Can social services help me with money / debt?

[Bambamxx]

I am currently really struggling with debt at the moment, I have just stopped working due to mental health problems also, so my only source of income at the moment is UC and child benefit.
I have 2 school age children who are picking up on my stress levels.
I am running late on electric, council tax, tv license and other debts I owe money to.

As an example of how bad my money situation is at the moment -: I end up going £500 into my overdraft every month which I recently had to up to £600 to help with bills. I get paid £1,400 UC once a month and £635 of that is taken out for rent, £600 taken by my overdraft.
I am at the end of my tether on what to do. I don’t really have much family that can help with money either and I have maxed out being able to borrow a budgeting loan from the job centre, as I am already paying one back.
Being so skint is making me feel so depressed, and the past few nights even suicidal. The children need some bits for school uniform and I have been going hungry so the children can eat.
My main question is; will social services be able to help with my money situation? Or if anyone has any advice or has been through something similar please let me know, I am desperate.

Contact step change, they are a debt charity and will be able to help you. It sounds really tough
www.stepchange.org/

No, you need to access a debt support agency such as step change above and you can ask school or health visiting to refer you to food banks

Sounds really really tough. You'd be best off contacting either citizens advise or your local council. They might be able to help you with a discretionary housing payment or offer some advice on further benefits. You may qualify for a further council tax reduction.
Are you on medication for your mental health difficulties?
It's really really hard. I've been where you are. I had to get a better job in the end, but appreciate that's not an option for you right now.
Also as pp said, stepchange too.

As others have said, Stepchange or Christians Against Poverty capuk.org/

Step change are great and will be able give best advice get you out of debt. It’s no wonder you feel depressed so please get a GP appointment to discuss if something they can do to help short or long term.

Social services will step in if any concerns over the children's safety or care so debt not really their area. Are your children young enough for a health visitor still? Citizens advice maybe able sign post you to more local charities and food banks or where you may find clothing bank. Have you asked at the school if they have any help
For struggling parents?

Your local authority should have information on welfare rights centres who can support you. I've heard good things about CAP too (christians against poverty but not churchy). You can sometimes get crisis loans for small amount but it's hard and bureaucratic

Please speak to someone at school; the office staff are usually excellent at sourcing needed bits of uniform and will be able to point you in the direction of the member of staff who deals with foodbank referrals etc. If you don't want to speak to them in person, you could telephone or email the office. Alternatively, email headteacher@school etc etc to let them know you are struggling.

Very tough OP. What school bits are needed? Can you make an anonymous request to a local ‘friends in need’ type Facebook page?

For uniform ask the school directly, they often have second hand items (as good as new) or may have a small fund to help with specific purchases. For food ask for a referral to the food bank. Christians against poverty have in person appointments to help you rearrange debts and help with budgeting for the future, they may know of local grant making trusts that can help, they tend to be quite specific so it's hard to suggest here. Social services do not get involved unless there's a safeguarding or neglect issue. Uc can arrange an advance but this won't help you long term.

I think school and social services can help with specific items sometimes (or refer you to whoever can rather) so they can help you with furniture or school clothes and other necessities and then separate agencies mentioned above to help you to deal with debts.

Stopping work is affecting your mental health tho. I really wouldn't have done that. No one is going to swoop in and save you BUT having a job and keeping everything together will help with your money problems. I really never understand why skint people stop working. Its literally the only thing that helps.

It’s certainly not a big income but it’s over £700 after rent so it’s certainly not a lot but shouldn’t really be at ‘going hungry’ levels.

Social services can't help you other than to signpost you on to the agencies which have been mentioned upthread.

@something2say Don't be so ignorant. You have no idea of the specific reasons why Bambam has given up work. Making nasty to someone at their lowest ebb is a disgraceful thing to do.

Bambam, Christians Against Poverty or Stepchange will help you, without judgment. As well as budgeting advice, they'll help negotiate with your lenders to make your repayments more manageable. If you do feel unsafe, please see your GP or call NHS 111 if out of hours.

@Gardensparrows

It’s certainly not a big income but it’s over £700 after rent so it’s certainly not a lot but shouldn’t really be at ‘going hungry’ levels.

It is now gas and electric prices have soared.

True.

@something2say

Stopping work is affecting your mental health tho. I really wouldn't have done that. No one is going to swoop in and save you BUT having a job and keeping everything together will help with your money problems. I really never understand why skint people stop working. Its literally the only thing that helps.

This is such a disgraceful thing to say.

Step change will help you create a debt plan.
A Christians again poverty (you don’t have to be religious and they don’t push religion on you) can help you with your weekly/monthly budget and planning.

CAB/stepchange can help with budgeting advice. In some circumstances you may be eligible for DRO(debt relief order) it will clear up the non essential debts you have and free up funds for council tax/electric/gas. Have you applied for council tax support?

Unless your children are being neglected, not being fed sufficiently - then no to SS

Please please go to citizens advice
They will help

Talk to your bank about paying off your overdraft rather than them taking it all each month

@something2say

Stopping work is affecting your mental health tho. I really wouldn't have done that. No one is going to swoop in and save you BUT having a job and keeping everything together will help with your money problems. I really never understand why skint people stop working. Its literally the only thing that helps.

Because being able to work isn’t as straightforward as you think, maybe?

@Bambamxx Might sound like I’m giving out dreadful advice, but could you open up a bank account with a different bank and have your UC paid in to that? That’s obviously going to leave you in debt with the bank where you have an overdraft facility, but you could then approach somewhere like Stepchange or Citizen’s Advice for help with debt management, they could maybe help you sort out a debt management plan so you pay only what is realistically affordable?

Speak to the utility companies tell them your struggling they can reduce your repayment plan or put one in if you don't have one

@something2say I hope for your sake you’re never put into a situation similar to OP, or something else that ends up affecting your MH causing you to be unable to work. It’s not as black and white as you put it. How narrow minded and ignorant are you?