Energy prices

[Needanewadventure2021]

I've been really worried about writing this as millions will be feeling the same but it's giving me really bad anxiety now.

My tariff is due to end in June and if prices remain like they are (I don't for a second think they will reduce) I will be paying 150 a month to my current 89, but for 10 years before this I have NEVER paid more than 65 a month and have always been in hundreds of credit. I am using no more units than normal and my summer bills were nearly as high has my full monthly payment. It's making me feel sick. I am a single parent, working 32 hours a week on a relatively low income. I am barely putting the heating on. We are barely getting by and it's breaking my heart that my little boy is being raised in this poverty. I am trying to get a new job but its hard when it has to work around your child and finding childcare isn't cheap for which for some reason I don't get full help for (earning just over 16k and receive tax credits).

Sorry for my rant as I know there is no way out of this. Was just wondering what low income households are going to do and how you feel about it? I literally have no money left, not even anything I can cut from my outgoings to make money available. I've already stripped everything back.

Sorry to rant just wondered what the hell are people meant to do?

I'm scared about it tbh. They want 300 from us

Ours has gone up noticeably already, I agree it’s going to be very depressing Op!!

Just wanted to say you are not alone in your worry x

I really hope the government is going to step up and intervene. Maybe take off the green tax, change daily standard charges - I don't know just something to help us all

You're not alone. keep an eye on the Martin Lewis website, he's lobbying the government to do something about it

Thanks guys. I know I'm not alone. Sometimes I need to just rant. I feel so lonely and isolated and I'm scared. It makes me really sad my little boy is growing up in a struggling household. I do my best and I keep having to tell it's only me holding things together but no one wants their child to suffer. I often don't eat dinner to make sure he is fed. It's the heating though. It is going on for 45 minutes a few nights a week at most. I sit in silence downstairs whilst he has the tv on upstairs. Nothing is left running unless it has to be! No one should be living like this.
I was already on the breadline before all the increases. Now I really am scraping by. I have no money left at all

Do you qualify for the grant's available to help those struggling?

And what about food banks so you can eat properly.
Are you claiming everything you can ? Maybe see a benefits advisor to be sure.
And as for your son! Well he will look back in years to come and think what a great mother he had who always put him first and sacrificed to achieve that.
But you are right it really isnt fair you should have to struggle so much just to eat and heat your home . I hope things look up for you soon x

Can you apply for the winter fuel allowance its 140 once a year also I found having a electric heater is cheaper then turning the heating on and just heat the room you are in, you also need to eat as this helps you maintain body heat

I hear you. Yesterday I changed the timer so the heating goes off an hour earlier in the evening. My tariff ended in the august. And I was not able to fix again anywhere. I had been paying around £65 a month which covers our use throughout the year. I'm now paying £110 a month and they want me to up it. So it as pretty much doubled.

I was tempted to phone the children's father and ask him how many hours heating he has at his house and maybe he should provide for his kids. But it is a waste of breath.

We will be ok. I'm lucky we have some flexibility in my budget but it comes off the shoes/clothes/birthday/emergency budget.

I've applied for the WHD when it opened in October. I checked with British Gas earlier today and have been told the government have until March to apply it. I've had it every year but for the last 2 years since my son has been over 5 I've always worried I won't receive it as I barely meet the criteria anymore. It doesn't matter that my income falls well below the threshold. I hope I get it this year but by March, things will be warming up. I suppose it will build up some credit. Then again no it won't! Payments are high all year round!

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't bitter towards his 'so called father'. He pays a small amount of maintenance which is forced from his wages. Forced because he refused to pay anything or comply. Sometimes his employer doesn't send it, other times it is short. Because he pays the bare minimum he believes he is meeting his duties as a father. Because apparently actually spending time and having contact with your child at all doesn't count.
Kids get more expensive as they grow up. His payment will always remain low. Whereas my income will keep having to stretch as my child gets older. I will never begrudge him anything but I do feel bitter when these pathetic excuses for fathers can pay such a little amount whereas us Mom's work our arses off, yet struggle so badly through no fault of our own. If his dad contributed properly I wouldn't have to worry about my son so much. School constantly need money for one thing or another. There are always costs when you have kids that maintainence just doesn't acknowledge!

When I switched in March it went from 65 a month to what I'm paying now, £89. I fell through the floor. It was the cheapest by a fair bit at the time. I had no choice. £65 would cover me even in the cold months. I would wake up the heating would go on. We would Come home and it would go on from after school to bedtime. I never used to think twice as I was also in lots of credit. Out of curiosity I did a comparison today and the cheapest now is just short of £150. I wanted to cry.

After 11 years of being a homeowner I shouldn't be living like this. My son doesnt deserve this. It does make me feel like a failure which I know I am not as this is affecting everyone, but it really does make me think I've gone wrong somewhere. His closest friends are from well off families. He takes no notice but as the adult you cant help but see how different out lives are to their's. The one really flaunts it too. Which makes me sad when they know how we struggle. As it feels like that are constantly bragging!

I've had a benefits check but can't hurt having another. I'm pretty sure tax credits is all I can get

I also feel a failure for not having an emergency pot. Unfortunately my emergency is in the form of a credit card which I know doesn't help

On 16k you are probably at the top of the tax credits threshold.

You might be better off on Universal Credit. Just be aware tho, that if you switch to UC, you cant go back to tax credits.

On UC I receive significantly less. I'm told this is because I am mortgaged. This is why I remain on tax credits.

I earn just over 14k after pension payments are taken out

Have you checked out the earn £10 a day threads on here? There may be some ideas to help there. And what about online surveys etc that you could do in the evenings for a few pounds. May not be much but could help.

Spare room ? Could you take in a lodger?

You are not alone in your worries, you’re anxiety is very valid

What is your daily charge & price per unit for gas & electric?

What insulation do you already have? Lift? Cavity wall? Glazing? Draft proofing on doors?

Where are you getting your info on universal credit? Even as a homeowner, earning £14k should mean you can get more from UC, plus 80% of childcare costs. Look for 'universal credit essentials' group on Facebook and the mods can do a calculation for you.

I would suggest you take a look at the turn2us site. And check your entitlement. There is a larger standard payment for home owners and also the taper has changed now so you get a larger amount.

I've used all the calculator and UC essentials before. I've even had people do in on PM on here for me. It's always been lower than TC.
I've just run it though again, and calculated it myself on UC essentials and it's nearly 200 less a month, which to me is significant. So I don't think UC is a wise move for me.

I just need to keep looking for better paid work and hope it turns up sooner rather than later. But it really makes me feel shit. We have no life. I, as an adult have no life other than work me or home/mom me.

My son struggles so badly with his learning and other additional needs. I am getting nowhere with the GP as it has to be led through school. School just fob me off but the anxiety and panic attacks we get at home when doing his work are not normal. This then triggers his migraines which he was finally diagnosed with in September after years of suffering.. I spend the whole school year talking to school about my concerns and they fob me off, only to find that in every end of year report ALL my concerns are confirmed. This is his 4th year in school but these issues were noticed in nursery too. He is suspected to be on the spectrum but again, we start the journey and keep getting fobbed off he isn't old enough, it needs to be led by another department etc and we get nowhere. It was only the other week that our GP told me to speak to the schools SENCO. I've been asking for meetings for years! I am so fed up with them failing him I would love to be able to afford to get him the help he needs but I cant even do that because all my money just about gets us through the month.

Have you looked at DLA for your son. You don't need a diagnosis. If he needs more care and support than other children his age. He has a need and it might be worth exploring.

No as I always thought he had to have a diagnosis. The only thing we have a diagnosis for is his migraines which he is on medication for. His other struggles (and there are quite a few) we have just battled on why because no one wants to help. His nearly 8 and his anger is getting worse because he gets so frustrated not being able to do things like his peers. I accept he needs help but it's finding it

If your son has additional needs. Time of our health and appointments then I would apply. So long as school and the gp can back You up as the dwp won't just take your word for it. They will make contact with them

Is your mortgage quite high? I used to work 32 hours for similar pay and received tax credits and was never at a point where I was skipping meals that is awful. I'm asking about the mortgage in case you can switch to a better deal/remortgage and take out some equity? Are you sure your TC are correct?

The countries fasciantion with Carbon Neutral is to blame, Green Tarrifs and the reduction in cheap and reliable energy sources, with this strange fascination that wind power will somehow cover all of the nations demands.

All that will happen is that we will have to 'buy' power from Russia and co, all powered via coal!

fromdownwest

If new houses had been built with ground source heating and solar panels for the last 10 years it would have made considerable difference to the total power we consume as a nation. Added the the fact that if this had been the case those in new build social housing - which has to account for 10%, would have minimal fuel builds due to green energy

OP you don't need a diagnosis for DLA you just need to prove he's got additional care or mobility needs. If school are fobbing you off I'd look at this link www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/special-educational-needs-support-at-school-sen-ehcp/

This should give you an idea of what school should be doing. Can you get support from an advocate, give the council a ring and they might be able to support you.