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Original poster

Money worries

31 replies

Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 22:26

Hi mum's, can I ask a question re what help is out there for single mums.. To summerize.. I work part time, four days a week, and I claim UC, but because of my earnings I get a large proportion of what I am entitled to deducted from UC award because of my earnings.. So essentially I get awarded some money towards my rent and I get the childcare element back. But because its all in arrears my salary is used to pay childcare and then bills, council tax, food, petrol, car tax and insurance etc. I am in no way frivolous with money and have always been reasonably good with money up till my situation took a turn for the most. I mostly have been donated second hand clothes from friends for my little girl. I left my exP because of DV, I will be appointed an IDVA shortly. I just am finding it so hard but financially.. My exP is my DDs father, I have applied to CMS and he is due to make a payment towards his daughter from the 1st of every month.. However he's asked for a reconsideration, he was due to make payment today but hasn't. I have to let CMS know in five days time if he hasn't paid but they said the reconsideration takes precedence over missed payment and that it could be up to three months before I get anything from him.. I've also just been told by UC that because I paid for Septembers childcare in the August assessment period I won't get it back till October so I'm minus £600 for the month. I actually don't know how I'm going to cope. My credit card is maxed out and I have an overdraft that I will inevitably go into by end of next week. I'm due to speak to a work coach on Friday from UC regarding the childcare. Is there any other help out there for single mums like me that I'm not aware of. I tried calling gingerbread today but over 30 minutes on hold I just gave up
I'm finding it so so hard and constantly worried every night when I go to sleep. Short of selling a kidney I'm not sure what else to do.. I have no family or friends to ask for financial help it's just literally my daughter and I. And advice would be welcome.

OP posts:
NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 01/09/2020 22:47

Are you getting child benefit? Could you get a referral to a foodbank for a couple of weeks to free up some cash?

LovingLola · 01/09/2020 22:50

I was going to suggest asking family or friends but I see you say you have none. Could you ask your employer for an advance on your wages maybe?

Babyroobs · 01/09/2020 23:01

How do you get a large proportion deducted on UC ?? The first £292 of your wages is completely disregarded and then for each pound you earn above that you lose 63p of UC. It's a top up benefit. Are you getting single occupancy deduction for your council tax , and have you applied to see if you might get any other deduction due to low earnings?
As far as the childcare goes, you report what childcare you have used and paid for within your assessment period and that is reflected in the payment seven days after the end of your assessment period.

Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:01

Thanks for replying. Im not eligible for food banks because of my earnings. I had a letter through the post regarding vouchers for food and milk etc but I'm over the earning threshold, its the childcare and bills that are crippling me.. And my employer can't give an advance either :( it would be a bit better if my daughters parasite of a father contributed but he's now obviously being financially abusive.

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Babyroobs · 01/09/2020 23:04

How old is your daughter - would she be eligible for any funded hours yet ? You may be able to get them when she is 2?

Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:05

My daughters childcare is taken by direct debit on the 1st of each month but because she's starting a new nursery tomorrow I had to pay September's fees in August. My assessment period for each month ends on the 25th.. So essentially I'm being paid in arrears for childcare which I know how the system works. So I won't get September's childcare element until the 2nd October now. I rang UC on Friday and they explained a work coach will be in touch. Apparently they have access to something called a flexible fund or something but there's all manner of loops to jump through before I get there.

OP posts:
Unescorted · 01/09/2020 23:06

I help out at a food bank & we don't ask for earnings. If a person is in need they are in need.

Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:08

She's 2 in September, I did ask the local council but she either has to be under local authority care, disabled or I have to be earning under 15k including UC which I don't. Its the childcare being paid in arrears that's now messed me up. When I get paid from my job on the 25th its all going to be swallowed up for childcare, bills and council tax..

OP posts:
LovingLola · 01/09/2020 23:09

I’m not eligible for food banks because of my earnings.

Never heard of that before.
You say you have friends who give you clothes for your dd. Can you ask if they would give you a loan until you get sorted?
Can you get an overdraft? Sell stuff on Facebook or eBay?

Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:09

How do I get access to a food bank?

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Babyroobs · 01/09/2020 23:09

@Mummypipxx

My daughters childcare is taken by direct debit on the 1st of each month but because she's starting a new nursery tomorrow I had to pay September's fees in August. My assessment period for each month ends on the 25th.. So essentially I'm being paid in arrears for childcare which I know how the system works. So I won't get September's childcare element until the 2nd October now. I rang UC on Friday and they explained a work coach will be in touch. Apparently they have access to something called a flexible fund or something but there's all manner of loops to jump through before I get there.
Yes maybe. I thought the flexible fund was only to help pay the first months childcare for people getting back to work for the first month, but maybe wrong. I guess your work coach will know.
NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 01/09/2020 23:10

It does look as though you are going to have to go into your overdraft.

Where are your family in all this?????

Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:11

Yes, basically I left my exP because of horrific DV, I had to flee and left 80% of our belongings there and can't get them back as of yet as he's being controlling still.. My friend asked her mummy friends for some donations for clothes etc and we got so much stuff for my daughter which was lovely. I just can't ask her for money as she's already done so much for me.

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Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:13

Mum has passed away and dad is in a home which is paid for by my brother so certainly can't ask him to help in any way

OP posts:
LovingLola · 01/09/2020 23:13

Contact your health visitor or Gp tomorrow re referral to a foodbank

Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:14

Yes it's my first month of childcare as I'm back to work next week from furlough.

OP posts:
Twaddledee · 01/09/2020 23:15

Could you ask for an advance on your universal credit? Could you try Christians against poverty?

Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:19

I'm not eligible for an advance I was told. I was effectively told by CAB that financially I'd be better off not working. I'd get my full award of UC. But it means not working obviously and my daughter not going to nursery. I've had a job since I was 16 and aside from mat leave and furlough I've never not worked.. My daughter loves nursery also. This is all because of my ex :(

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Babyroobs · 01/09/2020 23:25

@Mummypipxx

I'm not eligible for an advance I was told. I was effectively told by CAB that financially I'd be better off not working. I'd get my full award of UC. But it means not working obviously and my daughter not going to nursery. I've had a job since I was 16 and aside from mat leave and furlough I've never not worked.. My daughter loves nursery also. This is all because of my ex :(
I work for CAB and that is never something we would say. UC is designed to make you better off working although I appreciate the childcare and the way it is paid back can be challenging. If you gave up your job then once your dd turns 2 you would just have to start preparing to look for work again under Uc rules. As I said in an earlier post the first £292 of earnings is completely disregarded before deductions start for earnings and then it is on a taper.
Babyroobs · 01/09/2020 23:27

If you gave up work altogether you would be on a very basic amount to live on, it really isn't fun trying to live on that amount. Once the childcare situation is sorted out you will start to see you are better off working but at the moment that is the problem because you have paid too far in advance and can't reclaim it yet. Did the nursery demand so much payment up front?

MrsMoastyToasty · 01/09/2020 23:31

Are you getting single adult discount on your council tax?

Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:35

Yes the person I spoke to at CAB did a UC assessment on me based on income and no income.. And on no income I was better off. Yes I understand the first £292 is untouched but in total i get almost £700 deducted from my award because of my salary. And yes, you've hit the nail on the head.. It is because of the childcare. I had to pay it upfront before the 1st September so I paid it all on the 24th August and submitted the claim but as the childcare doesn't take place until September it was outside of my August assessment period so won't be paid until October.. Then I'll hue be catching up for the rest of my life. My only hopes is for something to come out of the flexible fund or if he starts to cough up. He makes me sick to my stomach, he earns over 70k and hasn't so much as sent £10 for nappies etc. Its disgraceful

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 01/09/2020 23:38

@Mummypipxx

Yes the person I spoke to at CAB did a UC assessment on me based on income and no income.. And on no income I was better off. Yes I understand the first £292 is untouched but in total i get almost £700 deducted from my award because of my salary. And yes, you've hit the nail on the head.. It is because of the childcare. I had to pay it upfront before the 1st September so I paid it all on the 24th August and submitted the claim but as the childcare doesn't take place until September it was outside of my August assessment period so won't be paid until October.. Then I'll hue be catching up for the rest of my life. My only hopes is for something to come out of the flexible fund or if he starts to cough up. He makes me sick to my stomach, he earns over 70k and hasn't so much as sent £10 for nappies etc. Its disgraceful
I think I would have been looking for a different Nursery rather than paying months in advance which is not feasible for most people.
Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:39

Yes getting single discount on council tax. I have applied for additional help on council tax and have sent documents to the council office, just waiting to hear back.. Water company has a lower tarrif for people on UC so I've applied for that also. Electricity is on a prepaid meter which works out cheaper funnily enough. Gas is billed every three months, but I pool money every month towards that. I essentially make sure everything that needs to be paid is paid but it leaves me with next to nothing.

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Original poster
Mummypipxx · 01/09/2020 23:40

Every nursery my daughter has been to has asked for payment in advance.. I didn't know any kind of nursery billed you after childcare has taken place

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