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?

[Maria1982]

You are not failing! You are just in a hard situation. Very hard by the sound of it.

I think your list is good. I was going to suggest looking at remortgaging, and utility switching too.

It's not a failure to ask for help either. It's initiative!

[mrsglowglow]

Sounds really tough for you right now. Just a word about remortgaging - Lending criteria is much stricter now and we found many lenders wouldn't lend when we appied to do this even though our loan to value ℅ was very low. They will def want details of your income and outgoings.

[GlitterGlue]

Sorry, like this. www.dialbasildon.co.uk/index.php?id=23

There was a national page, but I can't get it to load.

[grenhild]

I sympathise OP as we have been on a low income like yours and have ill health. It is very hard.

But I really dont think you should sell OP. You will be more secure now and as a pensioner if you own your own home. Renting is VERY, VERY difficult on a low income and especially if wanting to claim housing benefit and you might (in some areas WILL) find yourself refused. I would do anything to be able to afford to own a home and not have to rent. Only shared ownership might be worth considering.

One day you will have paid off the mortgage and your money will go further.

You might look into the ESA benefit. It can be complicated but depending on how your poor health affects you , and how much you earn and work, it could help you financially.

I would suggest growing your own veggies if you have the space and energy!

[PurpleMinionMummy]

Your dc may be entitled to PIP too if they cannot work for health reasons. Definitely reapply for yourself too.

[AndNowItIsSeven]

How long has dc1 been out of education? 17 years will still be included on a tax credit claim for 20 weeks if not in education if they resisted with connextions or similar.
Also was you dd home educated at all before age 16?

[missymayhemsmum]

On your income, can you afford your mortgage? If you can't earn more, and aren't eligible for PIP, maybe you should check if you can go for some kind of mortgage rescue/shared ownership scheme?
This situation is not your imagination or poor budgeting, the cuts in tax credits and increases in living costs are hitting single parents harder than anyone and deliberately increasing child poverty. sadly you and your kids are on the sharp end of that, and it's planned to get worse.

[mrsglowglow]

Also if you go on to your local authority website and search 'grants' you may find details of various schemes set up for low income families suffering hardship. There are charitable trusts out there that may be able to help you.

[Hulder]

Another thought is that given you are limited by ill health, your DCs if would be entitled to support from Young Carers, which would also be a source of support for you.

carers.org/about-us/about-young-carers

PIP applications love data - if you have been turned down once, get a diasability service to help you.

Do you have a specific diagnosis? There will almost certainly be a support charity out there for that diagnosis that can support you making a claim.

Also what work do you do? Or used to do? There are lots of benevolent trusts out there aimed at specific professions or jobs which may be able to support you. Turn2us has a grants search page as well as benefits calculator.

[annielouise]

I've just remortgaged with my initial lender. We did it over the phone. They didn't want to see any bank statements or payslips or meet with me. As the house had been valued within the last 3 years they didn't need to do another valuation. I went for a rate that had no fee so I didn't pay anything upfront or added to the mortgage.

If I'd looked elsewhere for a mortgage with a new lender I would have had to have presented bank statements, payslips etc. With fees on top - sometimes £1.5k plus a new valuation, plus solicitors fees possible, money transfer fees etc - the other deals weren't worth the hassle. I think I'd have saved £10 a month or something. Sticking with my lender was hassle-free.

Don't worry about it. You've been paying your mortgage and haven't missed a payment.

I would not sell up. You'll have money in the bank but you'll be expected to live off that and use that up and would not be entitled to any benefits, housing or otherwise, until it went below a certain level. I'd keep the house at all costs. Going into private rental is very insecure at times. You can be moved on quite quickly and could technically have to move every six months if unlucky. Each time having to find money to move. Any nest egg would soon disappear.

In a few years the kids might move out and you can get a lodger if necessary. Hang on to your home.

[PyongyangKipperbang]

Not RTWT but.....with PIP they will turn you down at first, most claims are refused but of the ones that are then appealed something like 80% are awarded so be prepared to see the claim through with an appeal and interview. They make it hard precisely so that you give up.

Also when filling in the form, imagine that it is the worst day ever. Dont minimise anything because you usually manage to cope, you need to base it on the maximum amount of help that you need. That is a mistake that a lot of people make and why they often get refused at first.

[SingaSong12]

I'm a CAB volunteer. You could try your local citizens advice about the PIP claim. Have a lot at their resources and maybe try keeping a diary for a couple of weeks of the things you find hard or get help with.

The link below has a further link to the descriptors for PIP.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/how-decisions-are-made/

It is a good idea to get help with the form but if you can't bring yourself to then the CAB pages are very comprehensive.
Depending on the disability you have a lot of charities have more detailed information on PIP. For example MacMillan often help with forms for those with cancer

[mrsglowglow]

Another thought as you work in education, are you a member of a union? I'm with unison and know they have help and advice and hardship funds for their members.

[INeedNewShoes]

My income has dropped since I took out my mortgage too OP. With my lender (Nationwide) you can remortgage to a new deal with them without them rerunning any affordability checks. I think it's called 'switching' the mortgage. I did it all online so didn't have to answer any awkward questions.

This thread is useful for me too as my outgoings are very similar to yours (though slightly lower mortgage and CT) and my income is about to drop to a similar level.

[gluteustothemaximus]

Please don't sell your house. It's the very worst thing you can do.

Would definitely recommend calling mortgage company and trying to get a better rate.

Moneysavingexpert is excellent for tips, and you can do a benefits check up too.

Hope things get better for you x

[PyongyangKipperbang]

I agree that keeping your house is your security. Whatever else happens you will have a roof over your head that no one can take away.

[FloweringDeranger]

No idea about your health status or location but is that car really essential? Much better to lose it than the house.

[Lynnm63]

Someone recommended benefits and work. It costs about £20 which is an expense you could do without but they give lots of good advice about how to claim. Explaining how best to complete the application form and how to appeal if necessary. Even if you got low rate care and mobility that's about £43 a week.

[Hulder]

Moneysavingexpert is brilliant - if you first do their money makeover to save on existing money and then go through the tips on extra income. Not all of will be relevant to you and some of it you just won't fancy but there will be some ideas in there that work for you.

Inspired by Martin Lewis one year I got my RAC Breakdown Cover for £20 when it was usually £80 by ringing up and saying I wanted to cancel as I'd had a cheaper quote - they gave me all my usual services for £20 just to stop me leaving.

[Hulder]

Oops forgot link:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/make-money

[nappyrat]

Scanned TFT in haste bit a) you as be getting more TCs, b) i reckon if it was me I could spend less on food if I really had to.

Sell stuff on eBay / local sites.
Rent out a parking space

[kikicrystalripple]

PyongyangKipperbang Fri 21-Apr-17 22:44:53
I agree that keeping your house is your security. Whatever else happens you will have a roof over your head that no one can take away.

Not just her security - the ages her children are any tax credits, CB etc will stop within the next year or two. Absolutely don't sell - no way will she get housing benefit once her kids are 18+

I really feel for you OP - through no fault of your own your situation is shit :( And once your children reach 18+ it's only going to get worse as a lot of parents find out who have relied on tax credits x

[nappyrat]

Good luck OP.

I admire you massively by the way.

V tough.

[0live]

To think i nearly didn't post. I hate admitting I'm failing at anything. You have all made my day.

You are NOT failing. You have escaped a violent marriage and are successfully bringing up two teenagers on a very tight budget. Despite your own health problems, you hold down a decent job and own your own house.

That's a list of achievements that most people would be proud of .

[Astro55]

Can the boys share your double room and you take the single for logers or Airbnb?

Can you look at selling on eBay? Current craze of spinners you'd make a small fortune!

What about table tops sales and make cakes and biscuits to sell - even grow fruit to make jam

We did a game once that raised £200 in 4 hours (it was for charity) but it's an idea! PM me.