Cant keep up my reduced payments to cc.Help Help Help

honeybee_6

I have posted a couple of times before re trying to deal with my debts and have received some really helpful advice.
I have for the last 9 months been arranging and doing my own debt management plan with various cc companies and have just about managed to keep to it.
However life took a bad turn around January as after being bullied at school my daughter has become seriously ill with annorexia and in addition we have had lots of trouble from my ex her Father(long story) contacting social services after her coming out of school and studying for her GCSE s at home.
I am a self employed piano teacher , but have found it almost impossible to continue working over the last couple of months as she has needed so much support from me and subsequently I havent been able to keep up the payments.
Things came to a head financially a couple of weeks ago when a council tax areeas went to court and it was passed to a balif company.In panic of them coming round (as my elderly mother lives with myself and my daughter)I used some of my rent to pay off the £350 and subsequently for the first time ever couldnt pay my rent.
I think it is probably time to contact the CSSS but am also wondering if I would be better seeing if I could claim income support for a few months so that I can focus on my daughter and will not have to worry about paying the rent or council tax.
Hopefully next term I could resume work as this not what I really want to do as I love teaching.
However I am not sure if the CCCS would help me if I did this.
In addition I owe my mother £5000 from a long term loan, but she feels that she needs to move out as the stress at the moment is terrible and really needs the money to live on as her own savings have dwindled.
In addition to the other problems trying to find a way of paying her back is eating away at me .
I have looked into every avenue of trying to find this money.
She has been so good to me in the past and it is not her fault that she needs this now .
I am beginning to lose control of my sanity and dont know what to do first.
Should I let the cc companies know my problems(it took so long to sort out the payments in the first place , but I cannot afford the amounts anymore).
In addition I am getting charged huge amount on the overdraft that I live on and being charged a riduculous amount for going over the limit by a few pennies!
Many thanks for reading .Sorry its so long.

GeorgeUK

Hi honeybee.

Sorry to hear about your daughter. Hope she gets better soon.
I would definately call CCCS and try to get them to help with the dmp. They may be able to get the interest stopped better than trying it yourself and they'll also make sure that you aren't paying too much towards the debts.

Please give them a call as soon as possible. I'm not sure how they look on loans from family (debtwise) but their job will be to see that all creditors are getting an even share of the funds available. I realise you won't be wanting to give a few pounds a month to your mother, but hopefully you'll be able to sort something out.

Take care. xx

ikkle87

Sorry to hear about what a hard time you are having at the moment. I would definitely speak to the CCCS about a DMP it may be that you can pay less to your creditors.

I would also speak to CAB as if your struggling to work and have 2 people dependant on you then I think you may be able to claim housing benefit and like you say income support. Maybe if you take a look at the benefits board on here there will be something that can help you there as I am not 100%

honeybee_6

Thanks for your replies.
It is so hard to keep on top of the debt when my daughter needs so much support.However I do feel afraid to discuss my debt with someone when I have always tried to sort it myself.

honeybee_6

Just wondered if CCCS would still help if I went on to income support?

honeybee_6

Would be grateful for any more advice.Thanks

bank_of_slate

Hi honeybee
a big welcome to you, right now the priority is your daughter, are you getting lots of support from health professionals with her?
Talk to CCCs and explain everything to them, and keep posting on here for regular support.
It might be worth also posting for anorexia advice on the health and families board!
...Linda xx

fatbelly

Hi honeybee

I understand that CCCS have a minimum required payment of £5 per creditor per month. So if you have a lot of credit cards that might be tough on Income Support.

CAB have no minimum. Token payments should not be difficult to set up, perhaps with a six-month review. Credit cards are non-priority debts and get what's left after essential payments are made.

I think as a single parent you can earn £20 per week (check with benefit experts) without it affecting your benefit.