Please help! I think im a rare case!

[Swiftyboy71]

Hi all, looking for help please. My issue is I'm in lots of debt. Built up over about 4 years where my mental health and worry has caused me to bury my head in the sand. My issue is, that since losing my self employed singer job during Covid, I claimed Universal Credit. Since things calmed, I've had very sparodic work, so continued to claim, as I'm already in big rent arrears and didn't want to lose the safety net of having my rent covered.

I was wrongly told that I could continue to claim as I was working less than 16 hours. Apparently, that has changed and i should have been declaring any income on my UC portal to offset any payments. I put in a tax return for last year, because im obviously very transparent when it comes to money, but now not sure how to deal with my debts, if it ends up that i shouldnt have continued to claim, as i wouldnt be able to repay a years worth of UC on top of my other debts, which include a reposessed car, a VAT bill, several ulez zone fines and parking fines, rent arrears, utility arrears, and council tax.

If I go bankrupt, it may affect my tenancy. If an IVA is the best option, that will have less effect on my tenancy, then maybe that is my correct route? But im not sure what to do moving forward and how?

I'm in a much better place now. Positive, tee-total, healthy, and mentally a lot better, so i just want to rid myself of this cloud over my head, and get a fresh start. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated. Wayne

[echat11]

Try not to worry.

What you need to do is put everything in a spreadsheet, income and expenditure, because of the 'cost of living crisis' you need to be generous in the expenditure amounts, utility, food etc.

There are priority debts, council tax etc. There are non priority debts, utility debts etc.

At the moment, you don't know how UC, potentially over-payments stand.

Work out what you are left with each month, then see what priority debts can be offered each month, agree a payment plan them. Then with the non priority debts, see what can be offered each month, agree a payment plan, if it's £1, so be it.

Send and amend the following template. Make sure you get Proof of Postage.

https://nationaldebtline.org/sample-...o-rata-offers/

Also see if you can get the utility debt - https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk...relief-grants/

[Swiftyboy71]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I'm just wondering if an IVA would be more beneficial? As I'm hopeless with organising and with paperwork

[echat11]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I'm just wondering if an IVA would be more beneficial? As I'm hopeless with organising and with paperwork

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/de...hat-an-iva-is/

But also give CAB a ring, so they can advise.

[Swiftyboy]

Any more help please?

[echat11]

Any more help please?

I really can't add much more, if you believe that a IVA is the best way to proceed and less hassle for you to manage, then it is best to contact CAB, so they can provide more 'tailored' advice.

[Swiftyboy71]

Thank you

[echat11]

Thank you

Tell us how you get on, there might be pointers along the way, if you are being treated 'unfairly' by Creditors or other things where we might be able to help.

The important thing is you personally are making progress, you need to be in control as much as possible of this and get to where you want to be.

[Swiftyboy71]

Further to the above, I have been trying to get all the paperwork together to sort mybdebts once and for all, but I know have Jacobs leaving voicenotes saying they will attend to remove giids and vehicles

[echat11]

Further to the above, I have been trying to get all the paperwork together to sort mybdebts once and for all, but I know have Jacobs leaving voicenotes saying they will attend to remove giids and vehicles

Read the following:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/de...re-vulnerable/

If you are a 'vulnerable' person email Jacobs and the creditor the following (that should give you time and space) -

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/sam...vulnerable-ew/

On bailiffs -

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/de...%20your%20debt.