bankrupt and I cannot go overdrawn. She said that she will do her best, but only works thursday and Fridays. So we will see.
Anyway if the cheque she said was in the post arrives, then we have to take it back to get it re-issued into my name, which could take a week.!! EEK. But I will just about have enough in the bank then to pay out the rent. If we live on thin air for the rest of the month!! Well not quite, becuase the girls do have some healthy start vouchers, so we could live on milk and fruit/veg.
I will keep you posted.
EE, thankyou for your advise, as it made me challenge them and I would not have done that before.
I am also going to go with the girls, each, to the doctors and ask him/her to look into the girls medical records, and see if we can again apply for the DLA for them. I will also see if we can be sponsored for one or other of us to be carers. !! I am not sure if its possible. But no claim, no gain.

Time to check the bank balance and let BF's kids back on the computer.
Have a good weekend, I plan to relax and enjoy my next 24 hours!

minimoneysaver

Anymore news from the council today? I really hope that you manage to get it sorted out sooner rather than later. It must be such a worry for you. Big hugs.