Debt increasing!

[shuthefrontdoor]

So I'm really struggling with money at the moment. I work 30 hours on min wage. I claim working and child tax, this has just been reduced by £80 a week though. I have arrears with everything and at the minute I just can't see a way out, I pay out more than I earn, I'm always playing catch up with bills. Any advice?

Why have your tax credits been reduced by so much?

I was overpaid, even though I told them my hours had gone up

Bastards. You shouldn't be repaying so much a week though if you're experiencing financial hardship.
Let them know your situation if you haven't already.

Mine have just gone down too by nearly £100 a month but i suspect this is because I need to declare my pension payments at declaration stage, which I am praying i get sent soon, as I can't afford to lose any income.
Im at the stage I am having to live off my credit card which I absolutely hate.
I know how you feel x

IS that repayments included though or just your new award based on increased hours? Usually they don’t deduct for overpayments they pay the normal amount then you pay them an amount back, they over paid me years ago to the tune of over £1k and as a single parent for a while I was paying it back at £2.50 a week when I had no spare money, when I had more I paid slightly more but they were very good and accepted that very low amount for over a year.

Who do you have debts with and how much? Have you got it all written out somewhere? Make a list of all your income and outgoings and then go and get some debt advice from someone like Citizens Advice or Christians Against Poverty.