Making Sense of Finances

James123_2

My wife and I have been forced into a new financial era due to chronic illness on both our parts - heart-attack and cancer respectively. We've done the number-crunching game, but wondered whether there was anything else we're missing as we can't make the finances work. So, if you've the patience and inclination, I lay our finances bare here.
INCOME:
£8600 pension - wife
£3222 ish - IB me
I get higher mobility DLA -but is time-limited
Child Tax Credit tba - ONE son.

As we have a mortgage and COUNCIL TAX to pay (£1442!!) Neither of us is able to work and my life-expectancy is not known. As indicated in previous posts, this is the FIRST time in 27 years of work either of us has claimed benefits. It's crazy.

H_is_for_H

James - what ages are you, your wife and son?
you say you get high rate DLA mobility - what about DLA care?
does your wife get any DLA of either kind?
does your area have a CAB? ( I know a lot have closed down)

James123_2

Hi ... I'm 45, wife 47 and son 10. Lower rate care for son, but no DLA for wife. DLA 'expires' later in year.
Thanks in anticipation.

James123_2

Thanks .. Appreciate Any Help.

tatiepot

Hello James, your family is in a similar situation to mine.The only real difference is your wife receives a higher pension than my husband.I gave up work last August to look after my husband and I receive Carers Allowance.My husband receives High Rate DLA-care and lower rate mobility aswell as IB.We do get Income Support and recently help with our mortgage.With IS we have a threshold of £177.70 which the government says we need to live on, had we been receiving more than that we couldn't have got IS.I am just learning about this so if I can help, I will.Have you a welfare rights advisor?