This is going to be emotive I know it is but I don't want it to be...

[LifestylesOfThePoorAndUnknown]

So a bit of background, me and DP live together with our toddler. I was working until about a month ago but I got paid off due to cutbacks, DP works in a lowpaid job about £180 a week but we got ourselves into a bit of debt last year about £2000 max not with cards or anything more about bills and overdrafts.

Since I've been paid off we just can't afford to pay the bills We are justracking up more and more debt and we have been hunting and hnting for jobs neither of us can find anything that wouldn't involve childcare we just could'nt afford that.

We are both in our early 20's and have worked since we left school but now it just seems the only way to get out of debtis by DP leaving his job and signing on. I know that sounds mad but atleast this way our rent and council tax will be paid for us for now until we can manage to get better jobs.

Is this just rediculous and I know we dont want to be dole layabouts but it just seems to be the only way out ATM. It's not the best way to bring our son up and I dont want to be for long but now it seems to be the only solution where we don't end up losing our house and everything we have

Would anyone else even consider this? Feel as though we have let our son down but we are trying to do best for him honestly...

can you not contact your creditors to make arrangments to pay in installments you can afford.

You need to see the CAB.

You have to do what you have to do to look after your family.

Have you been to see anyone about your debts? A debt counsellor would be able to negotiate with creditors on your behalf and sort out a payment plan, so you could maybe just pay what you can afford as long as you are paying them something. The Citizens Advice Bureau can help with this. Good luck.

X post twinset!

If he leaves his job voluntarily I don't think he'd be entitled to benefits straightaway. Get some advice first.

If you are on a low income npower will give you money towards the cost of gas and electricity. You need to earn less then 13k something. You can also apply to some water companies for help paying the water bill. Have you contacted the inland revenue about the working tax credit as it will increase the less you earn so it may be helpful to tell them of a change in circumstances. You may also be able to claim housing benefit.

I claimed income support when I first had ds. I had paid national insurance and tax and benefits are there to support you through the hardest of times. You are not letting anyone down as you are entitled to this. Check all the benefits you are entitled to first though. It can be hard for a working person to go on to benefits as it feels demoralising.

Go to CAB.Make an appointment.They WILL be able to offer constructive advice.

Have you been onto entitledto.com and checked out what benefits you can get?

You should be able to get a reasonable amount of working tax and child tax credit. If you phone them explain your revised circumstances they may be able to exercise discretion and start your payments based on your current earnings.

That is a very good point moshie has made - you wouldn't want him to give up his job and then find he couldn't get full benefits. If you go to the CAB, or your local council might have some sort of advice service, they can do benefit advice and debt counselling so you can see fully what your options are.

It is unlikely that you will be better off if your dp stops work. The standard rate of Jobseekers Allowance for a couple is just £94.95 per week (less if aged are under 25). And if they think he's left work voluntarily without just cause then you may not even get that. On a wage of £180 pwk you are likely to be entitled to Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and may well be entitled to some Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Get to a CAB.

Thanks for all your info and reassurance everyone.

I am with Scottish Hydro for gas & electric and we have a card meter I know it's more expensive but atleast I can keep on top of payments.

We live in the Highlands so water is included in council tax I think

I have contracts that I took when we were better off I need to cancel them but I can't

I have 2 mobile phones (one for me one for DP) that costs us about £95 a month but one is due to run out next month so I am going to ditch that and use PAYG instead and drop DP's contract to as low as possible as his contract has just been renewed.

Does anyone know if there are any ways you can cancel contracts early? I could be gteting a cheaper deal on my broadband and home phone but am stuck with it

Being honest can go along way with getting out of contracts. Try just being honest and say you've lost your job and your fearful you can't keep up payments, what can be done.