AIBU to thank David Cameron and the other one for buying me a cooker

[CreamolaFoamless]

My cooker oven exploded about 3 weeks ago.

and thanks to the great british system .......which everyone berates at times

I have been given £280 to buy a new cooker.

(I have paid my taxes) but seriously £280 for a new cooker , the month before christmas , thank you

I would never have known this was possible unless a really clued up person advised me about it

Or if not benefits and unemployed you need to fit the criteria listed.

See if you feel so grateful OP when they take away child benefit (if you are entitled to it)

I don't understand - it can't be a community care grant surely, a new cooker isn't what they are for, and they are notoriously harsh so wouldn't give them out if the strict criteria wasn't met.

You can't get a budgeting loan unless you've been on IS or JSA for 6 months

Must have been a crisis loan?? Surely?

Oh yes, carpets being MUCH more essential than a cooker zukie

So ANYONE can apply? Even if they are working and earning shed loads? How does that happen then?

does a twin cavity cooker mean it's an oven and a grill?

When I had ds I was made homeless, after living in a hostel I moved into a ha house with nothing. We had one bag of clothes and his steriliser. I was turned down for one of these grants. I had to furnish the house on a £280 budgeting loan.

That sounds more like it zukie, unfortunately Sorry you are going through such a rough time.

Agree about how hard it is to get CCGs. A woman I know moved into an old flat,every room floor boards with nails and splinters',she had 2 smmall dcs'.
She was refused a CCG for the flooring,and she appealed...turned down again.

She took it to Independent review...and got money to floor one room only.

It sounds like OP got a Crisis Loan Or Budgeting Loan,both anyone can apply,both have to be repaid.

It does sound grim.

A pantry? ffs!

oh my goodness...well i have my £280 cooker money so if any of you are really struggling I can send you some it

@crazynanna no it doesnt have to be repaid thats why i was so surprised

Budgeting loans are available only for those on IS, JSA or Pension Credit and have to be paid back usually over a 6 month period and is deducted direct from any benefit.

Crisis loans and community care grants are applied for on the same form (hence the confusion over what the op has recieved) They both have their own criteria and getting them can be pretty difficult.

From what I have read so far the OP has recieved a crisis loan that does not have to be repaid.

I'm glad you managed to get the money for your cooker OP, what a relief this close to Christmas. Can I ask how mong you had to wait for a reply as I need to apply for a community care grant next week and have been told anything from 5 days to 4 full weeks!

Oh and I wouldn't thank the current Government they are doing everything they can to stop social fund payments, the pot is getting smaller and smaller and soon people like you will not have a chance at getting a penny.

OP please don't send anyone a penny and get yourself the best cooker you can

Op, I'm not having a go at you or anything I promise, and i don't begrudge you your much needed cooker AT ALL... but it would be really helpful if you knew what it actually was you had applied for - didn't you pay any attention to the wording of the form? I don't understand how you don't know?

What information did they need from you in your application?

I also don't understand how you can be a taxpayer and receive something that doesn't have to be paid back...

As far as I know anyone can claim a crisis loan taxpayer or not but it does have to be repaid.

Still really confused here!

I don't know what my new home will have, but I might need carpets/flooring if it has none, possibly an extra bed if I get a three bed, and I don't own a cooker or fridge, I have them in this house but they are not mine, I'll also need moving costs.
My social worker is going to help me with the form and has said I will qualify for it based on my circumstances.

The only reason I'm asking is that my cooker is on it's last legs here and as a taxpayer myself id there's something I can claim/use to get help with that purchase then that would be marvellous! I don't think there IS anything though

the type of person i am I will give them £280 back in February.

But you don't have to pay it back?

I hope you get it sorted Netto :)

it was about a week Jaquelinehyde

but seriously though if anyones in a pickle I really dont mind sharing ..I feel quite bad reading how some people have been refused

let me know on a pm before 3pm if possible because I do need to order this cooker ....sorry

My apologies a crisis loan does have to be paid back so it must have been a community care grant that was awarded. As I said they are both applied for on the same form so the OP could have become confused very easily.

Oh and the OP did not say I am a tax payer she said she has paid her taxes, so she may be in reciept of a qualifying benefit.

You are very sweet OP but just order your cooker quick!

Thanks Cream, now get your cooker ordered.