To ask for a Foodbank voucher?

[feelinghelplessx]

I'm pregnant with DC2, due to go on maternity leave shortly. My DP lost his job and can't start new one til next month so will be unemployed for at-least a month. AIBU to ask for a food bank voucher and who do I ask?

We're waiting on universal credit because I only work a few hours a week but I've been told it can take six weeks from applying?

I've never been in this situation before but I'm terrified and don't know who to turn to.

Any advice on food banks etc is appreciated. Please be kind though, very hormonal and upset Mum here

You can apply for a Universal Credit advance .

you need to go to citizens advice

Health visitor is the first/best person to speak to, or your local children's center if you have one.

Ask your Health Visitor, or GP, for a food bank referral.

You can get a referral from a health visitor/midwife, gp , the jobcentre or citizens advice . With you being pregnant you should qualify for healthy start vouchers too. I hope things improve for you soon OP .

There will be many local agencies who can refer you e.g children's centre etc.

I'm a signatory on one in Gloucestershire based in a community centre. Are you able to approach somewhere like this?

Hey Hun not sure if you've looked online but got this off citizens advice

Hope it helps

Keep strong x

Start by looking online to see if there are any independent local food banks that you can go to without a referral. If there aren't any, you'll need to be sent by someone else. For example by a charity or someone like a GP or social worker.
A good place to ask for a referral is your nearest Citizens Advice. Tell them you need the food bank - they'll probably make you an appointment to discuss your situation with an adviser.
The adviser will ask you some questions about your income and needs. For example, if you need the food for just you or your whole family. If you're eligible for the food bank, they'll tell you how to get food.
You can ask the adviser about other local help you could get and to check if you should be getting any benefits you're not currently claiming.
If you can't go to Citizens Advice
Your local council might be able to tell you how to get a referral to a food bank. You can find your local council's contact details on GOV.UK. When you contact them, ask if there's a local welfare assistance scheme that can help you as well as the food bank. You might be able to get vouchers for things like clothes or petrol.
Going to a food bank
If you've been referred, you should be told where the food bank is. If it's run by the Trussell Trust you can check the
address on their website.
If you live in a rural area and can't afford to travel, your nearest food bank might be able to deliver. Call or email them to check.
If the food bank's run by a church or other religious group, they'll still help you if you're not religious or from a different religion.
If you need to use the food bank again
If you needed a referral to use the food bank, you'll need to get another one before you go back.
If you've been told your food bank has a limit on the number of times you can visit, it's still worth asking if you really need the food. The best place to do this is at your nearest Citizens Advice.
The adviser will ask you some questions about why you still need to use the food bank. They'll refer you if they agree it's the best way to help you. Even if they can't refer you they'll give you advice on debt or problems with benefits if you need it.
Next steps
Check if you can get extra help if you're on benefits or your benefits have stopped
Use the Turn2Us benefits calculator to check which benefits you could get

Why can't he start a new job? Didn't he get his notice paid or redundancy?

Yanbu, this is why food banks exist. I'm ashamed we need them.
You can ask your GP, and ask about a multivitamin supplement at the same time.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/using-a-food-bank/

Thanks for advice so far. My DP was dismissed so no redundancy or notice given. He made a minor stupid mistake but doesn't have a leg to stand on.

I did see about advanced payment for UC - do they normally give them our or only extreme cases?

I'm seeing job centre Friday so could I ask for food voucher there? Or midwife in a weeks time? I'm just worried that it comes across as cheeky and worried I will looked down upon. I've always worked and provided for DC1 (mostly by myself until I met DP)

People can't be dismissed like that for a minor mistake. He should look into unfair dismissal or, he isn't telling the full story

Hello- I volunteer at a foodbank and yes the Jon Centre can refer you/ provide you with a voucher. As you are already in contact with then, I think they would be your best bet.

Best of luck, OP.

Yes the Job Centre can issue food vouchers.

Ask your Work Coach for an advance. If urgent it can be paid the same day and you repay it over 6/12 months . You can also ask your WC for a food bank referral .

People can be dismissed quite easily with less than two years service if it doesn't contravene the Equality Act.

Do we know this is the case? Also, they must still follow procedure, did they?

Whatever the circumstances of his dismissal it hardly helps the OP 's need for a food voucher does it?

Yes he can be dismissed. It's a fairly new job, he hasn't been there long. And no my DP doesn't lie to me, I've read the paperwork so I know the full story and know they did everything by the book.

Thank you to everyone else for the useful advice

I'm a volunteer at a local citizens advice and we do food bank vouchers.

Hope you get it sorted soon.