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Original poster

To ask for help

33 replies

Blackout234 · 10/01/2015 15:03

for starters I just want to say im not asking for any money or personal help off anyone.
DP is signed off work sick, on £87 a week (grand!) I'm self employed so no work in equals no cash. DP's money was paid in yesterday, We were able to take a tenner out of it as anything more eats into this weeks bill money and then would leave us in arrears and in trouble, we have no food (Well, 2 cans of beans and 4 slices of bread) £1.50 of electric and zero gas (and zero emergency) i've tried calling cab but got no answer so i assume they dont open on saturdays tried calling job centre was placed on hold then cut off twice but will try again soon to see if they offer any form of emergency help. we can't afford the interest rates on payday loans and our credit ratings are terrible so would be touch and go anyway... can anyone please help by offering help, advice, suggestions or experience. thank you.

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Original poster
Blackout234 · 10/01/2015 15:21

Also im in wales if that matters

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confusedofengland · 10/01/2015 15:22

I don't know about benefits etc, but here are my thoughts. Look into food bank for food - perhaps ask church or similar. Have you family or friends close by who would have you round for dinner or give you a bag of groceries? Then you can repay when you are able. Sort out your/dcs cupboards for any bits no longer used & sell on Facebook or gumtree.

hthThanks

Original poster
Blackout234 · 10/01/2015 15:33

I dont have children yet but i am pregnant (Im glad I dont have children i'd be deeply ashamed to live like this with a child :( ) I dont know of any churches around here that do foodbank services but i can look it up, Thats why I was trying cab as I figured they'd have a better idea than me! we've got nothing worth selling tbh, We dont have Tv's or anything like that.

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Original poster
Blackout234 · 10/01/2015 15:33

Also no friends or family that can help :(

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confusedofengland · 10/01/2015 15:47

Depending on how pregnant you are, you could start to claim maternity allowance (from 28 weeks I think). You still have a number of keeping I. touch days when you can work & still claim.

As for selling stuff, even old clothes & books can be worth something.

Original poster
Blackout234 · 10/01/2015 15:48

i've got 7 weeks to go until I can claim anything unfortunately. I've been trying to sell a few things (Hair straighteners and a few other pieces) no luck so far. x

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Rivercam · 10/01/2015 15:51

I'm sure if you do a quick internet search, you will find the local food banks, or churches/charities that provide free meals etc.

Can you look for a job with regular income?

confusedofengland · 10/01/2015 15:52

Maybe a pawn shop will take electrical items?

Also, have you got any loyalty points you can use for food? Any foreign currency you can change up or even money in the sofa? Also maybe ring energy company in case they can help you out with their costs? All worth trying.

Original poster
Blackout234 · 10/01/2015 15:54

Rivercam I've got no way of finding a job. where I live has one of the worst unemployment rates in the UK, so on top of the fact I have next to zilch skills for most jobs and a very obvious bump There are about 250 applications per vacancy. I've found a local food bank but theyre not open and you need some red vouchers (Whatever they are)

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Original poster
Blackout234 · 10/01/2015 15:55

confusedofengland good idea regarding pawn shops. I dont have loyalty cards, foreign currency and sadly my sofa contains no coins. i'll try the electric company too

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SoonToBeSix · 10/01/2015 15:55

If you are pregnant it's even more important that you eat well. First thing Monday contact a food bank and find out where to get a voucher from.
I would suggest going to your local church in the morning and explain your situation to them. Don't be embarrassed churches are used to helping people.
Your local council can give out hardship payments ring them Monday also.

Caorunn · 10/01/2015 15:57

Try calling you midwife to see if they can point you in the direction of some help?

Inthedarkaboutfashion · 10/01/2015 16:09

If there is a Sikh temple nearby they will feed you. Sikh temples feed lots of people who are in end every day and they won't try to preach to you or anything, you just turn it at lunchtime and they will give you a meal without any questions.
Does milk and more operate in your area? You can usually place a first order with them worth £15 and not have to pay for it for 30 days without any interest.
If you have any sainsburys or tesco loyalty points you can use them instantly to get some food.
Ring the energy companies, explain the situation and tell them that you are pregnant and ask if the can extended the emergency allowance on your meters.
Go to the local foodbank and ask how you can get a referral, (the midwife can probably do a referral).

dickiedavisthunderthighs · 10/01/2015 16:32

Your midwife can definitely refer you to a food bank and if you don't have the means to collect then they'll deliver to you. What are you getting in the way of benefits and when do you get them?

expatinscotland · 10/01/2015 16:43

Call the leccy and gas company they can put emergency on remotely.

catonlap · 11/01/2015 09:23

What bills have to go out of the £87 this week? Are there any non essential debt payments where you could cancel direct debit and negotiate a lower payment plan. Then use money for food.

Or are they payments which would get you into real trouble if you miss them, such as rent?

catonlap · 11/01/2015 09:31

Also you say 'no work = no cash' for you. Have you had any work at all? I get that as you're self employed if you don't work you don't earn but I wasn't sure from your op if you meant you actually have no work now or if you were expressing concern about the near future when you have to give up for maternity break.

Passthecake30 · 11/01/2015 09:37

How long is your DP signed off sick? Are there any other benefits you are entitled too?

whattodoforthebest2 · 11/01/2015 09:46

Try your local CAB first thing in the morning, or go there. They can give you a food bank voucher and they also have access to discretionary funds for emergency use. Make an appointment to see one of their advisors too - IME they are very helpful and have lots of information available to help you and you can even use their phone to call utilities etc. too.

Original poster
Blackout234 · 11/01/2015 10:51

Catonlap I have had no work in and nothing booked in, DP is signed off on a sort of on going notice. DP has chronic whiplash(Whiplash that lasts over 6 months, hes had it for over a year now but its steadily getting worse) and its effecting past injuries (Pins in his shoulder and back and more) its so bad now he's unable to turn his head to the left but he can't claim anything like ESA or DLA until he has been signed off work for 28weeks, We dont get anything other than SSP and i've got no work in until further notice so we're on £87 a week unless he can claim some form of income support but im not sure I can't seem to find any clear info on it online and the benefits calculator was useless.

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Original poster
Blackout234 · 11/01/2015 10:57

the bills to pay are essential, our phone bills (£14 each) If the transaction can't come out it'll leave debt on our account and our phones cut off,our internet (Same situation pretty much, £19) and the rest is car insurance so can't really not pay them and even if we did with view to paying more at a later date i've got no way of knowing when I have work in (As i've nothing in now) So can't risk being left with a double or triple payment to pay out of 90 quid next month. Our rent is 325PCM, We're on 360 a month unless I can get work on now im bloody good with money and could feed us and pay bills (just) out of less than 200 a week when I had no work in (200= DP's wage before coming off sick), however I can genuinely see no way of us living on £35 a month. we can make do with 30 a week after bills for food, gas and electric as I can put 10 on gas 10 on electric and feed us with the other ten. its hard but doable but I just can't do this and i've never been so far up shit creek with no paddle.

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Original poster
Blackout234 · 11/01/2015 10:57

(by the way, 360 a month is rounding the 87 to 90 so in reality less than that)

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ClashCityRocker · 11/01/2015 11:02

Have you tried claiming housing benefit?

Jobseekers? You will have to actively look for work though, however it might be worth it if your self employment is not earning enough. At least it will be something coming in. Appreciate it won't help in the immediate though.

If you are self employed, working tax credits?

Original poster
Blackout234 · 11/01/2015 11:08

we're apparently not eligible until 30 weeks or until baby is here (Told two different things by two different professionals)
I don't get working tax credits (Not entirely sure what they are either) So will look into it

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Original poster
Blackout234 · 11/01/2015 11:12

Im going to be asking about all benefits tomorrow at cab/ on the phone (Depends where my nearest open cab office is as a few have shut down so will again need to research) so should hopefully get a straight answer I'm just wondering if anyone had been in same situation and if so what they could claim?

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