benefits so annoying

[chickaroo]

Im not begging just making a statement im sure people will agree.

seperated from my partner a year now raising 2 children on my own,
working part - full time hours a week depeding on availability.
My housing benefit changes that much im in arrears council tax one min im entitled then not!!
School diners cost me 20.00 a week
bus fare 10.00 or more a week its so wron

Where is the help if you dont wk you rent gets paid your council tax gets paid school dinners are free you can get help with uniforms just doesnt seem right surely us who can be bothered to get off our bums should get help???

[loopinlouie]

I'm sorry your having a tough time but maybe you need to get advice as to whether your accurately getting the benefits you would be entitled to.

I appreciate you say income is variable and this must cause stress, but please dont label all on benefits, as not able to get of their bums, its rude for one. There are many different curcumstances leading to a claim for benefit and this can lead to embaressment which in my case triggered my reply.

I am off with long term illness and am a single parent also with children. My ex pays csa to the govt of over 150.00 a week and I get relevant care benefits so I am fortunate and grateful for that. I am hoping to retrain in business management for the day I hope to return to work and I have to make sure they the future employer would cope and understand my needs.

Again I hope you get what you are entitled to and a visit to the cab might help if you feel the DWP are letting you down. I'm sure they would want to encourage you to carry on working and claim relevant support. If it is truly becoming a struggle tell them that you are considering it would be easier not to work and i'm sure they would take a look into it. The DWP who dealt with me were very understanding and helpful. I had to be rehoused due to violence within 24hours and they sorted everything out, so I can not praise them enough.

I have no family support and wonder do you? Does your ex pay direct to the govt or to you? The latter can make benefits variable on top of working hours? Of course these are personal questions and I dont need an answer, just there appears to be some good dwp employees posting on other threads, have a look and ask why should my money vary so, just im so sad your going through a tough time . At least I got of my bum to reply, no sarcasm intended, I could lose some weight , just good luck and of course people definately commend you for working, just if it comes to it dont feel ashamed for claiming help you genuinely need if necessary. Sorry so longwinded and no rant intended My ex said I used to go onPs. I dont get uniform help or with bus passes and unfortunately my sons uniform comes from JLewis, so eek at September, but we manage

[shywazz]

Welcome to Gorden Browns era...................Man y people are in the same postion as yourself, Many people are worse of than yourself, living of benefits isnt everyones cup of tea, there are reasons as to why people claim, either disability, sickness, the list is endless.....
I appricate the thread you have wrote, everyone needs to rant now and then, and i know you meant no harm by the thread...But as Loop has said, some might take offence, but hopefully there will look beyond that, Do book a appointment with your local CAB whom will look at what benefits that you might be able to claim to top up your part time wages, Claiming child tax credit and working tax credit, might be a option for you, this is calulated on the pervious years earnings, you can visit there site at
IR Tax Credits Online you will be able to roughly calulate what you might be able to claim, i'm surprised the local JC didnt make the claim on ur behalf, there must be some child benefits that can be claimed aswell, visit Department for Work and Pensions to find if your able....Remember to claim the council tax and rent allowance discount aswell.....

Don't be offended, but cheap school uniforms can be bought from local charyies, or maybe passed down from nieghbours children, which will cut the schooling cost somewhat, i never had a brand new school uniform, every year it was second hand... Buying a monthly bus pass will work out cheaper than buying weekly ones, again every penny adds up.....school dinners, packed lunches are better than what the school dishes up and would work out cheaper on the pocket, the little savings here and there will soon add up for a treat for urself or put towards something needed.....
You are entitled to make a claim and don't feel like ur begging, claim whats to be claimed and stay strong......

[chickaroo]

ok apologise if any offence was taken but its not intended at peolpe who cant wk because of medical conditions.

but im sorry but there is some lazy people out there who Dont want to wk

[pebs]

You should see if you are entitled to working/child tax credits.
You are then entitled to help with the school uniforms, just not school dinners.

[robin9342]

Originally Posted by pebs

You should see if you are entitled to working/child tax credits.
You are then entitled to help with the school uniforms, just not school dinners.

Thats interesting. My local authority do not provide any help with uniform!
Blow to families as school uniform grant axed

[Allwood]

You can work out what you are entitled to on this site entitledto

[pjdudley69]

Originally Posted by pebs

You should see if you are entitled to working/child tax credits.
You are then entitled to help with the school uniforms, just not school dinners.

Not sure if its just some areas then, as I'm a single parent, working part-time and getting working & child tax credits, and I'm not eligible for help with school uniforms. It wasn't too bad when they were both at the same school - like someone posted earlier, a lot got handed down to the little one [poor bugger always gets cast offs, being the youngest lol], but the older one's started high school now - completely different uniform and an endless list of what he HAD [according to the school handbook] have!

[robin9342]

School uniform is not a legal requirement. Current advice suggests that parents in financial difficulties (where no grant is available) should approach the schools governing body for assistance. Schools also have a duty to ensure their uniforms are reasonably priced.
Legal obligations on uniform policy | Teaching Expertise

[chickaroo]

Originally Posted by loopinlouie

I'm sorry your having a tough time but maybe you need to get advice as to whether your accurately getting the benefits you would be entitled to.

I appreciate you say income is variable and this must cause stress, but please dont label all on benefits, as not able to get of their bums, its rude for one. There are many different curcumstances leading to a claim for benefit and this can lead to embaressment which in my case triggered my reply.

I am off with long term illness and am a single parent also with children. My ex pays csa to the govt of over 150.00 a week and I get relevant care benefits so I am fortunate and grateful for that. I am hoping to retrain in business management for the day I hope to return to work and I have to make sure they the future employer would cope and understand my needs.

Again I hope you get what you are entitled to and a visit to the cab might help if you feel the DWP are letting you down. I'm sure they would want to encourage you to carry on working and claim relevant support. If it is truly becoming a struggle tell them that you are considering it would be easier not to work and i'm sure they would take a look into it. The DWP who dealt with me were very understanding and helpful. I had to be rehoused due to violence within 24hours and they sorted everything out, so I can not praise them enough.

I have no family support and wonder do you? Does your ex pay direct to the govt or to you? The latter can make benefits variable on top of working hours? Of course these are personal questions and I dont need an answer, just there appears to be some good dwp employees posting on other threads, have a look and ask why should my money vary so, just im so sad your going through a tough time . At least I got of my bum to reply, no sarcasm intended, I could lose some weight , just good luck and of course people definately commend you for working, just if it comes to it dont feel ashamed for claiming help you genuinely need if necessary. Sorry so longwinded and no rant intended My ex said I used to go onPs. I dont get uniform help or with bus passes and unfortunately my sons uniform comes from JLewis, so eek at September, but we manage

Dont get any family help no all on me tod just find it hard at times i no there is ways to cut back but someimes i feel i couldnt cut back anymore if i tried.I do get tax credits as well but it just goes on bills i dont even see it i find it such a struggle just think there should be a bit more support for people who wan to try,rather than ones who dont and there is several out there whoo are quite happy not working.Each to there own a isupose its a ranting subject prob just feeling sorry for meself

[Fuzzgin]

I agree with many points made by various people here. I think most people if they can work do, but the problem is that the work world doesn't adjust itself to our needs, but the needs of companies.

I work anywhere beteen 7 and 35 hours per week. Only the first 7 are guaranteed. I don't have children but I do have a long term illness with no immediate prospect of improvement. BecauseI do occasionaly get more hours (although I do often have to refuse due to my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) I'm not entitled to benefits other than the absolute minimum in council tax benefit. This month I got £447 of which I have to pay £71 council tax after the benefit. That was with some extra hours. I'm paying £50 per month in arrears and I still have to live. Even to get the beneit I got, I was turned down the first time and had to appeal. It's so tiring and sometimes I just don't have the energy, no fight any more.

[Joa]

Fuzzgin; the system is so inflexible that it cannot cope with people's changing circumstances. If you've got CFS then you also have to watch for signs of relapse and the last thing you can do is push yourself.
When did you speak to a good welfare adviser? Have a look at this post Useful Links. and get yourself re-assessed.
Good luck fellow traveler
M.E. mum

[Fuzzgin]

Joa I do push myself. I have quiet periods when I'm fine and convince myself that I must be better. I think a lot of people with chronic condtions do this. I'm learning. Various people have told me to give up my job and go on benefits and/or cut the hours, but... I just can't.

[Joa]

well, it is your life and your choice, and i am sure you do your best. it is however one of the perfidies of this illness that there are quiet, fairly good days which ultimately can prove your downfall.