This there any more help?

[xox13]

I’m a single mother (24) of two (5 yr old & 6 month old) I currently work 13- 20 hours a week. Take home is £400-600 a month. It varies as I’m only bank hours due to childcare, and can’t commit to contracted hours at present. My rent is £370 a month. I receive around £34 a week child benefits, and currently only receive £51 a month universal credit. I’m battling daily against universal credit as they aren’t paying my rent. I’m calling daily, and writing on the online journal but still nothing. My debts are building up, and currently unable to pay my council tax. I have an attachment of earnings from 2018/2019 council tax bill. I’ve been using a local food bank at the church as some weeks it’s a decision between electricity or food. My landlord has been a great help and I’ve kept him in formed with everything regarding rent, and in his own words the rent I pay is just an extra income to him, so I try to pay as much as I can each week, and the rest goes towards rent arrears he’s made it clear in writing that unless I stop paying rent (even if it isn’t the full amount) he won’t evict me and my children. I couldn’t ask for a more understand landlord tbh. I’ve been to CAB and they’ve been as helpful as a chocolate teapot tbh, I don’t think I can deal with universal credit any longer as I feel I’m hitting a brick wall each day. I’m thinking of contact Step Change in regards to debts. I’ve tried to make changes, for example we only bath once a week (strip wash daily) I only use the washing machine once a week, the heating only goes on in the children’s bedroom at night (during the day we layer up or use blankets and hot water bottles) I’ve sold items for value around the house and even managed to lower some household bills (water has gone from £40 a month to £8 a month)

I’m so fed up of living like this, I want more for myself, and my children. I’ve applied to college to try and better myself educationally so I can get a better paid job.

I’m sorry if this post is so long winded. I know these people that are maybe a lot worse off than myself, and I should be happy that we are all healthy. But, I wondered if there is any more help available that maybe I don’t know about or already receive?

Thank you for reading.

Why are they not paying your rent? Have you showed your tenancy agreement?

Also is there anyone else on your tenancy agreement like an ex partner? When you ring up what reason are they giving you that your rent is not being paid?

Have they said why our not receiving housing benefit? Was is declined?

I’ve had numerous further evidence appointments. I’ve taken my tenancy agreement in several times. Only myself on my tenancy agreement, and only ever me and my children that have lived here. When I call all I get is ‘the case manager needs to verify my rent’ I had an appointment Friday and they said apparently there is a huge backlog... obviously doesn’t help my situation in any way.

A quick calculation shows that even with your rent missed off and earnings of £400 you should still be getting £689.25 per month so something else is definitely amiss as well as the missing rent payment !! is there any chance your child elements have been missed off. Can you get your statement up and tell me what elements are listed there ? it should say standard element £251.77, child elements £508.67 ?? The problem is if your child element has been missed off you will not be getting the work allowance either as they will be treating you as a single person so it has a huge effect on your claim.

That’s ridiculous you should have approx £500 UC for the children plus more than £51 for your allowance plus rent.
Have you been to an advice centre. Can you post a pic of your UC breakdown from online ?

Please email your MP today.
They can assist in housing matters op.
Google the ones in your area. Their email address will be available.

Also be reassured that the work allowance has just gone up to £287 a month meaning the first £287 of wages is disregarded before your wages reduce your UC. Also once you turn 25 your standard/ personal element for yourself will go up too.

When I went into CAB they said my statement was correct. I receive a standard element for myself, plus child element for two children. I have around £150 a month taken from my UC for DWP debts, tax credits overpayments and UC advance.

@Mayalready Sorry if I sound silly what is a MP? I shall have a look on google though.

If the amount you repay to tc is high, ring them and ask for a lesser amount - I was paying £10 a month for years. They have to allow you to pay an amount you can manage.

I would check your statement again because the figures still don't add up. An MP is a member of parliament who can act on your behalf to sort things out although to be fair they are unlikely to know the inner workings of UC !

How much are you paying towards childcare? Is there anyone you could ask to help with childcare/any cheaper option?

Even with £150 deductions that’s not right.

Op if you can post a pic of your online statement without any identifying details it will be easier to understand.

I pay around £6 a month to Tax Credits, the £150 a month covers tax credits, DWP and UC debts. Who would I contact to lower these repayments? It would be a great help to lower these repayments though.

@BooglesGoogles I don’t pay anything towards childcare. Which is a big help, and one less bill each month to worry about

It isn’t giving me the option to post a photo?

From the figures you've given it sounds to me like your child elements are their either and therefore your work allowance hasn't been added either.

Sorry that should say aren't there !

I have found an email address for the local MP so I am going to email him today to see if he can help with anything. I don’t understand this whole UC malarkey tbh. This was my first payment from them and was extremely shocked when I saw the amount in my bank account. Thank you everyone for the comments

Contact your local mp. They will put some pressure of the Dwp.

Look on line what the elements are that you are entitled too and cross reference with your statement.

Do you send in proof of your childcare costs each month? They will need to see a screen grab of your payment. And will then pay 80% of your costs.

Is there an ex that you can claim child maintenance from or share the child care ?
Private or claim via CSA

@eve34 I’m going to contact my local MP via email. Will sit down when I have a second spare and write to him.

I’ve had a google about UC (doesn’t look promising) and the only element I am missing is housing costs.

I don’t pay childcare costs, so I’m unable to claim any costs there as these nothing to claim.

@M00rhenRunning in regards to child maintenance I receive a poxy £13 a fortnight, although I am grateful for the little I do receive as it helps towards the cost of nappies. My eldest sons father is no longer with us, my ex mother in law does help in regards to new clothes, and school uniform as and when she can, and there is a bank account available to him from when his father passed away, but I didn’t want to use it on daily living costs as that’s the only thing he will have from his father when he’s old enough to decide what he does with it.

Hi everyone! ☺️
So I’ve had a friend look at my statement for me and it appears during my assessment period I unfortunately had two pay days due to being paid 4 weekly. Which is why my first payment from UC was only £51. Obviously had I have known I was going to have to claim UC I would have saved up for this but my situation wasn’t predictable. So hopefully next payment from UC should be a lot more than what I received in April which will be a fantastic help to myself and my children. I’m going to contact UC about the rent though, and also speak to someone about repaying back less as the £150 a month does seem like a large amount.

All I can do is remain positive and hope my financial situation improves and I can give my children a safe and happy life. ☺️

If you are paid four weekly there should only be one month in the year where this will happen . You've just been unfortunate that it happened on your first payment. So glad you got to the bottom.of what caused the low payment.