Income support, benefits, child maintenance

[goblin001]

Is it right/lawful if you are on income support / child benefit and you use the majority of the money you get each month to pay off your own debts as youve got a big loan, money on catalogue, store cards etc. any comments would be appreciated as in my eyes i think its wrong as the child isnt getting as much as they should do as they money is bein used for other things. obviously when your in debt you have to pay it but in these circumstances i dont think its a good thing.

[ladytg]

I don't think its fair its not the child's fault no offence

[silverfox1961]

Hi and welcome to CAG

 

If you are struggling to maintain a reasonable standard of living, you will have to prioritise your debts. The main things to think of are:

Gas

electric

water

(rent and council tax should already be paid as you are on IS)

Food

Mainly, anything that you MUST pay.

 

Unsecured debts such as loans, catalogues and the like are non priority debts and as such you could write to each of the creditors explaining your circumstances and ask them to accept a token payment. Here is a link to some letters you could use:

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-debt-issues/20758-creditors-dcas-letter-templates.html

 

The only drawbacks to going this route is that your credit file is going to get royally screwed and it will hamper your attempts to get credit in the future (well, for 6 years)

 

If any of the creditors refuse to help, then there are other avenues for you to explore should that happen

[ErikaPNP]

There is no law which states what benefit money must be spent on. Income Support does not contain a component for a child anymore since the introduction of child tax credit however claims in effect before this change may still include a child element instead of child tax credit.

 

So long as the child is being adequately cared for I don't see an issue. I work full time so childcare costs are through the roof and I have had to make a lot of cutbacks and generally live very frugally but I've amazed myself at how much I can give my children by looking in the right places, and making savings on usually pricey items.

 

Is it possible that the debts could well be for things bought for (or to provide for) the child?