Breakthrough
Finally! Finally. Innit.
Yep, finally it seems I’ve had some luck. Though of course it had to get worse before it got better. You may recall how I wrote about being on benefits. Yay! I’m a benefits tart. Great. Well, I’ve been waiting on my housing benefits claim, which kind of went AWOL, only nobody told me, until I desperately phoned a special secret number last week and spoke to someone who ACTUALLY gave a rat’s arse about how I was supposed to pay my rent next month, AND seemed to know what they were doing. Phew! Funnily enough – and I’m laughing through gritted teeth here – it all got sorted muchly swiftly, and now, friends and frenemies, I am in receipt of the shiny housing benefits as well.
Uber-yay!
A breakthrough.
The relief is IMMENSE. Maximus immensus. It just means one fewer thing for me to panic about each month. The housing benefit, coupled with my income support, child benefit and child tax credits, is what’s keeping me and Moo afloat. I need to figure it all out, and write it all down, maybe create a nifty spready – just to see in black and white what my incomings and outgoings really amount to. For once in my life, I am going to have to be FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AND ORGANISED. Egad.
I’ll be honest. This is not where I hoped I would be at (almost) 34 years of age. Surviving on benefits? Single parent? Nah, mate. Not me. Never thought I’d be on benefits. And as fabtastic as it is to finally have a breakthrough in matters of the monetary nature, I am kind of feeling bittersweet about it too. No one WANTS to be scraping by on benefits, do they? I think I’d much rather have a steady income from a fulfilling career. Is that ever going to happen for me? I have no idea. Maybe, in time. Once I work out how exactly to become a space pirate.
Until a job in interplanetary buccaneering becomes available, then benefits floozy I am. It ain’t so bad now it is finally done. The relief is the best thing. Working out how to keep my spirits high is an entirely different matter.
The benefits are GOOD. That’s why they’re called benefits. They’re not called detriments, are they? But they come with a side order of taboo and stigma as well. Not least from the Daily Mail brigade. Seriously, wait till they find out my granddad was a GYPSY. Man alive!
So now I’m interested: are you on benefits? How do you feel about that? Maybe you’re not at all, and resent anyone who is? Or maybe I’m the only one making a huge deal out of this and should just shut the fark up?
Leave me a comment in the vacant receptacle below and I’ll pass on some of my good breakthrough karma. Innit.
I aM thrilled for you! Anything that makes life easier is a blessing. I can’t imagine being a single mother so I give you tons of credit. Take as much help as you can get woman and screw those who don’t think you need it
I am on benefits and get rent allowance. I should consider myself lucky but it’s bittersweet. I would love to go back to work but I refuse to go back to work in an office. If I am going back to work I am going back for me and to do something I love (just don’t know what yet!). It’s all part of my raising T, gotta show the girl that you can always do what you want if you have to scrimp and save a bit for a while. Benefits suck in that there ain’t enough each week for us to ever really do anything though!
Yeah it’s tricky knowing that I don’t have the spare cash for the odd treat every now and again. I will really have to save if I want something special for myself or Moo. But maybe that will make it more worth it? Dunno. I am getting a lesson in the value of money. I needed it.
Glad the HB finally came through for you – I always think it’s a full time job just getting the benefits you’re entitled to. I’m self-employed and after a rough year last year am on HB too, and that along with the tax credits is our sole income at the moment until all my hard work pays off with some hard cash. Crossing my fingers it will be soon!
I hear ya, sistah. Good luck with your endeavours.
Good news on the benefits, they are around for a reason. We claimed tax credits for a while. We still need them to be honest, but because it’s based on the previous year’s tax returns, and we had a decentish year last year (ie, we could buy our food from Sainos instead of Aldi – though, I do bloody love Aldi) they stopped them. Too bad that this year we are back to Aldi, and the tax credit people don’t want to know. We are self employed so put whatever we can through our business.
Hmm, it always seems vaguely unfair. I can’t even imagine how complicated sorting your own business finances must be, I have enough trouble counting the pennies in my purse. Hope the tax credit people come through for you soon.
Thanks babe. They won’t, but thanks for the optimism xx
We were on the Australian equivalent for 6 months after I had my first baby and I felt a bit uneasy about it. Almost embarrassed, to tell you the truth. But it was helpful and we needed the cash-a-roo (Australian currency obviously must have a kangaroo involved). If you are eligible then you are entiltled. Don’t think twice about it.
I know. I shouldn’t be bothered, but I am. I’m always castigating myself about not working for my money – but then I guess I can’t work till Moo is old enough for school? Who knows. Might as well take what I can till the government prises it from my grip.
We get full council tax benefit and housing benefit as the husband only has 25 hours a week for his job. Funnily enough he has just been asked to go full time, which he accepted and if we have done our maths right we are actually going to be no better off but I guess we will both feel a bit better in supporting ourselves. We are barely managing as it is and are looking for somewhere else to live (cos we have too many bedrooms) but am not sure how we are meant to afford to move?! :s All confuses me! But YAY for you!
Yeah the bedroom thing gets me. I have two bedrooms but Moo’s room is tiny. Like a cardboard box. So really it’s one and half rooms. Does that count? Like fark it does. Hope stuff gets resolved for you soon.
Wonderis joy!! I’m a mean whizz with a spready shout if you need one knocking up. I organise everything on a spready only way to stay on top of everything, just completed a magnificent one for Ronnies school dates, after school and before school care and holds day care. God I’m dull.
I envy you.
I’ve been on the same benefits as you and am now just on tax credits, waiting for them to sort out my claim but it will make up about half of our income as Martin works part time. He could get full time hours but he’s essentially my carer 4 days a week. I don’t judge people purely for being on benefits. There’s plenty worse a person could do!
Exactly. Lots of people do judge though, esp if they’ve not been on benefits themselves. There’s a stereotype I guess? I wouldn’t say I was a scrounger, more a benefits tart
Never claimed benefit. Don’t judge those who need to. It would be nice if some of ‘those’ people who are talked about in the press were more honest in their dealings. But the same can be said for a lot of things in life. Live and let live and be kind to others, I say.
Unless of course they smoke near my children
p.s. Super happy it’s all sorted out for you though
xxx
Mahahahahah thanks innit
I’ve never actually been on benefits (welfare as they call it here) but my kiddos do get health insurance from the government. I want to be able to provide those things for them but geesh, it’s so freaking expensive. There was a time when I could have probably qualified for it but didn’t go through with it.
I don’t know how it works over there. Must be a similar process?
Yeah, I think so. I think you guys have government provided healthcare where as we do not, yet. Our president passed a law to change that but I don’t think it will stand.
That’s right. I really do need to follow current affairs more closely
They are there for people who need them.
It is a good job they are there as it has helped me out of a few tricky situation i.e. the no-job-post-graduation stress.
That said, for some of the time I worked random part time jobs as it got me more money than benefits, but when the redundancy struck at one point and rent was coming out – housing benefit was a God-send.
i count myself fortunate I am not on them right now and I am earning a good wage, but i would never be too proud to accept them should the need arise in the future – that’s what we pay tax for right?
I’m sure there are a fair few out there who don’t really deserve hand-outs, and the job centre does not help telling job-seekers that they only need to do 3 things in a whole week to find a job….anyway that rant is for another time!
Ah you make total sense. I don’t think I ever felt too proud to make a claim, it was just that I would rather have an income from working. That’s not possible while I am a full time mum. Finding a job (which is difficult enough) would be pointless until I can afford childcare. I’m glad you’re doing OK right now, hope that continues for you
Yup what Cargill said fo’ sho. I was once on benefits with 6 children under the age of 6. Grimmest time of my life bar none.
I’m stuck in a bit of a bind at the moment. Need to find somewhere to live, have no money of my own so can’t. Can’t claim benefits till I have somewhere to live and essentially being a single mother of 2 no letting agents in the area what to touch me with a shitty barge pole. And so I stay here, get divorced, try to take money from my husband (whilst living with him – yay that sounds utter joy) and then I can afford to move out.
And then, finally, I will claim benefits.
Unless I can make my fortune in the meantime.
Hmm that sounds rather self wallowing and depressing of me, I do apologise. Great news on the getting the Bennies sorted. (I don’t think Bennies is an officially recognised term)
Dude, let’s start a commune. Innit.
I’m on benefits. I’ve got no choice. I had to give up work to care for Samuel and I get Carers Allowance. Sam gets Disability Living Allowance and we get child tax credits. It doesn’t go anywhere near what I was warning pre-Sam but does help.
But we are very lucky. I have my husband who is a teacher and although he doesn’t earn a fortune, he looks after us very well.
It feels very strange. Im financially supported by my husband and the state. This is not what I expected in life but not something I will complain about. I’m actually extremely lucky.
You are, and I am, and believe me, I’m not moaning about it at all. But it is strange, you’re right. I’ve always had my own income – up until moving to Italy – and even though my ex used to shoulder most of the financial outgoings (his job was better paid than any of mine) I always had my own money. So it feels v bizarre to not have that! Maybe a period of readjustment?
Glad things are finally getting sorted love. We still have some free food and wine to use up at P and P also if you fancy a cheap night out soon
YAY! Let’s go out soon, just you and me. Maybe that could be a P&P night?
I’m on tax credits which is a type of benefit. I used to survive on income support which was AWFUL. It’s enough money to stop your kids starving, which is the most basic form of social compassion. So, claim it. Use it.
I’m glad it’s sorted.
)
Got it. Got it all. Finally! Thank you for being you and helping me out, innit
I have been on benefits, and I have been homeless , boy did I feel good about myself. Seriously though your situation is why I thank god we have the welfare state, you need, deserve benefits. It won’t be forever before you know it you will find a golden goose in the sandpit in the park and everything will be groovy. In the meantime I’m a dab hand with the spread sheet thinagmeboby so feel free to call on me and I would love to imput your data !
There are golden geese in the park?? WAHOO! Thanks missus, I’m going to play with Excel tonight and see if I can’t spaff up a nifty spready myself. I might call on you for advice
I’m not, but I have been. And it’s pretty shit.
The ‘OMG WOMAN WITH SIX KIDS HAS A MANSION’ stories that appear in the press bore me to tears. That single mother, looking after six kids, probably has a really shit life.
Glad to hear your stuff got sorted out, though.
But yeah, you really should just shut the fark up.
Mahahahaha thanks Mr C. I can always rely on you for a good healthy reality check.