That is must be possible to survive on my low income?

[notabee]

My total income is under £13k (work pt, can't work more due to not great health, plus tax credits etc)
I own my house with a mortgage (about £6k a year) and I have dc but no partner.
There must be a way?
I feel I must be missing something.
I spoke to the cab last year and they didn't think there was any other help.
Every month and getting more and more in debt but I really do try and spend the minimum possible.
How do you get by?
Do you think I should get by?
Aibtu?

[Dragongirl10]

Op..l think you should not sell as you need security for later, you may not be able to work and do not want to have to keep moving with health issues.
Also at some point the Dcs( or one) will move out and you can get a lodger...this would change everything, noticeable extra funds for doing nothing.

I would insist on sharing with Dc and getting the lodger until debt is cleared and small emergency fund established...what if boiler breaks?

Each having a room is a luxury you can ill afford.

Personally l would expect 17 yr old to do a Saturday job and chores to be split larely between Dcs, so you can take care of yourself as the only earner.

Whet about physically easy jobs like self employed proofreader/computer based business/basic bookkeeping...

good luck

[annielouise]

In my situation there were rates that were 0.3% cheaper than the one I got but by the time I factored in the fee, which was up to £1.5k, other fees like another valuation, a solicitor I think, money transfer fees, an exit fee from my current lender to send the deeds on, it was not worth the hassle and I would only have saved about £10 a month. For the ease I went with my current lender. In fact about a month after I set it up before it had started though the current lender dropped it's rates and gave me the 0.1% cheaper rate when I phoned up, all sorted within a day.

Let us know how you get on notabee. Good luck.

[annielouise]

Karma - Felicia is right. If she goes to a mortgage broker every other lender than her current one will look at affordability. On paper they might not think she can afford it. By at least checking with her current lender the process could be simpler. With mine we did it over the phone. I didn't need to show pay slips, bank statements etc. There was also no fee or new valuation as it had been valued within the past three years.

Better to first go to her current lender. There's no reason for them to think she can't afford it. And what would they do if they thought that? Force her to sell? I don't think so. She's been paying and hasn't defaulted.

[0live]

www.stepchange.org/

[mumstaxi2]

OP - I would really recommend contacting a debt advice charity called StepChange. In my work I have found them to be really helpful at coming up with solutions for people with various levels of debt. It is a free service and in my experience totally unjudgemental.
Unfortunately I can't paste a link from my phone but if you google step change you will be able to see their website.

[Nightmanagerfan]

Just to say the rent a room scheme is now tax free up to £7500 a year.

www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/the-rent-a-room-scheme

[harshbuttrue1980]

You aren't spending extravagantly, you just need more money coming in. This could come from a lodger, you upping your hours (even if its by taking on a second, less physically demanding job like taking in ironing for example) or getting disability benefits if you are really unable to do any more work, or your oldest child getting a job and chipping in. There are three of you in the house, one in education so that's fine, one working a few hours a week, and the other not working at all. That's where the problem lies.

[EmeraldIsle100]

OP please believe you are not alone even though you are in a lonely place right now. I absolutely urge you to go to see Citizens Advice and tell them everything you told us. Dont put it off please please go!

I have been where you are and Citizens Advice have heard it all before and know the answers.

I can tick the box for all your issues including the social services problem with DD box. Obviously I have no idea about the social services issue you are facing but I had problems involving DD and social services and got help from Citizens Advice.

You were brave to post and I wish you all the best.

[SilenceOfThePrams]

If you get the sole adult discount on council tax then you'd lose that if you got a lodger. You'd also have to pay tax on anything you charged them over the £45/week you can claim under the rent a room scheme. So you'd probably not be any better off.

[CopperRose]

I might have missed it, but do you get any help with water rates?

I have a capped amount for the year, so I don't pay anything over that amount.

I'd get it anyway as I have crohn's, but I am also entitled to it as a low income, single parent.
(Think it's the child tax credits that trigger entitlement).

Worth a phone call to find out if you can save some money there.

[User2468]

So a search for a cheaper utility provider, we saved £350 a year going from British Gas to Flow Energy. We're pretty sensible with both so it was a surprise we could save that much.

Children are old enough to earn their own spends. Also old enough to be sat down and told that you're struggling.

Can you use car less? That sounds like a very high fuel bill, assuming you have an ordinary car. Bus pass? Bike?

[RueDeDay]

I think you have already found this out but just for clarity I work term time only and I get tax credits... They ask how many hours you usually work, for you that's 16... You will definitely get something.

[Pansiesandredrosesandmarigolds]

Credit unions?

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

I get they have more options but if OP has equity in the property and doesn't want to borrow more money, why would asking about a rate switch make her lender think she can't afford it? They're all about retaining current business and they've got no reason to believe the can't afford it.

I'm not saying she may not need independent advice. I'm saying, starting off with her current lender when all she may need is a rate switch is the best course of action.

I've remortgaged elsewhere for a better rate as well so I do understand that.

[onceyoupop]

Sorry if cross posting but... Do everything in your power to keep your house. It is long term stability for you. Definitely explore a cheaper rate. This could easily save £100-200 a month.
Also consider lengthening the term to reduce payments. If I were you I would move in to the single room, get the boys to share and rent out the spare double. I would use the rental income to overpay a little on the mortgage too. Ring London and Country as they are great.

[TrollMummy]

If you haven't looked at your mortgage for that long than I would definitely say to speak to your current lender about a rate switch and/ or extension to the term maybe to bring the rate down. As far as I'm aware they will not do affordability checks unless you change lenders or want to borrow more.

[UppityHumpty]

Your kids if over 16 need to find a way to contribute. You need something for board etc. Can they get part time work?

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

Karma you are talking rubbish - have you read anyone else's posts?

If you ask your current lender about switching to a new rate because you're on SVR (which it sounds like OP is as she's not remortgaged in ages) she can ask what the process is, say thanks she'll have a think and come back to them. You seem to think they would treat this as suspicious and put some sort of marker on her account which will not happen.

Also why would an IFA be any better? They work on commission so they may make up some guff to go with the lender that suits them the best rather than their customer plus you pay them!

I do work for a major high street lender in the mortgages dept so this isn't all shit - I've been through it personally and I work in the environment.

Just ask your lender about the process to switch to a better rate. Have a look online first.

[MatildaTheCat]

CAB were quite exceptionally helpful to me in appealing my PIP decision. Make an appointment and take as much evidence as possible along so they can assess whether they can help. Although I'd filled in numerous forms and nought I knew the correct wording etc they did it better.

Good luck with it all you sound fantastic.

[notabee]

Oh and btw, I've checked entitled to and it says I don't receive the right tax credits. Combined both should equal £527 according to them! You were absolutely right. Thanks.
Another call to make on Monday!

[notabee]

Wow! Some really good ideas and advice, thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. I'm sorry I've not replied personally to everyone.
To answer some questions I missed.
It's very complicated regarding my 17yo, there's a social worker now involved and I'm trying to fight the system, it's a thread on its own but I really don't want to out myself.
Love the idea of signing up with sitters, I don't know why it's not occurred to me. I can certainly do that and have dbs and first aid etc.
I used to be a member of unison but I cancelled it last year, it's about £5 per month and I felt I couldn't justify it. Although it's education I work in, my role is quite specific. There's no holiday club although I have been trying to create holiday work. I've created a business plan but to no avail, yet. It's a work in progress but will not be quick.
I currently owe around £3k and growing . I've moved it about to use the 6 months 0% options but I have nothing to pay it off with. I feel stupid for having built it up but it's absolutely not on frivolous things.
I'm not really a writer (and you can probably tell my the amount of mistakes I've made!) although I love that idea.
I'm having a bad day today and I'm in a huge amount of pain that even typing this is hard. I'll keep a diary, good idea, as what I have isn't always the same. I do have a specific diagnosis and a possibility of another to go on top (watch and wait).
I'll look at Young carers for dc2, thank you.
I really can't thank you all enough, I actually feel I may be able to change this. Thank you also for not blaming me, I know you've said I haven't failed but I really do feel that way.
You lot rock!

[GolyHuacamole]

Just read the whole thread OP and I'm so glad that you now have a plan of action so to speak.

Good luck and work through your list, fingers crossed better times are ahead

[BarbaraofSeville]

Some great ideas there from icant. Is there anyway you can offer holiday childcare. Who runs the holiday clubs etc?

I know most people who work term time only do so because they want/need to, but for those who don't I always thought that schools/councils could offer work in the holidays in the holiday clubs and this would be a win/win situation. People get more work if they need it and employers and parents get to employ someone that they already know.

[WomblingThree]

If your 17 year old can't work for specific reasons (which I assume are MH related) you really need to get her into "the system" so to speak.

Apply for PIP, get her registered with any service that can help her, try and get her to further her education even if only by using free online courses. Is she registered with your local careers service? Is there a formally recorded reason why she isn't in education or training, as legally she should be (I'm not asking you to tell everyone the reasons, just checking you have considered this).

As long as she is registered with a careers service, it looks like you should be able to carry on claiming tax credits.