Crisis loan

[lala1984]

Hi all

 

I'm currently on ESA and have now been made homeless. My local council has been as useless as a chocolate teapot and when I made a complaint they were so rude with the manager actually telling me they had no obligation to help me.

 

I saved up a bit from my benefit (just over a grand) which has taken a long time but obviously need some more.

 

I've always said I didn't want a crisis loan but now it looks like that's the only choice I have. I'm just really worried that I won't be able to afford repayments due to bills that I'd be paying out. Does anyone know how much they'd take out of my benefits if I took out a £700 loan?

 

I'm so desperate now, been sleeping on friends and families sofas for the past three weeks and I can't take it anymore.

 

Any help would be great.

 

TIA

[MARTIN3030]

The maximum they take for Social Fund repayments is 12% of your weekly benefit.

 

If you have other deductions from your benefit, high priority debt or are in hardship, they will consider lowering the repayment rate. The minimum is 5% of your weekly benefit.

[worried33]

IT seems it can take a while to start repaying it, they initially told me they would take both my crisis loans at once so 24% of my money, I said thats too much and then got a letter saying my case has gone for review, that wasa month ago and havent heard anything since.

[citizenB]

Have you contacted Shelter ? http://england.shelter.org.uk/about_us/how_we_make_a_difference/housing_advice_and_information

[lala1984]

Thanks for the replies, it'll have to be a crisis loan as I have no other choice.

 

Will shelter help me? I also have 2 cats and a dog to think about

[ErikaPNP]

A Crisis Loan can only be taken back at a certain percentage from your benefit at 12%, 10% or 5% dependent on your financial commitments. They can only recover one crisis loan at a time.

 

The amount you are seeking seems very high for what would ordinarily be given for a Crisis Loan. What is the Crisis Loan for?

[lala1984]

As per my previous post it is for rent in advance due to being made homeless

[Nystagmite]

Is there not a council scheme (not sure if housing benefit would cover it?) to help with rent in advance? I know the council help with the deposit.

[lala1984]

Hi. I went to my council last 2 years ago and they put me on the rent deposit scheme, but no one would accept it I then complained and the managers response was 'we have no obligation to help you'

[MARTIN3030]

They may tell you to apply for a budgetting loan.

[citizenB]

Thanks for the replies, it'll have to be a crisis loan as I have no other choice.

 

Will shelter help me? I also have 2 cats and a dog to think about

 

 

I am sure they would be able to help you find somewhere to live or put you in touch with Housing associations.. I have to be honest, I dont really know too much about them, but have seen they have been helpful to others on the forums.

 

If you dont ask, you will never know.

[ErikaPNP]

Sorry, your earlier post didn't specify whether it was RIA or a deposit. RIA claims thankfully have not been removed with the reformation as yet so you can definately submit a claim.

 

They will consider whether their assistance with rent in advance is the only way to prevent serious damage or serious risk to your health or safety. As you have been staying on and off with friends and family they may deem that these are other options available to you to prevent serious damage or serious risk to your health or safety, and may refuse a CL on that basis, so make sure that you explain why staying with others is no longer possible when you apply to counteract this from the off. Also, if you have any debts or arrears to pay, tell them about this because they may be able to give you one of the lower repayment rates if you have other commitments that would place you in hardship if the loan was paid at 12%. It would mean paying the loan (which is interest free) off over a longer period of time but may be more managable for you in terms of budgeting; it's not easy to manage on the shoestring that is benefit.

 

If they do refuse a CL you can apply for a budgeting loan for RIA but only if you have been receiving an income based benefit for 26 weeks or more and you would not be able to get £700.00 on a budgeting loan as a single person because of the limits applicable.

 

Another thing I'd like to mention is to check if you are getting everything that you are entitled to. For example, the condition that you are claiming ESA for - if this condition gives rise to care or mobility needs, you may be entitled to some Disability Living Allowance (DLA). DLA does not affect any other benefit you are entitled to, so you would still get your ESA if you got DLA also.

 

I'd like to see if there is another way of helping you though without you having to claim for a loan as it's clear that you don't want to do that. What reason did the council give for not having any obligation to help you? Have your circumstances changed since then?