Benefit overpayment: not able to buy food.

[slainte caragh]

Posting for a friend.

My best friend and her wife are having real issues. She was overpaid Tax Credits, at present I don't know the exact figure, and the DWP are recovering the amounts at a ridiculous amount. I have no idea what to do for her.
She works 18hpw due to her mental health not being as good as it could be, her wife works 16 hours per week to care for their son.

This is the message she sent me:

I'm up to my eyes in debt
I owe 3 months rent because I'm 18 hours and they expect me to pay £420 rent and £120 council tax out of £580 wage.
Kell pays tv license phones and food for month cat and dog food I'm in debt with my water I'm sinking and fast sis I could cry xxx

She has had her NHS card taken off her and she cannot afford her antidepressants,

I have contacted National Debtline who couldn't help cos it's a benefit issue, but she literally cannot afford to do a shop. Any ideas would be amazing!

Cheers

Callie <3

[Kati]

If she's having trouble repaying hmrc she could ask for a lower repayment plan - https://www.gov.uk/tax-credits-overp...ord-repayments

She should also contact the water company to see if they have a scheme to help with low income/arrears (most do) - example: https://www.yorkshirewater.com/billi...pay-your-bill/

[Kati]

also ... she can ask the council to spread her CT bill over 12mths (instead of the usual 10). That'd lower the cost a bit too xx

[Kati]

and check to see if she could get a 'discretionary housing payment' from the council too (to help with rent payments) - https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-g...ousing-Payment

[slainte caragh]

you're amazing!

[Kati]

She should also look into whether she's eligible for any grants etc ...
http://www.billhelp.uk/housing-grant...ritable-trust/
http://www.billhelp.uk/save-the-children-grant-scheme/
http://www.billhelp.uk/grants-from-f...-paying-bills/
http://www.billhelp.uk/buttle-uk-gra...ople-children/
http://www.billhelp.uk/grants-help-paying-bills/

[slainte caragh]

**UPDATE**

So I went in, armed to the teeth with Kati fantastic information.

I told her to call HMRC and let me talk to them, which she did. Enter Charlie, an amazing young man from Newcastle who listened to everything I said and checked every single piece of information before telling me... her account is already being recalculated! She should be getting her perscriptions paid again, her money is due to go up and if I call with her again and ask to speak to the Universal Credit team, they can talk me through how to apply for that for her too.

I have a very happy, and very grateful best friend now!

Thanks guys!

[Amethyst]

Great to hear sometimes just talking to them saves a whole world of stress ( sometimes, on t'other hand, it causes more, but normally they're alright )

See what they come back with on the recalc.... but at least things are being dealt with and not escalating further.... well done for stepping in to help her, and Kati for the info xxxx

[Kati]

**UPDATE**

So I went in, armed to the teeth with Kati fantastic information.

I told her to call HMRC and let me talk to them, which she did. Enter Charlie, an amazing young man from Newcastle who listened to everything I said and checked every single piece of information before telling me... her account is already being recalculated! She should be getting her perscriptions paid again, her money is due to go up and if I call with her again and ask to speak to the Universal Credit team, they can talk me through how to apply for that for her too.

I have a very happy, and very grateful best friend now!

Thanks guys!

So glad I helped SC xx