It was last week I think, listening to LBC radio, one of the presenters asked if benefit claimants should be stigmatised.
Stiggers! For years a wealth of our society have thought so, or so I though. Afterall, that's how you came into existance...Stigma, Stigmamma, Stigmum!
Last week's news was how overweight people should agree to exercise or have their housing benefit cut (more than it's already being cut)
A bill is being passed to day to legislate the reduction of benefit payments. Benefit claimants get too much. So they're reducing annual payments to 1% instead as measuring it to inflation. Haven't the Tories done well?
They've pitted the working poor against the welfare poor and blinded people with their rhetoric.
Didn't Osborne paint that picture of the father leaving for work while next door, blinds down, the benefit claimant, stays in bed? What I find interesting about that is I'm pretty sure when I first read that, Osborne mentioned the father leaving for work before 'his children are awake'.... Ooh they quickly erased that from the propaganda, especially with the likes of me wondering who's looking after his children? Ach well, yesterday they took child benefit away from children. Not mine of course, I'm not at £60,000 yet.
Within a decade benefits, all benefits, will be worth nothing. They are worth little now but with rising food, fuel, vat etc etc, you see where I'm going.
Where am I going?
Where are you going?
I hope you're going somewhere good, and not a life of permanent poverty. I'm hope I'm going there too.
P.S Should overweight ministers get a grocery allowance?
P.P.S I know I keep coming back to this but: Is parenting a job?
Showing posts with label Housing benefit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Housing benefit. Show all posts
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Thursday, 9 February 2012
The Government is bad for our health
If I have made myself ill it is because the Government has made me ill.
I have tried not to allow it to get to me but it depresses me; makes me angry, gets me pissed off. I can only articulate it on here, it silences me in reality, renders me mute. "I don't like it when you're in your daydream head mummy," says my son. I may go to the Women's Centre and start articulating it there. I told them I'd pop by, when I met them at the lobby.
If I have made myself ill it is because of recurring evictions and a State that can but won't stop this cycle; won't regulate rents or build affordable homes. It's disgusting, disgusting what's going on. Private landlords aren't dropping rents and housing associations are increasing theirs. I know all this because the perk, if you like, of being in a need of housing situation, is that you have access to what social and council properties are available and for how much they are going for.
All this makes me ill.
A government who forces me out to work during a recession, when I have a job already. I'm a childminder, though paid less. Oh, doesn't my child count?
Is motherhood not valued anymore?
Is it a 'non job'?
Is that why lone parents aren't given social housing anymore, because they don't "work"?
This government has put me on ESA, with its damning policies and legislations.
Everytime I get better I get knocked down.
A nation of knocked down people.
I'm no different to a criminal forced to do community service - voluntary work by another name - internships - we won't pay you - and we'll take away the childcare so you have nowhere to outsource your primary occupation - ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa.
I love writing this shit.
I could keep writing it, keep writing it if it makes ONE PERSON THINK
I've got to stop thinking though. That's what's got me into my mess, well, according to Louise Hay, according to me.
Angry, pissed off, hurting, hurting hurting hurting
A nation of angry, pissed off, hurting people.
A generation of children living with angry, pissed off, hurting people, bounced from one home to another, overcrowded, cold, in debt.
I wanted to give you a happy ending. Oh! I can't!
"By the time people wake up, the damage will have been done," the Ed said to me.
Yeah...
Read all about it! Read all about it!!
I have to rest now, think of my son.
My son, my sun, my son
I'm blessed, that's the problem isn't it Prime Minister?
I have tried not to allow it to get to me but it depresses me; makes me angry, gets me pissed off. I can only articulate it on here, it silences me in reality, renders me mute. "I don't like it when you're in your daydream head mummy," says my son. I may go to the Women's Centre and start articulating it there. I told them I'd pop by, when I met them at the lobby.
If I have made myself ill it is because of recurring evictions and a State that can but won't stop this cycle; won't regulate rents or build affordable homes. It's disgusting, disgusting what's going on. Private landlords aren't dropping rents and housing associations are increasing theirs. I know all this because the perk, if you like, of being in a need of housing situation, is that you have access to what social and council properties are available and for how much they are going for.
All this makes me ill.
A government who forces me out to work during a recession, when I have a job already. I'm a childminder, though paid less. Oh, doesn't my child count?
Is motherhood not valued anymore?
Is it a 'non job'?
Is that why lone parents aren't given social housing anymore, because they don't "work"?
This government has put me on ESA, with its damning policies and legislations.
Everytime I get better I get knocked down.
A nation of knocked down people.
I'm no different to a criminal forced to do community service - voluntary work by another name - internships - we won't pay you - and we'll take away the childcare so you have nowhere to outsource your primary occupation - ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa.
I love writing this shit.
I could keep writing it, keep writing it if it makes ONE PERSON THINK
I've got to stop thinking though. That's what's got me into my mess, well, according to Louise Hay, according to me.
Angry, pissed off, hurting, hurting hurting hurting
A nation of angry, pissed off, hurting people.
A generation of children living with angry, pissed off, hurting people, bounced from one home to another, overcrowded, cold, in debt.
I wanted to give you a happy ending. Oh! I can't!
"By the time people wake up, the damage will have been done," the Ed said to me.
Yeah...
Read all about it! Read all about it!!
I have to rest now, think of my son.
My son, my sun, my son
I'm blessed, that's the problem isn't it Prime Minister?
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Rent and Universal Credit capped at £26000
There are Tory spies out there, I know. That whole cabinet is going to say thanks Stigmum, now we know how to hurt you and hurt all those other families! Woo hooooooo!
Remember, before I give these figures, how hard I have fought for a council flat, how often I have bidded for some box on some estate you wouldn't choose if you were rich and been unsuccessful.
Subject: The £26,000 cap
Who: Two single mothers
Rent example: One in Private versus one in Council housing
Me:
Rent £350 per week =18,200 a year
£26000
- 18200
= 7800 a year to live on
My friend
Rent £140 per week = £7280 a year
£26000
-7280
=£18720
I worked out that I currently get £7449, excluding council tax
Doubt my friend gets £18700 with her three kids.
You might think £7749 is a lot
All this Tory shouting it's not fair people live in places you hard working people can't afford! Me and my friend live really close to one another, that's how we're friends.
Shockingly, including my rent and council tax, I get £13 more than the proposed £500 weekly cap. Yearly therefore I looked like I'm better off but weekly I'm worse off by £13. Above the proposed cap with £26689. I shall go back to the draw board with this
What's newly frightened me of course, is if I get a job that pays £35,000 a year which means I go home with £26000 after tax (what I read Dave tell Asda) is I only have £7800 to feed (at school too) and clothe and heat and I don't get to see my child at all because I've had to pay someone else to look after him. Who's going to pay me that anyway?
My friend on the other hand, on the same salary, might be able to afford a holiday, in a tent, in Devon (or somewhere). Then again, maybe not, price of rail travel these days.
WE NEED MORE EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL HOUSING
WE NEED MORE EMPHASIS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Not on displacing children
Not removing them from good schools
Not watching their parents so stressed and frightened about an unclear future.
It's not 'workless' parents that ruin their future (if you read the Mail or any other right wing commentator), it's a government that fails to understand the meaning of secure affordable housing because they take their own for granted.
Welfare Reform has been proven to save very little money, an article yesterday in the Guardian saying "The £275m savings as a proportion of the £192bn spent on welfare payments in 2010 is tiny." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/23/duncan-smith-benefit-cap-poverty?intcmp=239) but this ideologically driven government does not care.
Do you care Tory spy?
I'm off to be sick.
Remember, before I give these figures, how hard I have fought for a council flat, how often I have bidded for some box on some estate you wouldn't choose if you were rich and been unsuccessful.
Subject: The £26,000 cap
Who: Two single mothers
Rent example: One in Private versus one in Council housing
Me:
Rent £350 per week =18,200 a year
£26000
- 18200
= 7800 a year to live on
My friend
Rent £140 per week = £7280 a year
£26000
-7280
=£18720
I worked out that I currently get £7449, excluding council tax
Doubt my friend gets £18700 with her three kids.
You might think £7749 is a lot
All this Tory shouting it's not fair people live in places you hard working people can't afford! Me and my friend live really close to one another, that's how we're friends.
Shockingly, including my rent and council tax, I get £13 more than the proposed £500 weekly cap. Yearly therefore I looked like I'm better off but weekly I'm worse off by £13. Above the proposed cap with £26689. I shall go back to the draw board with this
What's newly frightened me of course, is if I get a job that pays £35,000 a year which means I go home with £26000 after tax (what I read Dave tell Asda) is I only have £7800 to feed (at school too) and clothe and heat and I don't get to see my child at all because I've had to pay someone else to look after him. Who's going to pay me that anyway?
My friend on the other hand, on the same salary, might be able to afford a holiday, in a tent, in Devon (or somewhere). Then again, maybe not, price of rail travel these days.
WE NEED MORE EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL HOUSING
WE NEED MORE EMPHASIS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Not on displacing children
Not removing them from good schools
Not watching their parents so stressed and frightened about an unclear future.
It's not 'workless' parents that ruin their future (if you read the Mail or any other right wing commentator), it's a government that fails to understand the meaning of secure affordable housing because they take their own for granted.
Welfare Reform has been proven to save very little money, an article yesterday in the Guardian saying "The £275m savings as a proportion of the £192bn spent on welfare payments in 2010 is tiny." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/23/duncan-smith-benefit-cap-poverty?intcmp=239) but this ideologically driven government does not care.
Do you care Tory spy?
I'm off to be sick.
Wrecking amendments - children's lives first
I managed to get out and lobby yesterday with the Single Mother's Self Defence crew outside Parliament. There I spoke to the priest I've met a few times, a fierce campaigner of people in debt, and a Lord.
The Lord came out to tell us that they were going vote on two issues
1)Homeless households be exempt from the cuts
2) Child benefit be excluded from the caps.
The Lords were defeated on the former (so fabulous news for my child) but the Government are up in arms at being defeated on the second (truly fabulous news for all children)
To be honest,I feel SO SICK. The cap takes no account of rent, never mind living costs as a parent. You read the papers (don't don't!) and Tory ministers, like Dave, going to Asda and asking workers "Is it fair that people earn benefits of £26,000? (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2090750/Welfare-reform-Labour-bishops-Lib-Dem-peers-derail-benefits-cap-plan.html)
They like to chuck around numbers to get ordinary people really riled up.
Lord Freud, the welfare reform minister, said the Labour amendments were a 'wrecking amendment.' Wrecking their wrecking plans you mean. According to Inside Housing he said:
"It is very easy to see that any local authorities could consider people threatened with homelessness or priority need as any household with children.
‘In practical terms this is the same as not having a cap at all." (http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/defeat-for-government-on-welfare-reform-bill/6520086.article)
Laid bare for you...The caps are directed at CHILDREN. The caps are directed at families with CHILDREN. Tory wrecking amendments to children's lives as if their lives aren't already hard enough.
My child, evicted again, risks to his education flare up again and for what? Security? No! No, it's for nothing because his mother can't handle it either.
And I really wish they'd stop banging on about "a culture of worklessness" during a fucking recession where thousands are losing their jobs and hundreds are in competition with one another for one position.
This was not what I was going to write about this morning.
I will go out and lobby again tomorrow. I don't care if I'm nervous, I don't care if I'm shy. It's the Year of the Dragon and that must mean something. Roar...
The Lord came out to tell us that they were going vote on two issues
1)Homeless households be exempt from the cuts
2) Child benefit be excluded from the caps.
The Lords were defeated on the former (so fabulous news for my child) but the Government are up in arms at being defeated on the second (truly fabulous news for all children)
To be honest,I feel SO SICK. The cap takes no account of rent, never mind living costs as a parent. You read the papers (don't don't!) and Tory ministers, like Dave, going to Asda and asking workers "Is it fair that people earn benefits of £26,000? (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2090750/Welfare-reform-Labour-bishops-Lib-Dem-peers-derail-benefits-cap-plan.html)
They like to chuck around numbers to get ordinary people really riled up.
Lord Freud, the welfare reform minister, said the Labour amendments were a 'wrecking amendment.' Wrecking their wrecking plans you mean. According to Inside Housing he said:
"It is very easy to see that any local authorities could consider people threatened with homelessness or priority need as any household with children.
‘In practical terms this is the same as not having a cap at all." (http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/defeat-for-government-on-welfare-reform-bill/6520086.article)
Laid bare for you...The caps are directed at CHILDREN. The caps are directed at families with CHILDREN. Tory wrecking amendments to children's lives as if their lives aren't already hard enough.
My child, evicted again, risks to his education flare up again and for what? Security? No! No, it's for nothing because his mother can't handle it either.
And I really wish they'd stop banging on about "a culture of worklessness" during a fucking recession where thousands are losing their jobs and hundreds are in competition with one another for one position.
This was not what I was going to write about this morning.
I will go out and lobby again tomorrow. I don't care if I'm nervous, I don't care if I'm shy. It's the Year of the Dragon and that must mean something. Roar...
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Unable to lobby when lobbying's needed
I missed it yesterday; the single mothers self defence corp lobbying parliament against welfare reforms
I'm missing it tonight; Defend council housing against the 8% rise in tenants' rents.
I am a single mother
I am not a tenant
I am against rent rises everywhere
and against pay freezes
I am not a tenant.
Between you and me, existing tenants enjoy really good affordable rents. I don't think they know, or maybe they do of course, it's why they're lobbying.
What I mean therefore, is, for example, two bed properties that I bid on are around £120 a week. The cheapest are around £118, not much lower.
Existing tenants, their rent might be £84 a week for the same thing. I know!! Fabulous isn't it?!
I'm not not going to the lobby because I'm not a tenant.
In many ways I'm grateful there are more people to shout out against expensive rents. I'm hoarse after begging and begging for 8 years for affordable rents. Only you, reader, hear me, I could hug my followers for not switching off.
I'm not going to the lobby because
well, the fight's not in me at the moment
all I can do is eat
eat
eat
eat
crisps and chocolate mostly
Iceland are doing good deals on them at the moment
My son didn't even know I'd bought a six pack of cheese and onion crisps for £1 because I'd eaten them all before he got home!
The exclamation mark is because I've realised that's quite an achievement!
Actually that doesn't need an exclamation mark
Achievement would be making it to a lobby
Thank you all of those who go.
I'm missing it tonight; Defend council housing against the 8% rise in tenants' rents.
I am a single mother
I am not a tenant
I am against rent rises everywhere
and against pay freezes
I am not a tenant.
Between you and me, existing tenants enjoy really good affordable rents. I don't think they know, or maybe they do of course, it's why they're lobbying.
What I mean therefore, is, for example, two bed properties that I bid on are around £120 a week. The cheapest are around £118, not much lower.
Existing tenants, their rent might be £84 a week for the same thing. I know!! Fabulous isn't it?!
I'm not not going to the lobby because I'm not a tenant.
In many ways I'm grateful there are more people to shout out against expensive rents. I'm hoarse after begging and begging for 8 years for affordable rents. Only you, reader, hear me, I could hug my followers for not switching off.
I'm not going to the lobby because
well, the fight's not in me at the moment
all I can do is eat
eat
eat
eat
crisps and chocolate mostly
Iceland are doing good deals on them at the moment
My son didn't even know I'd bought a six pack of cheese and onion crisps for £1 because I'd eaten them all before he got home!
The exclamation mark is because I've realised that's quite an achievement!
Actually that doesn't need an exclamation mark
Achievement would be making it to a lobby
Thank you all of those who go.
Monday, 9 January 2012
You have to ask yourself if any politician cares
It was a dream I had, to write to the chancellor. "Oh go away nightmare!" I screamed but it wouldn't. The image of the chancellors face floated before me with the words "God forsaking coalition" and the voice saying "write to him". It's hearing the benefit review hadn't gone through yet just after the new year which spurred me to action....
5th January 2012
Dear Right Honourable [Chancellor of the Exchequer],
Tell me, please, is everyone blind to the country’s housing crisis in this God forsaking coalition?
I am writing to you because I am hoping you are not. I am hoping you can communicate a level of understanding of where our country is amongst your peers.
I have enclosed two pieces of writing I had published last month which I am hoping you will find time to read. One is a viewpoint in the Ham & High; the other a letter in the Camden New Journal. My fear is that they are timeless pieces no matter which Party is in power. I hope I am wrong.
Sir, capping benefits, lowering housing allowances, are not the answer to the catastrophe in front of us. Replacing a focus on refurbishing empty properties and building affordable housing is. Not what’s affordable to you and your cabinet but affordable to me and my fellow country men and women.
Rent should be kept out of the Universal Credit equation the coalition is intent on pushing through. It may all sound great in theory but in practice it will only devastate more lives. Crime is already increasing.
I have never written to a chancellor before. I didn’t think a chancellor could do anything but of course they can; of course you can. Do you care for our country and all the people within it?
Mr [Chancellor], our country needs you.
I hold faith that your influence can help heal the problems that have accumulated over decades in the housing sector.
Watch It’s a Wonderful Life Mr [Chancellor]. It is sadly a timeless film where today people actually are hurling themselves over bridges (Archway Bridge near me).
Don’t be a Potter Government Sir. Not now, not anymore.
I look forward to hearing good news and soon. There is time to review the legislation that sees our country suffering no end. Your country is mine but we are not in it together.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I hope you can see what I’m saying.
Yours sincerely,
Sue de Nim
I wish I'd written:
P.S: Is parenting a job?
P.P.S: Please don't charge me to access my son's maintenance. We're in enough debt as it is.
Missed opportunities ey but let's hope, let's hope that this cabinet aren't all in it together and that one has a flipping conscience and the brain in his head to bring about positive change for the masses not the few.
5th January 2012
Dear Right Honourable [Chancellor of the Exchequer],
Tell me, please, is everyone blind to the country’s housing crisis in this God forsaking coalition?
I am writing to you because I am hoping you are not. I am hoping you can communicate a level of understanding of where our country is amongst your peers.
I have enclosed two pieces of writing I had published last month which I am hoping you will find time to read. One is a viewpoint in the Ham & High; the other a letter in the Camden New Journal. My fear is that they are timeless pieces no matter which Party is in power. I hope I am wrong.
Sir, capping benefits, lowering housing allowances, are not the answer to the catastrophe in front of us. Replacing a focus on refurbishing empty properties and building affordable housing is. Not what’s affordable to you and your cabinet but affordable to me and my fellow country men and women.
Rent should be kept out of the Universal Credit equation the coalition is intent on pushing through. It may all sound great in theory but in practice it will only devastate more lives. Crime is already increasing.
I have never written to a chancellor before. I didn’t think a chancellor could do anything but of course they can; of course you can. Do you care for our country and all the people within it?
Mr [Chancellor], our country needs you.
I hold faith that your influence can help heal the problems that have accumulated over decades in the housing sector.
Watch It’s a Wonderful Life Mr [Chancellor]. It is sadly a timeless film where today people actually are hurling themselves over bridges (Archway Bridge near me).
Don’t be a Potter Government Sir. Not now, not anymore.
I look forward to hearing good news and soon. There is time to review the legislation that sees our country suffering no end. Your country is mine but we are not in it together.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I hope you can see what I’m saying.
Yours sincerely,
Sue de Nim
I wish I'd written:
P.S: Is parenting a job?
P.P.S: Please don't charge me to access my son's maintenance. We're in enough debt as it is.
Missed opportunities ey but let's hope, let's hope that this cabinet aren't all in it together and that one has a flipping conscience and the brain in his head to bring about positive change for the masses not the few.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Back to Housing...2012
I have just written a lovely post about my son back at school. Lovely for me, not for you necessarily.
The Back to School label was going to harbour a post about my son, yes, but also, blogging. Back to blogging
Back to blogging...
Back to housing?
Well I don't know
I asked myself why I had a housing 2011 label last year. I should have given myself a break from it, not thought about That Which Makes Me Want To Kill Myself.
I know why I didn't though; the legislations were still untabled (untabled?) I could still try to stop them going through.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
Oh my God, what was I thinking?!!!
That even if I'd put more into it, possibly written more articles, or letters, or tweets to the housing minister no-one would be losing their homes this year, thousands instead would move into secure affordable ones???!
Oh my, I'm so funny!!!! Fantastically deluded!!!!
I do not know why I have set up a Housing 2012 label. I think I had a thought over the holidays that I would have to start thinking about bidding this year and the label MIGHT help me do that. But what more can I tell you about bidding that I already haven't? Jack shit, that's what.
Listen, I'm going to send my It Could Be You article to a couple more politicians. Need to follow those voracious dreams I had over Christmas even if it's pointless (talking of which my points should go up this year...ten years in the borough..ten years....a decade...oh my God, a decade lost, lost to...)
After that, well I Don't Know
See what comes ey
I'm told I'm protected from the housing benefit cuts but I'm not protected from arrears if I get a job (parenting is a job isn't it?), am I? Are you?
"Happy New Fear!" the Estimator said to me in the coffee shop this morning.
Years I've been afraid, years, you know, three of them are recorded.
For an Estimator to say Happy New Fear
well all I can say is
Welcome to my world all you middle classes
The Back to School label was going to harbour a post about my son, yes, but also, blogging. Back to blogging
Back to blogging...
Back to housing?
Well I don't know
I asked myself why I had a housing 2011 label last year. I should have given myself a break from it, not thought about That Which Makes Me Want To Kill Myself.
I know why I didn't though; the legislations were still untabled (untabled?) I could still try to stop them going through.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
Oh my God, what was I thinking?!!!
That even if I'd put more into it, possibly written more articles, or letters, or tweets to the housing minister no-one would be losing their homes this year, thousands instead would move into secure affordable ones???!
Oh my, I'm so funny!!!! Fantastically deluded!!!!
I do not know why I have set up a Housing 2012 label. I think I had a thought over the holidays that I would have to start thinking about bidding this year and the label MIGHT help me do that. But what more can I tell you about bidding that I already haven't? Jack shit, that's what.
Listen, I'm going to send my It Could Be You article to a couple more politicians. Need to follow those voracious dreams I had over Christmas even if it's pointless (talking of which my points should go up this year...ten years in the borough..ten years....a decade...oh my God, a decade lost, lost to...)
After that, well I Don't Know
See what comes ey
I'm told I'm protected from the housing benefit cuts but I'm not protected from arrears if I get a job (parenting is a job isn't it?), am I? Are you?
"Happy New Fear!" the Estimator said to me in the coffee shop this morning.
Years I've been afraid, years, you know, three of them are recorded.
For an Estimator to say Happy New Fear
well all I can say is
Welcome to my world all you middle classes
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Housing benefit has NOT been suspended
It helped writing yesterday. It helped showing myself my son's Red Card. Screaming out. It meant that this morning I could force myself to fill in the housing benefit forms to have it reinstated.
I was thinking the system I am trapped in demands so much transparency from me, from you but the higher up the chain you go...well, do you really think the expenses scandal is over? Do they have to show their bank balances each time they make a claim? No. Would they find that invasive? Yes, of course. Dave bought a drive way the other month for £140,000. A drive way! For cash? Wot no mortgage? What benefits do you think he claims for these days? Be nice if he declared all his assets wouldn't it? Well, we're asked to.
Anyway I send it off hoping I don't add detriment to my situation. (No, I don't have £140,000 squirrelled away incase you're asking. I'd have spent it by now, on a deposit, since you might be asking)
This afternoon a white and green envelope arrives from the council, with a letter inside, saying
No Change In Benefit
I have worked out your housing and council benefit again...
Private Claims Team (what a job...)
Damn. Why did I send the letter? Me who's usually so disorganised?
The man on the phone said they follow whatever instruction comes from the jobcentre (makes you really excited about going back to work...) and they saw that I was still on benefits so no change.
Good though, a relief. No comebacks please...
Small mercies.
Small ones
Only for the time being though
Best not think about it
I was thinking the system I am trapped in demands so much transparency from me, from you but the higher up the chain you go...well, do you really think the expenses scandal is over? Do they have to show their bank balances each time they make a claim? No. Would they find that invasive? Yes, of course. Dave bought a drive way the other month for £140,000. A drive way! For cash? Wot no mortgage? What benefits do you think he claims for these days? Be nice if he declared all his assets wouldn't it? Well, we're asked to.
Anyway I send it off hoping I don't add detriment to my situation. (No, I don't have £140,000 squirrelled away incase you're asking. I'd have spent it by now, on a deposit, since you might be asking)
This afternoon a white and green envelope arrives from the council, with a letter inside, saying
No Change In Benefit
I have worked out your housing and council benefit again...
Private Claims Team (what a job...)
Damn. Why did I send the letter? Me who's usually so disorganised?
The man on the phone said they follow whatever instruction comes from the jobcentre (makes you really excited about going back to work...) and they saw that I was still on benefits so no change.
Good though, a relief. No comebacks please...
Small mercies.
Small ones
Only for the time being though
Best not think about it
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
My son shows the Red Card
On my friend Annie's boyfriend's advice, my son drew a STOP sign on red paper which he was told to show the boys at school who were picking on him.
Good ey. Your child gets picked on or teased at school, doesn't need to say anything, just shows the Red Card (and eyeballs kid before walking away).
Wow, you could do it, take it to work. Boss being an arse? Show him or her your Red Card.
I need my son's card to day.
It's all the dark stuff... benefits...insecure expensive housing...no heating because the bills are already too high without it...guilt my son is cold at night..
voices...all voices...my voice...my voice...government policy...council policy...cause and effect...
STOP
Suspending housing benefit when you get sick
I didn't actually want to be writing about housing right now. I wanted to write about 'spiritual emergencies' or 'mental breakdown' (in medical parlance) because it's well, more trippy but fuck. More shit comes through the post and stiggers is like "WRITE IT DOWN'
NO
YES
NO
A couple of weeks ago I signed over to Employment Support Allowance (there are retrospective posts about this in my Black Notebook.. like I said, it would have all come later this life on benefits stuff)
Yesterday, having just received a letter telling me I am £2000 in arrears from the housing association, I get a letter from the local council telling me my housing and council benefit has been suspended.
Dear Ms de Nim,
Notification of Suspension of Benefit
Suspension of Housing and Council Benefit
"The law allows me to suspend houisng benefit and council tax payments in certain circumstances (LIKE WHEN YOU'RE SICK). I am writing to tell you that I have suspended your rent payments from 21/11/2011 and your council tax payments from 28/11/2011 because your JSA (IB) has stopped."
Fuckers. Honestly. Fucking fuckers. Then they wonder why people top themselves or run riot and set places on fire.
I tell a stigmum mate who's actively seeking work this morning (and has a council flat) that I'm on ESA and housing benefit's been stopped and she says "What are you doing for money?"
and I'm like "Money's fucked..."
"Get a job!" she says. "Go back on jobseekers!"
Oh fucking fucking hell.
People don't understand.
People don't understand people with mental health problems because it can be so invisible (unless it's really fecking visible like the man on the bus the other day talking to himself)
People certainly don't understand me. Clear complexion, bright eyes, smile smile smile (or am I gurning?)
On closer inspection actally I don't have a clear complexion, or bright eyes. I just look flipping tired. The job application can wait..yes, yes, I have one in my bag...fat fucking chance I'll get a job I love though....
Anyway, this post is just so you know that if you sign off signing on because you're unwell, they'll suspend your benefits. Woo hoo!
The exclamation mark's a joke
NO
YES
NO
A couple of weeks ago I signed over to Employment Support Allowance (there are retrospective posts about this in my Black Notebook.. like I said, it would have all come later this life on benefits stuff)
Yesterday, having just received a letter telling me I am £2000 in arrears from the housing association, I get a letter from the local council telling me my housing and council benefit has been suspended.
Dear Ms de Nim,
Notification of Suspension of Benefit
Suspension of Housing and Council Benefit
"The law allows me to suspend houisng benefit and council tax payments in certain circumstances (LIKE WHEN YOU'RE SICK). I am writing to tell you that I have suspended your rent payments from 21/11/2011 and your council tax payments from 28/11/2011 because your JSA (IB) has stopped."
Fuckers. Honestly. Fucking fuckers. Then they wonder why people top themselves or run riot and set places on fire.
I tell a stigmum mate who's actively seeking work this morning (and has a council flat) that I'm on ESA and housing benefit's been stopped and she says "What are you doing for money?"
and I'm like "Money's fucked..."
"Get a job!" she says. "Go back on jobseekers!"
Oh fucking fucking hell.
People don't understand.
People don't understand people with mental health problems because it can be so invisible (unless it's really fecking visible like the man on the bus the other day talking to himself)
People certainly don't understand me. Clear complexion, bright eyes, smile smile smile (or am I gurning?)
On closer inspection actally I don't have a clear complexion, or bright eyes. I just look flipping tired. The job application can wait..yes, yes, I have one in my bag...fat fucking chance I'll get a job I love though....
Anyway, this post is just so you know that if you sign off signing on because you're unwell, they'll suspend your benefits. Woo hoo!
The exclamation mark's a joke
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Taking breaks from Life
I've swooped into Blogland to let you know I shall probably start writing again next week, and it will probably be retrospective stuff written over the past two that I've not been on here.
I'm in a funny space. Funny strange and funny haha and funny cos it's not funny at all. One of those spaces! You know it?!
I took myself to the doctor and said I was fine apart from the headaches and I was generally ok, ya know. Told her I'd been to a psychic healer and was reading about God.
Well...bless her, she said I was very depressed and needed something more 'concrete'. I sniggered because God is a pretty concrete concept to me at the moment (that's what reading does to you...)
But, you know, my Life. Nothing much to snigger about there for millions of us. The Chancellors shoved his austerity cloak/blanket/shroud on women and children (I read in the Mirror yesterday) and my housing associatiion is saying I'm now £2067 in arrears and the job centre has sent me a P45 form. I've just signed off sick, not signing on for paid employment.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
So, there is the space I am in. What I do not understand I push to the side so I don't have to deal with it and then turn my attention to Light and Love and the Universe and God and my Son and Christmas being the Season of Goodwill.
I know though, as you must know, that things that you push to the side, things that you ignore have a habit of coming back to you and slapping you in the face so hard your head spins.
That's the space I am in. My head is spinning.
It's not bad actually. Actually it's better than I've ever felt before. Woooo! What a trip! Just don't talk to me about reality!!
"You need something more concrete" says the doc.
Tell that to the Government...
Well, until the next time my friends!!!
In the meantime take a look at Conversations with God Book 3. How a purposeful successful Matriachy became a Patriachy and all you might want to know about the After Life. It's good, it's really good. It's very comforting too!
I'm in a funny space. Funny strange and funny haha and funny cos it's not funny at all. One of those spaces! You know it?!
I took myself to the doctor and said I was fine apart from the headaches and I was generally ok, ya know. Told her I'd been to a psychic healer and was reading about God.
Well...bless her, she said I was very depressed and needed something more 'concrete'. I sniggered because God is a pretty concrete concept to me at the moment (that's what reading does to you...)
But, you know, my Life. Nothing much to snigger about there for millions of us. The Chancellors shoved his austerity cloak/blanket/shroud on women and children (I read in the Mirror yesterday) and my housing associatiion is saying I'm now £2067 in arrears and the job centre has sent me a P45 form. I've just signed off sick, not signing on for paid employment.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
So, there is the space I am in. What I do not understand I push to the side so I don't have to deal with it and then turn my attention to Light and Love and the Universe and God and my Son and Christmas being the Season of Goodwill.
I know though, as you must know, that things that you push to the side, things that you ignore have a habit of coming back to you and slapping you in the face so hard your head spins.
That's the space I am in. My head is spinning.
It's not bad actually. Actually it's better than I've ever felt before. Woooo! What a trip! Just don't talk to me about reality!!
"You need something more concrete" says the doc.
Tell that to the Government...
Well, until the next time my friends!!!
In the meantime take a look at Conversations with God Book 3. How a purposeful successful Matriachy became a Patriachy and all you might want to know about the After Life. It's good, it's really good. It's very comforting too!
Friday, 14 October 2011
Tories ignore child poverty increase
The Child Poverty Action Group lost its case in the high court yesterday as it tried to overturn the Government proposals on housing benefit reform.
They argued that the reforms to cap benefits "...could mean upwards of 20,000 children having to move, 14,000 out of their local area, resulting in disruption to education, health and social services."
I have been through this. I am still under threat of this happening again for the fourth time. My blog is my proof that this is no scaremongering.
The high court agreed with the Tories that it was important to cut spending. There's justice for you based on knowledge. These people know fucking nothing.
According to the Guardian, Iain Duncan Smith lost his rag somewhat accusing the poverty charity: "CPAG's challenge to our housing benefit reforms was an ill-judged PR stunt, and amounts to nothing more than a massive waste of taxpayers' money and court time."
He added (and this is where I just lose my own rag even more): "The cost of housing benefit has spiralled completely out of control, and this judgment is further vindication that our reforms will ensure support is in place for those who need it, but stop the crazy excesses we have seen in recent years of people on benefits living in houses that those in work could not afford."
Housing benefit has only spiralled out of control because rents have.
Instead of placing me in a flat I cannot afford I could have been offered a council flat to rent.
Emphasis could be put on building more affordable housing.
They don't want to do it though. Cameron announced more Right To Buy which won't solve this crisis (5 million waiting countrywide is the figure isn't it?)
Then cross party they are saying you have to be in work to qualify.
Here's the Duncan Smith poppycock: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/14/iain-duncan-smith-losing-cool
Here's the article they'll be given to those who work, where I left a comment:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/oct/11/workers-priority-council-housing-lists
I don't want to say watch me and my child get displaced again because I'm frightened the next time will kill me.
Duncan Smith will be pleased with that; one less family on benefits.
They argued that the reforms to cap benefits "...could mean upwards of 20,000 children having to move, 14,000 out of their local area, resulting in disruption to education, health and social services."
I have been through this. I am still under threat of this happening again for the fourth time. My blog is my proof that this is no scaremongering.
The high court agreed with the Tories that it was important to cut spending. There's justice for you based on knowledge. These people know fucking nothing.
According to the Guardian, Iain Duncan Smith lost his rag somewhat accusing the poverty charity: "CPAG's challenge to our housing benefit reforms was an ill-judged PR stunt, and amounts to nothing more than a massive waste of taxpayers' money and court time."
He added (and this is where I just lose my own rag even more): "The cost of housing benefit has spiralled completely out of control, and this judgment is further vindication that our reforms will ensure support is in place for those who need it, but stop the crazy excesses we have seen in recent years of people on benefits living in houses that those in work could not afford."
Housing benefit has only spiralled out of control because rents have.
Instead of placing me in a flat I cannot afford I could have been offered a council flat to rent.
Emphasis could be put on building more affordable housing.
They don't want to do it though. Cameron announced more Right To Buy which won't solve this crisis (5 million waiting countrywide is the figure isn't it?)
Then cross party they are saying you have to be in work to qualify.
Here's the Duncan Smith poppycock: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/14/iain-duncan-smith-losing-cool
Here's the article they'll be given to those who work, where I left a comment:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/oct/11/workers-priority-council-housing-lists
I don't want to say watch me and my child get displaced again because I'm frightened the next time will kill me.
Duncan Smith will be pleased with that; one less family on benefits.
Monday, 3 October 2011
I'm off to hear Lorna Byrne speak!
Hello hello stigs!! Hello to you too person reading this!
My, I've missed blogging but had no time as the Dream Job was keeping me well busy and I was well too tired to blog aswell despite the temptations and urges.
Could have come back to it any old way today as it's been a mighty blog about fortnight.
Support worker came round and said I was.. feck, whatever, I'll remember the word in a minute..
Got a letter from housing benefit saying the payments had stopped because I was no longer in receipt of income support or Jobseekers allowance (I was told if you remember, that it would be a 'smooth transition')
The letter from housing benefit had a new claim form I had to fill in with my whole life in blue or black ink. I was working full time, had my circumstances changed? Yeah! I was working for free not being paid, had my circumstances changed? Um, no! I didn't know what to do but all friends told me not to be honest and say I was working, but tell them nothing at all.
The Dream Job... Well... A week ago last Friday he sent a text saying "It's not working". His cc'd mother replied: "Hunh?" and I replied to all: "Yes, what do you mean?" and am still awaiting his response.
Have I been fired again without being told?
Is this the way with welfare recipients?
If I'm back to blogging I'll fill you in..well about Dream Job at any rate. Still hurting but they say that if things don't work out it's because something better is coming along.
Yeah? Got turned down for a job on a housing magazine on my son's birthday and had to sign over to Jobseekers Allowance the following day.
It's good to cry. So I took my tears to the Church of the Immaculate Conception and said "Thank you for my son" and when I'd stopped crying lit four candles.
Lorna Byrne is in London this evening. You may know her, she's been able to see and communicate with angels all her life and wrote her very beautiful autobiography "Angels in my Hair".
I feel very lucky. She's an incredible woman. I knew she was here tonight but had no sitter and £25 a ticket also seemed excessive (Oh the draught...)
"Maybe it's to pay for the hall," said my mum at the weekend.
I texted my mate Charlie: "Hate to ask but are you free Monday..."
Privileged. That's what the support worker said I was when he closed my homeless household support case. People aren't as privileged as me, he said.
Lorna Byrne will tell us, I'm guessing, through her interview with a journalist, that we all have a guardian angel and that there are millions of unemployed angels all crying out for us to ask them for help.
Yes I am privileged.
We are all privileged
We don't all know that though.
I want to take a more spiritual path from now on. I need to, it's a much happier route the one looking out for positive coincidences (like free Monday night babysitters and a mother who said she'd buy my seminar ticket:)).
I don't know what thrust my blogging will take but quite probably what it says on the tin - single mother on benefit, parasite bleeding the state dry....Which I'm not, we're not..you know that now don't you?
Stigmum drives this
I am just her conduit.
Have a lovely afternoon this blazing hot, blue skied, sunny October afternoon! (Been crazy hasn't it?!)
My, I've missed blogging but had no time as the Dream Job was keeping me well busy and I was well too tired to blog aswell despite the temptations and urges.
Could have come back to it any old way today as it's been a mighty blog about fortnight.
Support worker came round and said I was.. feck, whatever, I'll remember the word in a minute..
Got a letter from housing benefit saying the payments had stopped because I was no longer in receipt of income support or Jobseekers allowance (I was told if you remember, that it would be a 'smooth transition')
The letter from housing benefit had a new claim form I had to fill in with my whole life in blue or black ink. I was working full time, had my circumstances changed? Yeah! I was working for free not being paid, had my circumstances changed? Um, no! I didn't know what to do but all friends told me not to be honest and say I was working, but tell them nothing at all.
The Dream Job... Well... A week ago last Friday he sent a text saying "It's not working". His cc'd mother replied: "Hunh?" and I replied to all: "Yes, what do you mean?" and am still awaiting his response.
Have I been fired again without being told?
Is this the way with welfare recipients?
If I'm back to blogging I'll fill you in..well about Dream Job at any rate. Still hurting but they say that if things don't work out it's because something better is coming along.
Yeah? Got turned down for a job on a housing magazine on my son's birthday and had to sign over to Jobseekers Allowance the following day.
It's good to cry. So I took my tears to the Church of the Immaculate Conception and said "Thank you for my son" and when I'd stopped crying lit four candles.
Lorna Byrne is in London this evening. You may know her, she's been able to see and communicate with angels all her life and wrote her very beautiful autobiography "Angels in my Hair".
I feel very lucky. She's an incredible woman. I knew she was here tonight but had no sitter and £25 a ticket also seemed excessive (Oh the draught...)
"Maybe it's to pay for the hall," said my mum at the weekend.
I texted my mate Charlie: "Hate to ask but are you free Monday..."
Privileged. That's what the support worker said I was when he closed my homeless household support case. People aren't as privileged as me, he said.
Lorna Byrne will tell us, I'm guessing, through her interview with a journalist, that we all have a guardian angel and that there are millions of unemployed angels all crying out for us to ask them for help.
Yes I am privileged.
We are all privileged
We don't all know that though.
I want to take a more spiritual path from now on. I need to, it's a much happier route the one looking out for positive coincidences (like free Monday night babysitters and a mother who said she'd buy my seminar ticket:)).
I don't know what thrust my blogging will take but quite probably what it says on the tin - single mother on benefit, parasite bleeding the state dry....Which I'm not, we're not..you know that now don't you?
Stigmum drives this
I am just her conduit.
Have a lovely afternoon this blazing hot, blue skied, sunny October afternoon! (Been crazy hasn't it?!)
Friday, 9 September 2011
Happy Birthday Children
At my job centre interview this morning my details on the database were changed so that I could be moved from income support to job seekers allowance.
The change will happen on my son's birthday.
"Oh how lovely," I said to the job centre man. "Happy Birthday son, on this day your parent is being moved onto Jobseeker's Allowance whereby you will both be penalised if she does not actively look for work. When she does get work you can expect to spend less time with her. Many happy returns."
"Don't see it like that," said the job centre man.
I was silent but I wish I'd said 'tell that to my child'.
Mistress Ha Ha from boot camp was moved from one benefit to the other on her daughter's birthday. She was panicking yesterday when I saw her. She wants to go self employed but is worried because she doesn't have many clients (she's trained in a form of massage)
Job Centre man explained self employment to me a bit and said you have to estimate your earnings. I said 'what if your earnings are really low' and he said: 'the system understands that people might be on a low salary.' 'I might only earn £80 a month!' Fear and confusion, potent little cocktail that.
We can all, he said, look for jobs we want to do for the first 12 weeks, he thinks. After that we can't, we have to go for what's offered to us, which might be something we just do not want to do - like in my case - shelf stacking. Too bad.
Volunteering? Still have to actively seek for paid employment.
I think you can do work experience but I'm not sure for how long
that translates as - you can work for free - but I'm not sure for how long.
"Our records show that the child you are responsible for will be 09 [soon]
Once they reach this age, you will no longer be able to claim Insome support because of being a lone parent or single person with responsibility for the child."
Quite the task master our symbolic husband.
I must say, the perks are quite good if you do shelf stack for 16 hours or more. You get a one off payment of £250 and £60 a week for the first year (expect hardship in your second if you don't get a comparable raise) Housing benefit is payed for a month so you worry about that, presumably, after your first pay packet.
Housing benefit. Ha Ha said her claim was stopped and she had to re-apply and was given no warning or anything. Jobcentre man said I wouldn't have to do that, this is a "seamless transfer".
These changes to lone parents, forcing them out to work, is so patronising and unnecessary.
Stress stress stress stress stress all tied up with Red Tape.
Many happy returns kids!
The change will happen on my son's birthday.
"Oh how lovely," I said to the job centre man. "Happy Birthday son, on this day your parent is being moved onto Jobseeker's Allowance whereby you will both be penalised if she does not actively look for work. When she does get work you can expect to spend less time with her. Many happy returns."
"Don't see it like that," said the job centre man.
I was silent but I wish I'd said 'tell that to my child'.
Mistress Ha Ha from boot camp was moved from one benefit to the other on her daughter's birthday. She was panicking yesterday when I saw her. She wants to go self employed but is worried because she doesn't have many clients (she's trained in a form of massage)
Job Centre man explained self employment to me a bit and said you have to estimate your earnings. I said 'what if your earnings are really low' and he said: 'the system understands that people might be on a low salary.' 'I might only earn £80 a month!' Fear and confusion, potent little cocktail that.
We can all, he said, look for jobs we want to do for the first 12 weeks, he thinks. After that we can't, we have to go for what's offered to us, which might be something we just do not want to do - like in my case - shelf stacking. Too bad.
Volunteering? Still have to actively seek for paid employment.
I think you can do work experience but I'm not sure for how long
that translates as - you can work for free - but I'm not sure for how long.
"Our records show that the child you are responsible for will be 09 [soon]
Once they reach this age, you will no longer be able to claim Insome support because of being a lone parent or single person with responsibility for the child."
Quite the task master our symbolic husband.
I must say, the perks are quite good if you do shelf stack for 16 hours or more. You get a one off payment of £250 and £60 a week for the first year (expect hardship in your second if you don't get a comparable raise) Housing benefit is payed for a month so you worry about that, presumably, after your first pay packet.
Housing benefit. Ha Ha said her claim was stopped and she had to re-apply and was given no warning or anything. Jobcentre man said I wouldn't have to do that, this is a "seamless transfer".
These changes to lone parents, forcing them out to work, is so patronising and unnecessary.
Stress stress stress stress stress all tied up with Red Tape.
Many happy returns kids!
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Putting thoughts in emails
Hi [Support Worker],
I got your letter. Indeed a long time!
I'd like to meet you but I can't next Monday as I have to take [my son] swimming. Because we're much further away from the pool now I take him straight from school by bus.
For some reason I thought the meeting was last Monday and I waited for you! Alternate Mondays [my son's] dad is supposed to take him and pick him up from the flat but he didn't show. Not the first time so I've said he can't take him anymore. He's blasting me with texts and emails that I do not read because I've had enough.
You say my case is going to be closed. I don't understand.
You are part of the homeless household support service aren't you?
I'm still a homeless household aren't I?
If I am managing [Support Worker] it's because I do not bid. A few weeks ago a friend got a council flat [down the road] and I fell into that now familiar abyss where I didn't want to be alive anymore. She had way more points than me and a child who hasn't started school yet. If that was me, I wouldn't have to worry about my son's education anymore. People are already asking me where he'll go for secondary and how can I know? My lease runs out the year I have to go to open days. I'm hoping for [the local boys school] or [the local mixed school] because that's what I want for him. He's doing so well at school. Enough turbulence. Like I said, I manage if I don't think about these things. I drown if I do. I CANNOT BID. When in "desperate need" I didn't get a place so I'm hardly going to get one now.
So yes, I'd like to see you. Is there a day other than Monday you can do? Or earlier in the day that Monday? I have to go to the job centre on Friday to be moved over to job seekers. A barrel of laughs I think not. I've just lost a pub job I had. At £6 an hour though, it was never going to pay the rent.
I hope you're well and look forward to seeing you
Sue de Nim
I got your letter. Indeed a long time!
I'd like to meet you but I can't next Monday as I have to take [my son] swimming. Because we're much further away from the pool now I take him straight from school by bus.
For some reason I thought the meeting was last Monday and I waited for you! Alternate Mondays [my son's] dad is supposed to take him and pick him up from the flat but he didn't show. Not the first time so I've said he can't take him anymore. He's blasting me with texts and emails that I do not read because I've had enough.
You say my case is going to be closed. I don't understand.
You are part of the homeless household support service aren't you?
I'm still a homeless household aren't I?
If I am managing [Support Worker] it's because I do not bid. A few weeks ago a friend got a council flat [down the road] and I fell into that now familiar abyss where I didn't want to be alive anymore. She had way more points than me and a child who hasn't started school yet. If that was me, I wouldn't have to worry about my son's education anymore. People are already asking me where he'll go for secondary and how can I know? My lease runs out the year I have to go to open days. I'm hoping for [the local boys school] or [the local mixed school] because that's what I want for him. He's doing so well at school. Enough turbulence. Like I said, I manage if I don't think about these things. I drown if I do. I CANNOT BID. When in "desperate need" I didn't get a place so I'm hardly going to get one now.
So yes, I'd like to see you. Is there a day other than Monday you can do? Or earlier in the day that Monday? I have to go to the job centre on Friday to be moved over to job seekers. A barrel of laughs I think not. I've just lost a pub job I had. At £6 an hour though, it was never going to pay the rent.
I hope you're well and look forward to seeing you
Sue de Nim
Monday, 23 May 2011
The pain in declaring work
The figures I give may shock you ok, but don't give me a hard time about it please, I've already got it in the neck from people in my own family and of course, our Government.
I went to the CAB last week and basically, the more I work, the worse off I will be. All figures below are from the print out they gave me should I increase the hours I work at the pub (£6 an hour)
Right now, I receive £531 a week in benefits. I know, you think that's way too high so you're pissed off at me. Rrrah rrah rrrrah, scrounger, parasite, layabout, workshy.
3 hours: £18. Income support: 67.50. tax credits: 59.36. Housing benefit: 346. council tax: 20. Work Income and benefits: 531.16 The first £20 is discounted, so in effect, am £18 better off.
4 hours: £24: Income support: 63.50. The rest same. WI/B: 533.16
5 hours: £30; I/S: 57.50. The rest same. WI/B: 533.16
7 hours: £42: I/S: 45.50...WI/B 533.16 (You have to do the maths but I'm not winning if end result is the same)
15 hours: £90: I/S:0 Tax credit: 59.36. H/B: 346. C/T:20 = WI/B 535.66. £20 better off.
Work work work only ever £20 better off.
Then, hang on....
16 hours: £96. I/S: 0. Tax credits: 133.42. H/B: 319.95. C/T: 11.99. WI/B: 581.66 = Here I am better off by £10 from the 3 hours I worked, taking in rent & council tax I am now paying. So £10 better off whilst being £10 worse off than the hour before....
30 hours: £167.68. I/S 0. Tax credits: 125.09. HB.278.77. C/T: 0. WI/B: 591.84. = Minus rent, council tax I receive: 500.84. So £30 worse off than I am now and still hugely reliant on housing benefit. .
At 30 hours I would most certainly be paying full price, no concession for school meals, after school clubs, out of school clubs and there you have it, the trap may of us are in, where work does not pay.
Tomorrow I have to go declare my pub work.
I don't want to do it because I know it is the first step to a life of working poverty, never mind the growing separation from my child; his school shows, all kinds of things.. who'll take him to kung fu? Maybe you think he doesn't have a right to go.
The fact that thousands, millions of others are in a similar situation to what I am or will be, doesn't make me feel better at all.
Skip skip skip to the lou....
skip skip skip to the lou
skip skip skip
My symbolic husband is not an easy system to be married to
Maybe I'll just leave it there
No hang on
The pain in declaring, I said. The headache that follows.
I do understand why some poor perhaps don't do it.
I do not understand why the rich don't either:
1.2 bn: annual cost of benefit fraud
40bn: annual cost of tax avoidance
I went to the CAB last week and basically, the more I work, the worse off I will be. All figures below are from the print out they gave me should I increase the hours I work at the pub (£6 an hour)
Right now, I receive £531 a week in benefits. I know, you think that's way too high so you're pissed off at me. Rrrah rrah rrrrah, scrounger, parasite, layabout, workshy.
3 hours: £18. Income support: 67.50. tax credits: 59.36. Housing benefit: 346. council tax: 20. Work Income and benefits: 531.16 The first £20 is discounted, so in effect, am £18 better off.
4 hours: £24: Income support: 63.50. The rest same. WI/B: 533.16
5 hours: £30; I/S: 57.50. The rest same. WI/B: 533.16
7 hours: £42: I/S: 45.50...WI/B 533.16 (You have to do the maths but I'm not winning if end result is the same)
15 hours: £90: I/S:0 Tax credit: 59.36. H/B: 346. C/T:20 = WI/B 535.66. £20 better off.
Work work work only ever £20 better off.
Then, hang on....
16 hours: £96. I/S: 0. Tax credits: 133.42. H/B: 319.95. C/T: 11.99. WI/B: 581.66 = Here I am better off by £10 from the 3 hours I worked, taking in rent & council tax I am now paying. So £10 better off whilst being £10 worse off than the hour before....
30 hours: £167.68. I/S 0. Tax credits: 125.09. HB.278.77. C/T: 0. WI/B: 591.84. = Minus rent, council tax I receive: 500.84. So £30 worse off than I am now and still hugely reliant on housing benefit. .
At 30 hours I would most certainly be paying full price, no concession for school meals, after school clubs, out of school clubs and there you have it, the trap may of us are in, where work does not pay.
Tomorrow I have to go declare my pub work.
I don't want to do it because I know it is the first step to a life of working poverty, never mind the growing separation from my child; his school shows, all kinds of things.. who'll take him to kung fu? Maybe you think he doesn't have a right to go.
The fact that thousands, millions of others are in a similar situation to what I am or will be, doesn't make me feel better at all.
Skip skip skip to the lou....
skip skip skip to the lou
skip skip skip
My symbolic husband is not an easy system to be married to
Maybe I'll just leave it there
No hang on
The pain in declaring, I said. The headache that follows.
I do understand why some poor perhaps don't do it.
I do not understand why the rich don't either:
1.2 bn: annual cost of benefit fraud
40bn: annual cost of tax avoidance
Monday, 16 May 2011
New Landlord, Fresh rent arrears accusation
I didn't tell you.. Well, my housing officer didn't tell me did he?
My landlord has changed.
I got the letter last week, a few days after my housing officer's visit. I ahall text him in a minute, ask him if he is still my housing officer
Because
This morning I have recieved a letter from my new landlord, still a housing association but a different one, saying that I am £1380.00 in arrears.
I was at the housing benefit office just last week. They have been paying my rent since I moved in. How could I possibly be in arrears? I have not declared my job yet (though the pay is so low it's probably not going to effect anything)
I think these organisations just like to upset you. It should know I'm in full receipt.
I've an appointment at the Citizen's Advice Bureau on Thursday - about how many hours I can take without being worse off financially (oh ha ha, like we can be millionaires down here when we earn the minimum wage!)
I shall contact the housing officer
I shall contact my housing support worker
I might also text Hannah, she in same boat as me, well, same raft, our homes aren't sturdy enough to be called a boat, find out if the same has happened to her family.
Happy Monday's ey? Tsk, if only today was good music...
My landlord has changed.
I got the letter last week, a few days after my housing officer's visit. I ahall text him in a minute, ask him if he is still my housing officer
Because
This morning I have recieved a letter from my new landlord, still a housing association but a different one, saying that I am £1380.00 in arrears.
I was at the housing benefit office just last week. They have been paying my rent since I moved in. How could I possibly be in arrears? I have not declared my job yet (though the pay is so low it's probably not going to effect anything)
I think these organisations just like to upset you. It should know I'm in full receipt.
I've an appointment at the Citizen's Advice Bureau on Thursday - about how many hours I can take without being worse off financially (oh ha ha, like we can be millionaires down here when we earn the minimum wage!)
I shall contact the housing officer
I shall contact my housing support worker
I might also text Hannah, she in same boat as me, well, same raft, our homes aren't sturdy enough to be called a boat, find out if the same has happened to her family.
Happy Monday's ey? Tsk, if only today was good music...
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Private Rental Scourge
Private Rental Scheme
Private Rental Scam
Private Rental Scourge
Oh many things these past two years I have called the Private Sector and the Government/Council policies to place homeless families there because there's not enough social housing and the alternative is hostel accommodation... well everyone knows that's not suitable apart from the System which says it is. Oh and ignorant people in our society - the sort to comment negatively on articles that I write...
I went to the Housing Benefit office to tell them of my rent increase.
I'd gone to the Citizen's Advice Bureau in order for them to do a 'better off calculation' of my new wage and the woman there told me to clarify my rent as priority.
Housing benefits came into effect on April 1st
There is a discretionary sum of money that has been given to councils (a lib dem contribution to the Tory plan the woman told me) that allows the individual a nine month transitional period before they have to pay the whole shortfall of rent.
How they allocate that money is up to them, the council.
Housing benefit told me that these new rules only apply to private tenants.
Housing Associations operate differently. They have a rent officer who sets the rent and that is accepted as suitable and relevant by the housing benefit office (that must be new as some will no doubt chase the 80% market share they've newly been allowed to set...)
I am very very lucky (kind of) but I have told you this before.
Homeless families who are on the Private Rental Scheme, what is going to happen to them? Will they be allocated a discretionary sum? What happens when that stops?
On the points system, they, not me, get awarded extra points for insecurity should they be evicted but it's my guess an awful lot of them are going to be losing their homes and it is my knowledge that there aren't the council properties/housing association properties to go round.
Housing benefit man actually suggested that I rent somewhere in the private sector and I might be more secure than in my three lease temporary housing association flat.
"Where oh where, could I find somewhere to live near my son's school?" I asked, almost rhetorically. "I won't be able to. The private sector cap is too low."
He shrugged, palms outwards then gently said I could go, there were other people to see; "We're very busy at the moment."
I mustn't think about the future.
My son and I are safe right now
I hope my son and I are safe
I put tomorrow's date on Clegg's letter
I'll send it signed for delivery
at some point during the day
(I'm scared he won't act on it
more than I'm scared of being used as a political pawn
things are that bad, in my view)
Private Rental Scam
Private Rental Scourge
Oh many things these past two years I have called the Private Sector and the Government/Council policies to place homeless families there because there's not enough social housing and the alternative is hostel accommodation... well everyone knows that's not suitable apart from the System which says it is. Oh and ignorant people in our society - the sort to comment negatively on articles that I write...
I went to the Housing Benefit office to tell them of my rent increase.
I'd gone to the Citizen's Advice Bureau in order for them to do a 'better off calculation' of my new wage and the woman there told me to clarify my rent as priority.
Housing benefits came into effect on April 1st
There is a discretionary sum of money that has been given to councils (a lib dem contribution to the Tory plan the woman told me) that allows the individual a nine month transitional period before they have to pay the whole shortfall of rent.
How they allocate that money is up to them, the council.
Housing benefit told me that these new rules only apply to private tenants.
Housing Associations operate differently. They have a rent officer who sets the rent and that is accepted as suitable and relevant by the housing benefit office (that must be new as some will no doubt chase the 80% market share they've newly been allowed to set...)
I am very very lucky (kind of) but I have told you this before.
Homeless families who are on the Private Rental Scheme, what is going to happen to them? Will they be allocated a discretionary sum? What happens when that stops?
On the points system, they, not me, get awarded extra points for insecurity should they be evicted but it's my guess an awful lot of them are going to be losing their homes and it is my knowledge that there aren't the council properties/housing association properties to go round.
Housing benefit man actually suggested that I rent somewhere in the private sector and I might be more secure than in my three lease temporary housing association flat.
"Where oh where, could I find somewhere to live near my son's school?" I asked, almost rhetorically. "I won't be able to. The private sector cap is too low."
He shrugged, palms outwards then gently said I could go, there were other people to see; "We're very busy at the moment."
I mustn't think about the future.
My son and I are safe right now
I hope my son and I are safe
I put tomorrow's date on Clegg's letter
I'll send it signed for delivery
at some point during the day
(I'm scared he won't act on it
more than I'm scared of being used as a political pawn
things are that bad, in my view)
Where would we be, without the CAB?
Where would we be without the CAB
Drowning I imagine in that big black sea
Where can we be with the CAB
Support, advice, and tips to clear a way to see
She told me to come back next week for an appointment, clarify my housing benefit as soon as possible and to hold off telling housing benefit, just for a week, that my circumstances are changing.
There weren't as many people as usual at the Citizen's Advice Bureau; it's the woman next to me who pointed it out. She remembers it as I do when it was packed and you'd have nowhere to sit.
Odd really, given people are really beginning to suffer right now. The woman next to me said they'd extended their opening hours. I forgot to ask CAB woman as she helped me with my impending work questions but I might mention it next week if I remember....
We need the CAB (I'm chanting)
A safety buoy when we're cast at sea
We need the CAB
Cut the funding you kill me
and a whole load of other people I imagine
(Stiggers is telling me to stop imagining that...)
Drowning I imagine in that big black sea
Where can we be with the CAB
Support, advice, and tips to clear a way to see
She told me to come back next week for an appointment, clarify my housing benefit as soon as possible and to hold off telling housing benefit, just for a week, that my circumstances are changing.
There weren't as many people as usual at the Citizen's Advice Bureau; it's the woman next to me who pointed it out. She remembers it as I do when it was packed and you'd have nowhere to sit.
Odd really, given people are really beginning to suffer right now. The woman next to me said they'd extended their opening hours. I forgot to ask CAB woman as she helped me with my impending work questions but I might mention it next week if I remember....
We need the CAB (I'm chanting)
A safety buoy when we're cast at sea
We need the CAB
Cut the funding you kill me
and a whole load of other people I imagine
(Stiggers is telling me to stop imagining that...)
Friday, 6 May 2011
I am one of the lucky ones....
My rent has gone up says my housing officer because the original rent was 'probably below the housing cap so it's been increased.'
That can only make sense to me if I am the one making the profit from it. I am not the one making a profit from it so it makes no sense to me.
However, I am one of the lucky ones.
If I were privately renting the housing allowance would be much lower than it is in temporary social housing I'm told.
Temporary social landlords, like mine, have been increasing the rents of those who fall below the housing cap and trying to reduce the rent of those above it. They are asking property owners to reduce the rents and in cases where the property owners won't, the individual, or family, is being evicted.
Apparently, in recent months, my housing association has lost lots of properties because owners won't reduce the rent.
Lots of families are being evicted.
I'm not because my £350 falls under the cap.
My housing officer asked if my circumstances had changed.
I told him my electricity bill was now sky high
I told him I'd been offered a job (I took it!)
I felt so dizzy, I felt so sick, I had to sit down.
He told me to let him know how things pan out because yes, the last flipping thing my family needs is to fall into arrears. He said he'd try and support us as much as he could. Nice guy nice guy but still I'm finding it hard to breathe
Sometimes I get the same feelings of dizziness and feeling sick when I come to you to blog about all this
I used to have Nico Teen, now I have Cake but still it doesn't make the fear of all this go away.
Go away
Go away
Housing strife and trouble
Go away
(and to think I was going to blog about Boris...or about how my son told me yesterday he missed our last place. "What that poky Tower?" I said incredulous. "Yes mummy, it was fun sharing a room with you." Reminded me of that book "The Room" and how all social professionals have told me 'children adapt'. Do they? Do they really? Which children?)
That can only make sense to me if I am the one making the profit from it. I am not the one making a profit from it so it makes no sense to me.
However, I am one of the lucky ones.
If I were privately renting the housing allowance would be much lower than it is in temporary social housing I'm told.
Temporary social landlords, like mine, have been increasing the rents of those who fall below the housing cap and trying to reduce the rent of those above it. They are asking property owners to reduce the rents and in cases where the property owners won't, the individual, or family, is being evicted.
Apparently, in recent months, my housing association has lost lots of properties because owners won't reduce the rent.
Lots of families are being evicted.
I'm not because my £350 falls under the cap.
My housing officer asked if my circumstances had changed.
I told him my electricity bill was now sky high
I told him I'd been offered a job (I took it!)
I felt so dizzy, I felt so sick, I had to sit down.
He told me to let him know how things pan out because yes, the last flipping thing my family needs is to fall into arrears. He said he'd try and support us as much as he could. Nice guy nice guy but still I'm finding it hard to breathe
Sometimes I get the same feelings of dizziness and feeling sick when I come to you to blog about all this
I used to have Nico Teen, now I have Cake but still it doesn't make the fear of all this go away.
Go away
Go away
Housing strife and trouble
Go away
(and to think I was going to blog about Boris...or about how my son told me yesterday he missed our last place. "What that poky Tower?" I said incredulous. "Yes mummy, it was fun sharing a room with you." Reminded me of that book "The Room" and how all social professionals have told me 'children adapt'. Do they? Do they really? Which children?)
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