Just me crying at Eastenders?

[Alltheseboys]

The Bianca Storyline was too close to home for me tonight. I've got about a fiver for food this weekend & cant pay the rent for next month. As soon as it started I knew I was going to cry, even at the ridiculous bits.
Am I the only one who took it to heart? : (

I had a little cry too so you're not alone.

Thanks celebmum. Too many people are going through similar at the mo

Saw Bianca on tv this morning being interviewed, she said they went to alot of detail to work out why the system wasn;t helping them. they have recieved alot of letters suggesting it wasn't a real story line because she would be on "loads of benefits with all those kids"!!!
Sorry you are having a hard time Alltheseboys.

Thanks never. I was the same thinking she would be on housing benefits or something but isn't always that simple. We weren't entitled to tax credits until after April. Has been so hard. You can't always get help immeduately

Immediately!sorry

I started another thread about it, it made me really upset. I'm not in that position now, but I have been there though thankfully before I had children. It was the kitten bit that finished me off, I once had to give a cat away because I couldn't feed her. :(

Allthese -if things are that bad have you a food bank nearby? Usually need a referral but GP/school/HV could do it, doesn't have to be SS or benefits people.

I cried too, we don't have much money and tho.ha are often tight so I can well imagine how easy it could be.to get that desperate.

I don't understand why she doesn't get benefits tho.

I was in tears for the scene at the end between Bianca and her mum - I thought the acting was incredibly powerful. So sorry to hear you are having a hard time Alltheseboys.

Lorks I was tearing up, the extra glass of wine added to the effect too. So sad how things spiralled. Bloody Ian made my blood boil :(
My heart goes out to anyone in that situation.. You never know what tommorrow will bring, there but for the grace of god etc

Oh yes, when she was telling her mum about the marmite, I starting weeping :(

I know! my dh was saying how ridiculous it was especially when Tiff let the balloon go. I was in floods by then

Sorry you are having a hard time as well bumble queen. It's sad when they notice. Makes you feel terrible.
But I know it's not forever. Just have to keep remembering that

i cried too as it was a bit to close to home for aswell.

WRT the benefits that she doesn't seem to be getting.

ricky was claiming the tax credits while she was in prison, he has taken work in dubai and is supposed to be sending her money each month but didn't send her any this month. she looked into getting housing benefit and asked janine if she would give her a proper tenancy agreement so she could claim but janine said she would have to put teh rent up in that case so it wasn't going to change bianca's circumstances either way. also, she has two jobs with irregular work/shifts so she can't claim JSA or tax credits.

I cried too. Im not as bad as her but things are tough. Very scary and very real.

Op, so sorry to hear about your situation. Is the food bank suggestion by another poster a viable option? Will your landlord give you an extension for the rent?

I didn't cry but was baffled as to why her claiming any benefits wasn't mentioned. I am pretty certain in RL her character would have been entitled to tax credits and housing benefit. Also the housing benefit office would have made sure that the rent "Janine" was charging was a fair rent. It was the same when Heather was having money problems there was no mention of any benefit claiming etc

no the housing benefit office doesn't give a fig what you are being charged for your rent, all they do is work out what you are entitled to from them and you have to find the rest yourself.

also see my above post as to why bianca wasn't getting any benefits.

Bumble - take heart, your DD said 'you don't like the heating do you' not 'why don't we have the money to have the heating on?' so she obviously doesn't realise that's why you don't have it on :) I hope things get better for you soon.

I replied on the other thread - basically it upset me knowing that people I know on MN are pretty much in the same situation It's all pretty shit isn't it :( and it makes me very mad that as a country we are still sending a lot of money overseas and putting money into the IMF.