benefits - can anyone advise?

[namechangerrr]

hi i am a regulare but have name changed for this. i was wondering if anyone would e able to help me here. i have seen on the news about benfits being cut/capped but cant seem to find any exact figures.

was wondering if anyone could be able to help me and see if my benefit will be capped or cut, so that i can be prepared for this.

i recieve weekly:
£135 child tax credit
£48 cb
£65 incone support
£145 hb
£12 ctb

i no this seems like a huge amount when written like this but in reality it isnt. once i have paid gas, elec, water rates (£28 per week!), tv licence etc there is not much left for food/nappies.

i would be very grateful if anyone could help. i am not intending to be on benefit forever and i do want to better myself for myself and my children.

Gideon this website is NOT supportive. Certain boards such as bereavement and MH maybe, but on the whole it's just a load of people attacking, feeling superior and congratulating themselves

''If people on benefits were just given food and fuel vouchers you'd save them from themselves'

fuck right off

could you define people on benefits then?

DS3 is disabled; is he enver to have a £ in his pocket? naughty him, about time he cured himself eh?

I'm a carer (and self employed- well in process of, will be nect week); do I need saving from myself? Pray, in what way?

food and fuel vouchers,thanks but getting humiliated in the old days of the milk token price was enough for me at the checkout

no way could i afford to drive on benefits,so a no no on fuel vouchers

Carers are exempt from the hatred, Gideon, mostly anyway. I think you are classed as "deserving poor"

That wasn't my post...I was quoting

I do think the benefits system needs a shake up and when people want to do more hours at work but are worse off is crazy - that nonsense needs to stop.

Brighthouse and places like that are a business but folks who earn moderate / good incomes don't go near them becuase they are way too expensive - look at the credit charges often 30% plus! Its waste like this thats' the issue - use parts of the public banks to give people resonable access to money at affordable rates - also pre-payment meters etc these should also not be at the much higher rates et by the power supply companies.

StewieGriffinsMom - The fruit and fuel might be more expensive but they are still cheaper than the ciggies and booze and wardrobes it's claimed people are forced at gunpoint to buy [rolls eyes]

I think vouchers are a horrific idea. Not least because they take business away from local shops and markets towards large supermarkets, which is terrible for local economies. I also think people should be able to make choices for themselves.

What next: a government approved shopping list on which to spend those vouchers?

It was fuel to heat the house theywillgrowup

'Why is it a choice between Brighthouse and nothing at all for a year? That's just stupid.

'

Doesn;t that depend on what IT is?

I mean you woudln;t suggest someone ent withouta cooker or a fridge for a year would you? if someone doesn;t have a supermarket on their doorstep they could cost more than Brighthouse just in fresh food if nowhere to store it- or risk food poisoning, I guess. Freezers more than pay for themselves as well as you can but cheap end date food and store it.

Washiong amchines: not a necessity I guess but my Mum went without for four eyars and I an well remember the drudgery of it with 3 kids.

tumble dryers aren;t a necessity of course, nor big TVs etc.
Computers can be- it is our PC that enables us to work (internet business). I think they open up possibilities personally, if you use them the right way.

And no, I don;t have any brighthouse items, my washing machines leaks, and the chest freezer lid comes off as hinges broke. We both study and work. And care for a couple of autistic kids. And I still can't begrudge anyone soem basic white goods.

spikeycow I said you have no right to expect the taxpayer to fund a "nice house" a warm, safe home by all means but not one kitted out with your choice of catalogue furniture.

Please explain what you think is "sick" about that?

Because it isn't coming anywhere near as sick as wishing bad karma on me and hoping that me and my children end up homeless just because I don't think benefits should extend to the purchase of optional extras.

and so we go back to the stereotyping of fags and booze scroungers ...on and on it goes

I also think people should be able to make choices for themselves.

You need to consider the choices they are making before coming to that conclusion.

Spikeyn we were once; been called more names than you would care to imagine this week. backlash ahs hit us tenfold; apparently no difference between raising an NT kid and a disabled one (like hell is there- have an NT one and an SEN one on top LOL)

I am going to suggest to MNHQ that we have a section called support in which people can post in a safe zone for help and not get crap.

I still think they have the right to make their own choices, even if I consider them to be bad ones.

Otherwise, why not ship them all off to the poorhouse and feed them on thin gruel?

I was referring to the Brighthouse wardrobe.

'nice' is subjective

Warm, safe, adequate in size and not completely falling apart is almost what we have (too amny old windows / doors that don;t fit to heat properly), and I would dezcribe that as nice.

Nice doesn;t have to eman big or posh.

oh bugger about the mix up on fuel

a blonde moment lol

SGM- will go post now, backup appreciated.

ImGideonsMumAndIHateHimToo sounds like a good idea ..not a lot of support on MN at the minute

What is sick, seeing as you asked, is having no understanding of the fact that people who have lived in various hostels for 5 years might not want something better. What is sick is you think essential items are optional extras for people on benefits. If you were made homeless, you would realise just how offensive you have been.