oh god help me

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

Am panicking and need practical advice.

I've been signed off of work sick, I really am unwell and can't work but have no idea how we will cope financially.

I have been signed off for an initial 2 weeks but could be longer (as long as 8 weeks), I will get full pay for 1 week then have to rely on ssp, we have no savings and are both in debt (have been working really hard to pay it off and I'm on a debt management plan) I am the main wage earner.

We already have a strict budget for food and after bills are paid have very little left over, I am on the best plans for gas, electric, phone etc and can't cut back anymore, so what do I do? Serious question how can I keep us afloat till I'm well enough to return to work?

Are you well enough to have a clear out, and sell some stuff on eBay?

My old clothes/kitchen equipment/old baby items made me just over £300 :)

How ill is ill! Could you ask your employer to do reduced hours (totally depends what is wrong with you though?)

first things first contact the DMP you are on and tell them you've a change in your income. They'll work out another income/expenditure for you based on your new budget. If you're experiencing a big drop in your wages then they could greatly reduce what you're having to pay at the minute, then once you're back at work adjust it again to its current amount. It's not going to solve everything but will free up precious monthly income for yourselves. Do you rent? Im sure you would be entitiled to rent benefit/council tax benefit also while you are on SSP if you do. Also get to CAB, they will tell you whether you are entitiled to any benefit 'top ups' whilst on SSP. Either income support or employment support allowance (i think its called). Once you're on income support you get your free prescription/dental treatment etc which will be useful if you are being prescribed medication while you are off. Strongly recommend you get to CAB or equivelent ASAP tho as they will tell you everything you need to do to get more for yourselves whilst off work. And remember its only temporary so try not to panic or worry too much.

I find Gumtree a quicker and more efficient way of selling than eBay - plus no sellers fees and you can deal in cash. Also do you have local selling groups on FB? I put a fridge/freezer and a washing machine on yesterday and they both sold within an hour.
Not helpful for the longterm, but might help you out now...

Am not well enough to work reduced hours I really have no choice but to be off.

I don't have much left to sell we had a massive clear out last month and did a bootfair to be able to pay the car road tax and get new tyres on the car.

We rent

I will make an appointment with cab tomorrow, I didn't realise I might be able to get help for short term

Will the debt management plan be able to reduce payments to creditors for a while?

You could also go for a crisis loan.

Local selling groups on facebook are excellent.

Sorry to pick at a scab, but signing off from work isn't very black and white.

There should be options of light duties/flexi-time/redeployment.

Can you say a bit more about your situation?

help is definitely available for the short term....also a website - could be called Entitled To - or something like that. (sorry if thats a bit vague!) will give you a rough estimate of what benefits you could get. Just enter your income as it stands now and it will run thru all extra help you are entitled to. Plus it will give you a clue as to how much rent help you can get. Its not gospel, but it could give you a touch of reassurance that you arent perhaps going to have as little income as maybe you were thinking you were going to have.

Illegitimategruffalochild i was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid a few weeks ago unfortunatly there have been complications with the treatment which caused me to collapse, I'm unable to be treated the normal way so am waiting for an appointment with a specialised and for appointments for several scans, I'm a nanny and due to the fact that my body just shuts down when its had enough (I fell asleep halfway through talking to the dr) I am not able to do reduced hours or flexi working at the moment but it may be an option in a couple of weeks, for now I am not allowed to drive and barely have enough energy to get out of bed

Oh nightmare. What are your employers saying/offering?

Can your partner get a second job or do some overtime?

Their not overly impressed and rang today to make sure I was aware I'd only be paid for 1 week. This is the first time I've been off in 3 yrs so hopefully they know that I am really ill and not just skivving

My partner works nights and has been trying to find another job for ages there isn't anything around here at the moment, he's asked local builders if they need a labourer and approached local farmers but nothing

Im on my phone so can't link, but there's a thread in this section entitled top 3 money saving tips. It's a huge thread with loads of great advice.

What a crap position to be in. Especially with an impeccable sickness record.

What about those online jobs? The ones where you get paid for online questionnaires? Might not be much but better than nothing. Have you got any food banks near you? X

Have you discussed quarterly or annualised hours with your employer ? If they would consider it you could take the next month and store up the days - its hard on you toward the end of the year but means that they have confidence In your return and you keep your salary ?

I guess though Monty that the OP's employers need a Nanny, and her work won't wait for her?

Or do you mean that they could get a temp in and then OP make it up at a later date when more healthy and able to work?

I'm not sure how that would work monty?

I work 12 hour days and my employers have to work so if I stored up hours then wouldn't that mean my employers would also have to do the same?