in thinking that its not fair my friend gets more just cos she's a single mum?

[LuckySalem]

I know there's been a few of these but i'm a little peed off with the system.

My friend is getting loads of help whereas me and DP are having to struggle.

I mentioned to her the other day that we were struggling abit and how did she cope? She went onto explain that she's fine as she gets money from work (same amount as DP) gets CTC, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Child Benefit. She reckoned her average annual income was around £22k a year. Plus whatever her DD's dad gave her which normally totalles about another £200 a month but she coldn't be exact

Now am I being unreasonable in thinking its unfair. She's only supporting her and her DD.

Me, DP and DD are told we can get no more cos we earn too much He earns £14'500 and we are apparently entitled to £75 CB and £100 CTC a month. So £16'600 altogether.

Am I missing something? Is there things we should be claiming that we're not or is this just normal?

Feel free to tell me to shut the hell up if I am being unreasonable.

and i believe you are entitled to around an extra 80 per week

you should seriously see the CAB

look at it this wasy salem

if benefits are that good
if council houses are that great

then why don't you let your house be reposessed and get one

not work

and get a free people carrier ( presume this is to cater for a disability actually)

Cust - If I am entitled to the extra 80 quid (I will ring CAB and book an apt tomorrow) then that will solve everything as we worked out that to live we needed £50 a week and they are giving us £20. So if we can get an extra 80, then we'll be getting £100pw which means I can put some savings away for when the mortgage goes up and go to college,

Ok I really am going to bed now! DD is gonna have me up again at 5am lol

do what custardo says

it would be worht it

but as a friend thing try not to feel it

I think he bought the people carrier out of the money in the house.

I'd rather sell the house than get it repossesed (although the market round here is terrible, lol. There's been a house for sale on our road for nearly 5 months) We were looking at that option actually. Go back to renting but figured if we sold the house we'd never be in the position to buy another one later on in life.

Housing Benefit is a benefit for people on a low income to help them pay their rent. You may be able to get Housing Benefit if you are on other benefits, work part-time or work full-time on a low income

if the house was reposessed - how did he buy it from the profits?

jammi

i think you ahve to just do your best and not look to other people

or try and change life for everyone

if its repossessed the you do get aqny left funds but that is not likely

it depends on the selling price and equity

No he sold it just before they started repo proceedings.

Scared the crap outta us, we just moved in and there was a letter addressed to occupiers(they'd obviuosly sent just before we exchanged) saying that they had instructed a solicitor to reposess the house and we had so long (can't remember) to call before this was carried out.

Lucky, I was just picking up on the notion that you thought that council housing was free.

Anybody can claim housing benefit if they're considered to live below a certain threshold, whether they're tenants or not.

I certainly understand your anger, but whilst the benefits exist, and whilst people are entitled to claim them, there isn't much you can do.

Life is short, and it's not worth your time venting over it. As long as you feel proud of yourself when you awake in the morning, that's all you can ask.

Politicians screw more money in expenses than 10,000 of us will ever achieve in a lifetime of benefits. Never lose sight of that!!

oh he sold the house - didn't read properly
well if you sell your house and you need housing the council will look at whether you have enough money to buy or private rent

benefits agencies have the legal right to look at your bank account

so if the guy sold his house but didn't have enough to buy a new one - then he might well have enough money to buy a people carrier

great

he now has a people carrier

you still are a home owner.

in answer to my question about why dont youjack it all in and go on benefits - you said becuase you wont be able to get on housing ladder in future

there you are then

these people with people carriers aren't as firtunate as you then are they - despite shiny car?

you dont get housing benefit unless you rent

Oh great Desi! Now you've given me something else to get naggy about!!

Ok I really must turn the comp off now. REALLY

No cust, I know!! lol. Grass is NOT greener!

GO TO BED, you naggy old shrew

Ok Desi Bossy woman!!

Speak to ya all tomorrow.

And seriously thanks, Sorry to those I peed off.

good luck i feel for you

its hard really

You haven't peed anyne off, lovely girl.

Your concerns are very valid, and very worthy of discussion.

I s/w the CAB and they've said that's all i'm entitled to. I had a really MOODY woman on the phone who was talking to me as though I was wasting her time or something. I explained I wanted to know what benefits we were entitled to and she just huffed down the phone at me and said haven't you read the jobcentre?

I s/w the I&R as well and they are sending through a letter ASAP to explain what has been awarded and what its based on. I've already had one letter which was based on the income from last year and they've awarded us £975 for the year which is different to what has turned up in my bank so i'm slightly worried now that they are going to demand it paid back - Have moved it to a seperate savings account in case they do decide that.

I've kinda got over everything..... I'm just annoyed that my plans for "homelife" are going out the window and it seems as though others have it easier (although I can now see they probably don't)

Message withdrawn

I'm not sure i'm just going on what she's telling me. She could be rubbing it in as she's always been known to do that in her life. She's very much an anything you can do I can do better kinda person. lol

I think i've kinda got over it today we're now looking at ways I can earn money with DD (i'm doing Avon at the mo, so just stepping it up abit)