Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

financial advice needed for soon-to-be-single parent

44 replies

souvenir · 22/02/2009 22:52

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

souvenir · 22/02/2009 23:43

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

Janos · 22/02/2009 23:46

In your position I am sure you would get council tax benefit - don't forget single person discount. I don't know if you have already looked into that? And don't forget about HB as well.

Anyways souvenir..been there myself! I do understand.

Honestly, please don't feel bad about asking for help.

onadietcokebreak · 22/02/2009 23:47

Just to let you know if you quit your job if makes no different regarding claiming Income Support...there is no waiting period just cos you have left job, although I would recommend trying to stay in employment if you can.

Original poster

souvenir · 22/02/2009 23:56

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

Original poster

souvenir · 23/02/2009 00:00

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

CarGirl · 23/02/2009 10:07

I think child benefit would be seperate.

It may well be worth going to CAB to get some help seeing if you can somehow reduce your debt repayment, perhaps negotiated a longer repayment period without incurring more interest that type of thing. As your circumstances have changed they be willing to do this but I think CAB are very good at helping people do this sort of thing.

shelleylou · 23/02/2009 10:13

IUf your wrking under 16 hours you can still claim IS. They will reduce your IS to reflect what your earning but are allowd to keep 20 a week. If your on IS you'll be entitled to some HB and CTB depending on your wages. Also if you get IS youll get free school meals.

Original poster

souvenir · 23/02/2009 11:02

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

shelleylou · 23/02/2009 11:09

you might still as ou dont recieve WTC couldnt tell you for certain thugh. Your best bet might be to go to the jobcentre and see a lone parent advisor as they could do a breakdown for you of what your weekly income would be including hb and ctb entitlement along with any free school meals dental care etc

Leslaki · 23/02/2009 12:54

Sounds to me that the best thing you could do is try and get another 2 hours at work or as someone else said, see if you can do 2 hours of ironing or ANYTHING for someone so it counts as 2 hours work. Working tax credts and family tax credits are fantastic and have saved me! I am ona decent standard of living becasue of them. You get free school meals and other benefits - medical, dental etc. And council tax. I have also just ehard from my gas/electric supplier and my d debit has just been reduced from £127 pm to £36 - shows just how much XH was costing us int hat department!!! Check with IR and see if you can count voluntray work in your 16 hours, then you could ask if you could pop into your local school and listen to readers for a couple of hours a week. Anything to get to that magical 16!!!

And re your GP - go and see him. They see this all the time and you sound like you are a great mum!
take care and good luck!

CarGirl · 23/02/2009 13:36

I know you are really struggling & exhausted at the moment but in the longer term keeping your job will give you so much more than being stuck at home 5 days a week. Whilst you are working it is more likely that you would be able to get another job elsewhere - you could try your local supermarket or something??

Who knows you may get made redundant with the way the economy is and get a pay out!

Original poster

souvenir · 23/02/2009 21:26

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

CarGirl · 23/02/2009 21:29

if you do 16 hours I think you would get WTC which would then make you more than £20pw better off than on income support. Use the same salary as you get now but put in 16 hours does it make a difference?

CarGirl · 23/02/2009 21:30

actually realistically you do need to factor in your travel costs so you may be worse of by working? You really need proper advice from CAB before you hand in your notice though.

If you are really not coping at the moment, go and get signed off, go and get advice so you can make a properly formed decision, don't just rely on the website and our advice.

Original poster

souvenir · 23/02/2009 21:34

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

CarGirl · 23/02/2009 21:49

I would just double check that by handing in your notice that you will be entitled to claim all these benefits, I'm sure the CAB will be able to inform you.

If you can fin a job a few hours per week to earn the £20 per work I'm sure that will help.

Are you going to be able to afford your loan repayments?

Original poster

souvenir · 23/02/2009 22:57

Message withdrawn

OP posts:

CarGirl · 23/02/2009 23:00

£55 per week is doable if it's just food & clothes, it is worthing asking CAB if they can help renegotiate. I don't know whether going down the IVA route is an option (the step before bankruptcy) as you don't own anything you wouldn't have anything to lose?

daisydaisy55 · 27/02/2009 21:41

just been reading your thread, sounds like you've been having a pretty dreadful time...it is undoubtedly stressful trying to sort out all the money side of things, but ultimately worth all the effort! i am actually better off now...
saying that, it is difficult juggling work & children & am thinking of a career break - is that something u could do to take the pressure off a bit?
know of people in sim. situations who have found support on MN, there is a thread for partners of addicts (somewhere!)
good luck, sounds like ur doing the right thing x

Flip

1 2