Is Relate cheaper if you are on benefits?

[LastDitch]

Or 'Can we afford to save our marriage'?

[Alambil]

Yes, I think it is

[BeehiveBaby]

Yes, sliding scale of payment but waiting list still as long

[Olihan]

I don't think you even have to be on benefits. If you can't afford the whole fee then you can discuss with them how much you feel you can contribute. AFAIK, they won;t send you away if you can't pay.

[LastDitch]

Thanks, how long do waiting lists tend to be?

[LastDitch]

And how much are the fees anyway?

[StirlingInDaHouse]

When we went we had an initial chat then was put on waiting list which took about 7 weeks.

We were told that you could pay what you could afford up to a max of £40 a visit.

I am sure if you tell them you can't afford to pay they wont send you away

[Olihan]

We paid £48 a session, which is the amount they ask for. Dh sent the forms off in the 3rd week of August, we had our initial session a couple of weeks later then started our weekly sessions about 3 weeks after that.

The website says it's usually a 3 week wait for your initial session then up to 6 weeks for the weekly sessions but I think it depends a lot on where you are and which centre you're going to.

[SandyChick]

I thought relate was a charity?

Our sessions were around £40 but am sure it was phrased as a donation rather than a fee? I'm not 100% tho.

We had a Saturday session with no waiting list.

[cheerfulvicky]

We were told it cost £56 per session, and we ended up paying £35 per session, which was still a lot for us as they like to see you at least once a week. The counsellor said she would have to speak to the office before going any lower. But I don't think at any point we had to 'prove' our income iyswim.

The wait was a few weeks until our initial session, and then she just said to come back same time next week. But I think the wait varies depending on area.
As far as I recall, they get pretty busy after xmas - so you might as well go for it now!
Good luck x

[silentcatastrophe]

We went to Relate for a long time, and paid about £35/40 when we could afford it, and as low as £5 when we were broke.

I don't remember the waiting list being long. It's probably worth making contact sooner than later, then it won't be an issue!

Hope it all goes well!

[roxi09]

I pay just £5 per session at Relate because it is means tested on your own income (I go alone so it's only my part time wages they work it out on).

Got my sessions straight away without a wait too, try and be as flexible as possible about when you can go and they will fit you in quicker.

[LastDitch]

Many thanks everyone. I will call them tomorrow...

[morningpaper]

Relate round here charge £50 per session but private therapists charge from £40 - so it's worth looking at other options.

[mollybob]

we spent about £30 a session - went fortnightly and about the same on lunch afterwards just the 2 of us - not sure which did us more good actually!