Having such a bad day :( ...I just need a hug!

[Wilkiemini]

I arrived at work this morning (I do love my job) and received an email from the company secretary saying we are all being paid early (tomorrow) as he is going on holiday, so everyone was really happy 😃 but me!

OH left us (myself and 2 children) last year I have been struggling with the debt he left us in and to pay everything by myself but I’ve muddled through I work 30 hours per week.

I get help as I cannot pay everything on my wage, my rent alone is £1212 so I claim the dreaded Universal Credit (and yes it really is as bad as the horror stories you may have read!)

Anyhow as it turns out to cut a long story short by paying me early my company are unwittingly going to screw up the UC payment as UC will think I have been paid twice in an assessment period not once and I will not get any help this month (actually in my case three months running now because this happened last month but that’s another story!)

Basically I owe rent because this happened last month as well and I’m terrified we’ll get evicted....I sat at work this morning in floods of tears because I don’t know how I’m going to get through another month with absolutely no money :( I also have an MOT due on my car and two lots of school uniforms to buy :(

To make things worse UC will cap the next payment so when I do get the help next month I will end up losing over £750 over two months just because of the dates :(

I spoke to the company secretary last month about how this adversely effects me but he said he cannot change the pay dates, yet he just done so for his own benefit?

My direct boss is very understanding and he was fuming on my behalf 😤 I literally had a mini emotional break down at work which has shocked everyone because I’m the strong one, I tried to pull myself together and get on with my job but i was just sat there with tears streaming down my face through worry :(

In the end I grabbed my bag and told a colleague to tell my boss that I was going home as I couldn’t work in such a state :(

I’m usually such a tough cookie 🍪 I can and have coped with so much in the last couple of years I’m proud of how I’ve got this far but today it just seems like I’m fighting a losing battle and what’s the point in fighting anymore :(

Show me some love please? Don’t reply with mean comments, I just need to know that somebody somewhere gives a shit😢

Just let yourself cry. Can you call UC and explain everything? I'm in a similar position, he's left me and my daughter and I'm claiming help with nursery fees but it's a struggle with a mortgage I can't afford (£1400) on top. When I've spoken to them in the past they've been amazing and really helpful, I'm sure you've already tried speaking to them though.

Embrace the tears, give yourself a break. I'd hug you if I could. This shit is so hard sometimes.

Have you spoken to your advisor or citizen advice?
Also can you speak to your council or shelter if your worried about being made homeless.
If you have a lot of debt would it be worth getting an

What a douche your company secretary is. They could easily run payroll with a payment date of Friday even if they’re processing it now. I had to do payroll last week for the company I work as I’m off this week and we’re still getting paid on the normal day.

I’m sorry this stupid system is set up like this. It’s beyond rubbish.

Sorry posted to soon, should say
Worth getting an IVA or going bankrupt

They shouldn't be allowed to do that really because it effects things like this.

Speak to the bank or whoever the debts are owed to and see if you can get a 'holiday' from them for a month or two until you get back on schedule with uc. You can do that now with most banks and as you've been paying they will know you can.

I doubt you can get anything done about uc as its all an automated system, it can't be changed as far as I know, but it's still worth asking about that too. Go down to the job centre and ask.

Speak to a debt consolidator to. They may even have someone at the bank if all debts are to the same place, but if not then a debt consildstor could help you out. If there are credit cards, you could get them transferred onto a 0% interest card do you're just paying the debt, not the interest anymore too.

Sorry got no more suggestions, really sorry this has happened to you.

I hate this bloody government for basically just not caring about how it fucks up the lives of people just making do ( or not, like you). I can't help you, the rules are the rules but is there anyone you can turn to in real life who could maybe cook you a meal, buy you a bottle of wine or a tub of ice Cream? I do wonder if you should go to Citizens Advice and investigate ways of managing the debts you have been left with differently. There are many ways to do this and it may help you feel more in control.

Can you go above the company sec's head and ask if they can set the transfer day for you to keep it at the expected date.

Sorry things are rough. Hang in there.

UC cannot and will not help as the issue is the assessment dates, they were taken to court over this exact problem recently and the ladies in question won there case but DWP are appealing.

I may have to go down that same path as I have exhausted all other avenues with them!

I have explained to my workplace several times about how this affects me but they either don’t understand why or do not know how to fix the problem, they did try and pay me on a fixed date at Christmas but because the processed pay date is given to HMRC and this is what UC use they still penalised me :(

I am on a DMP for the debt he left me in I dealt with that head on so in 5 years I will be debt free :) yippee

It’s just the day to day bills and rent I’m worrying about as every time they mess up the payments it costs me dearly and this will add up :(

To top it all off the ex just sent a message saying he will be reducing maintenance payments from this month as he cannot afford it (he pays the minimum he has to already) we literally survive in this money so god knows how anyone not getting this manages at all!

My manager is desperately running around trying to stop my wages being paid into my account tomorrow...but as the HMRC will have been informed automatically it won’t matter the damage is already done :(

Life really sucks sometimes
Thanks for the hugs 🤗
If anything this reminds me to always be kind to others as you just don’t know the hardships they may be facing alone, kind words can mean so much when you are at rock bottom!

Oh no , sorry to read this.I would ring the uc line and explain , as this is not fair on you at all.

Call the bank, as them to return it! Refuse auto payments from your employer and ask for a cheque each month, then even if you are paid early, you don’t have to deposit it until the UC date!
Can you consolidate any of the debts?
Can’t you put the debts on a debt management plan, you don’t have to go bankrupt! Look these up credit&loan debt management, the least the will accept is £100 a month. Do you know paying off debts is not allowed to put you in ‘financial hardship’ so you can stop paying the monthly amount and only pay what you can afford.

How old are your children? If they are quite young the council and ss have a duty of care to protect them and you.

These are some practical things you can do. I’m sorry that you are struggling and stressed. Take today off mentally and physically. Have a cuppa, sit in the garden. Tomo jump back on the donkey.....love and hugs

No advice sorry, but huge hugs and sympathy

Consider yourself well and truly hugged. And I give the best hugs

((((((Big soft Hugs)))) comin atcha sweetie. 💐🌼💐

How utterly shit, I am sorry Op ((((big hug from me))))

I'm so sorry this has happened, especially 2 months in a row. What was the reason last month?
I'd try speaking to your landlord and citizens advice to see whether they can help at all. Also call the CSA in relation to maintenance payments. If he's not paying the minimum that needs to be sorted out asap.
Finally, head over to the debt free wannabe forum on money saving expert. There are some brilliant people there who will help you come up with a plan to see you through the short term.
Massive hugs. Really hope you can get it sorted xxx

Would emailing your mp to speak to your workplace be worth a try?
Deliberately jeopardising your finances can't be legal?

((( that really sucks )))
Your company secretary sounds like a real dick. I'm glad your manager is trying to help out.
I've no advice but I'm sorry you're having such a hard time

Wilkiemini

Someone needs to challenge this. Either the UC rules have to change or employers have to offer fixed rate fixed hours contracts and pay on set dates.
People who aren't on any kind of 'benefit' can opt out.

I'm generally not a hugger but you can have as many as you like OP, what an utterly shit position to be in through absolutely no fault of your own I wish I had constructive advice, UC doesn't work for far too many people and I wish they would scrap it but I honestly don't know what you can do about it. Best I can say is if I win the lottery this week I'll split it with you but we probably shouldn't hold our breath

This drives me mad. Absolutely potty. My DH has a payroll business (so does everstep) and it’s completely bloody flexible. It might not suit the company but it can and does happen.

He gets so much business by offering a bit of flexibility so employers who understand employees are humans not machines.

None of which helps you op. Almost certainly ask for an advance for next month and so on until you are able to get the seesaw going the other way.

I’m a landlord.

It’s effing hard to evict tenants.

My tenants have had issues with benefits and as long as I’m told so that I can budget and get the mortgage paid I’m fine.

Good luck

My MP was brilliant in the past maybe you could email yours as they deal with DWP

I'm so sorry @Wilkiemini.
I cannot offer words of wisdom, but a can offer a great big cyber hugs and an assurance that i give a shit.
So sad that life is so difficult and unfair sometimes xx

Nothing the OP can do will prevent UC being stopped. It's the rules. Despite the idiocy of it, the rules are written knowing that sometimes people will get 2 payments in an assessment period. UC advise people to 'plan for it'. Bloody hard to do if you are at rock bottom. MP getting involved won't help OP but could continue to put pressure on Government to change the rules which are INSANE.

OP I'm so so sorry. I hope you get through this. Get advice about Ex reducing payments.