Blog Thing

Brilliant, I here you say! I was told during the interview by a temporary housing officer that the rent was £259.50 per WEEK, and was advised not to work, nor seek work whilst living in temporary accommodation as if I worked I would be liable for the full rental charge. I was told to just sit tight for the time being.

My new partner, Sunbird, became unemployed and unable to claim JSA due to accommodation issues from November 2006

So he moved in with me on 19th January 2007 as he technically was homeless and he was also told that he should not work or not seek work, (this is a contradiction of Jobseekers agreement. we looked for work anyway, but were thankfully not accepted). We also made a claim for JSA (jobseeker’s allowance) on 19th January 2007 over the phone and was told that this would be a joint claim.

The first payment we received was only for one person, I was not acknowledged on the claim despite the fact Sunbird, made a joint claim.

So we re-made claim on 24th January 2007. I was acknowledged this time.
By the 30th January 2007, we discovered we were only being paid for the adults, and not the children.

1st February 2007 - We went to the Social Services and asked what to do. We were advised by them to claim Child Tax Credit, and we were told to go to Job Centre to collect the application form.

(Now bare in mind we had to live on £90 a week on only fresh foods as the temporary flat had no freezer. And getting about town by bus is expensive - £1 each adult any distance 1-way, £2.30 for unlimited day ticket. Kids go for 60p + £2 respectively. So that’s between £4 and £4.60 per day without the kids.)

So Sunbird went to our registered Jobcentre at Wester Hailes, and was told that particular Jobcentre did not supply those forms and we were told to go to Tolcross Jobcentre to pick up a form. nearly £5 wasted on buses.

2nd February 2007 - I Walked from Oxgangs to Tolcross (with my children). I reached Tolcross at a few minutes to 3pm and the Jobcentre was closed!

5th February 2007 - Walked from Oxgangs to Tolcross Jobcentre again, and we were told that Tolcross themselves had not had forms for three weeks and were waiting for them to be delivered. We were advised to go back to Wester Hailes Jobcentre to get them to make the claim (?!)

7th February 2007 - Sunbird and I went to Wester Hailes again and was advised to seek out the Inland Revenue offices near Haymarket Station. So we went to Haymarket Inland Revenue office, and we were told by the person on duty that we couldn’t see anyone and we should phone the Tax Credit Helpline from their lobby to request the application pack. I phoned, made the application as advised and was told pack would arrive soon.

12th February 2007, 11:11am - I called the Inland Revenue Tax Credit helpline as form had not arrived. We were getting increasingly worried and stressed now as we were struggling to get by. I was told they had NO RECORD of my application request! I re-requested an application pack which was logged at time of call by Inland Revenue.

15th February 2007 13:45pm - I called Inland Revenue again as form had still not arrived, I was told it could take up to 14 working days to arrive. (Queue the growling!!!)

19th February 2007 - I signed a lease for a new, permanent property. So we’re moving from a FULLY FURNISHED temporary council flat to an unfurnished one, with no possible way to work and get savings to furnish the place properly. The Council Officer present requested furniture for us from Edinburgh Furniture Initiative, as the funding for core furniture had all gone.
Sunbird then went to Wester Hailes Jobcentre to change our address and types of jobs he was looking for. He was advised to hand in the change of address form to Leith Jobcentre (we moved up to the North Edinburgh Area) after he had moved in and that was all he would need to do.

20th February 2007 - Child tax Credit Form finally arrives. Hooray!

21st February 2007 12:19pm - I received a call from Temporary Accommodation to say we had to officially move out on 28th and a van would be provided to help the move.

22nd February 2007 - After checking and rechecking I’d filled in the Damn form correctly, it was posted from Colinton Mains Post office.

27th February 2007 - Becoming increasingly anxious, we turned to Oxgangs Social Service and was advised to get a Community Care Grant for furniture as we fit the criteria, and was also put in touch with CHAI for a Fridge for the new place. While there, I was granted free use of their telephone so I could sort out the electric, gas and stuff as we had no way of paying for the calls ourselves. I called Inland Revenue to chase up my claim and change our address, and was told it takes 2 weeks to even acknowledge a claim! When I tried to explain situation, the member of Inland Revenue staff hung up on me! I broke into a sobbing out of sheer frustration - why we were being treated like we weren’t important enough? The Social Worker also arranged for me to go to Edinburgh Clothing and Bedding Initiative (i think?) at the West End.

28th February 2007 - Received Furniture from Edinburgh Furniture Initiative.
1 Single Bed with slide out guest bed,
1 fold up (knackered) single camp bed,
3 piece suite,
cooker,
microwave,
2 chest of drawers,
and a raw MDF lamp table.(???)

Our new flat, by the way, has bare, badly splintering floorboards with rusty nails protruding, screws left by workmen are all over the flat. Bare walls where wallpaper has been half ripped off. Which are either fibreboard or plaster board. Previous Tenant had left extremely bad debts at property, and we have had visits from Bailiffs and Police. Electric Company not even aware of flat! We have the wrong type of meter that they have us on record for using (???), the drainage spout for the washing machine under the sink left unplugged thus kitchen cupboard flooded on first usage of the bloody sink.

1st March 2007 - I went to Edinburgh Clothing Initiative (?) and received Duvets, Towels, Bed Linen, Pillows. Sunbird went to Leith Jobcentre with Change of address form (number 1). He was told to come back for an appointment.

2nd March 2007 - We Walked from Drylaw to Leith Jobcentre (with children) (2 hour walk) for the appointment and was told I didn’t need an appointment. Was taken upstairs and the change of address form (number 2) was entered there and then on the database by interviewer, plus a hard copy was sent by courier to Bathgate.

8th March 2007 12:43pm - I called Inland Revenue as we had not heard about our claim. I was advised (and I use the term loosely now!!!) that it could take up to 3 weeks to acknowledge a claim, plus the address had not been changed from the last time I called, and I requested it be changed.

9th March 2007 - Me and Sunbird went to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, to see what they could do. The CAB volunteer called the Inland Revenue. First of all I apparently failed security question due to Inland revenue records of address STILL being incorrect. They actually had the old address incorrect anyway, so on the second attempt, the CAB volunteer was told it could take up to 4 weeks to acknowledge a claim and if it wasn’t acknowledged by this point there was definitely a problem. We were advised to call them again at end of month!!

Take a breath, Breathe deeply and slowly…12th March 2007 - Desperate for money, I asked My ex (my youngest’s father) to borrow money for Gas and shopping. I felt so weak to ask but I had no-one else to turn to, not even my own mum. He came to drop off our daughter that night and also dropped off tins of food, stuff he said I’d bought before leaving so technically they were mine anyway, also some leftover grub he’d made (mince and mash mmmm) and some Money. We were extremely grateful for this help.14th March 2007 - Chai attempt to deliver furniture etc, However we were not at home.

12th March 2007 - Desperate for money, I asked My ex (my youngest’s father) to borrow money for Gas and shopping. I felt so weak to ask but I had no-one else to turn to, not even my own mum. He came to drop off our daughter that night and also dropped off tins of food, stuff he said I’d bought before leaving so technically they were mine anyway, also some leftover grub he’d made (mince and mash mmmm) and some Money. We were extremely grateful for this help.14th March 2007 - Chai attempt to deliver furniture etc, However we were not at home.15th March 2007 - Sunbird went to Leith Jobcentre to Sign on.

16th March 2007 - We received Phone call from our Social worker to tell us that she had fought hard and eventually got funding for us to have carpets. She also came out to our home and phoned Inland revenue about our claim (which we had STILL not heard about) and she was told that…. they had lost our form as it was not in the system. Our Social worker then arranged an interview at the Jobcentre for us on 19th March 2007 to get them to put a claim in for us IN THE JOB CENTRE?! Social Worker also arranged for me to be assessed at the Bethany Trust shop in Leith on 21st March 2007 for a Bed for us, a fridge, washing machine etc. Social worker also chased up Chai. It’s also my Birthday. My dad sent a £20 cheque for me and My youngest, who is two on the 28th which I’ll probably have to use for food. He also topped up my phone credit as a surprise.

17th March 2007 - Received letter (AT NEW ADDRESS) from WESTER HAILES jobcentre telling Sunbird that he hadn’t signed on there (???) and that our claim could be stopped (which it was). My two year old daughter sliced heel of foot on 2 inch splinter from floorboards that day. Great!

19th March 2007 - We went to Leith Jobcentre to RE-make claim for Child Tax credit (in a Job centre as we had been previously told by both Wester Hailes and Tolcross could not be done, but it was done online). Sunbird also asked why he had received the letter from Wester Hailes. We were told it was a mistake and to ignore it, but told that our payment was on hold, to ring Bathgate and find out why. So he phoned Bathgate who told him that they had to email the correct department (IN THE SAME BUILDING!, What’s wrong with bloody walking? Probably to the next cubicle…) and that he’d get a call-back within 3 hours. He received call back (oh my god, they actually did call back!) and was told our change of address form had not been received, that we would have to walk back to the jobcentre to get them to fax it!!!!!

This person refused to give his name or his manager’s name. So after all we’d gone through, Sunbird screamed at the guy on the other end of the phone that he (sunbird) hoped he(the pr!ck on the phone) was as cursed as he (sunbird) was.
Our Social Worker came out to take us to buy carpets that she’d helped get funding for and she also phoned Bathgate, and was told she would receive a call back, which she never did. Our Social worker also called the inland revenue and was told we would receive a call by Friday. Hahahahahaha!!!!!

21st March 2007 - Me and our Social Worker were about to leave to go to Bethany Trust appointment and CHAI arrived as we walked down the stairs. They asked us what we needed and told us they would soon be delivering a fridge freezer and a double bed and possibly a couple of chest of drawers, he also told our social worker to pick up food from their warehouse for us!!!

Me and our Social Worker went then to Bethany Trust shop and returned with kitchen and bathroom items, cleaning items amongst other items.

Carpets arrive. Later that day Social Worker arrived with two televisions, a tape deck, a lamp, coffee percolator, other items and food from CHAI warehouse.

22nd March 2007 - I received a phone call from my eldest daughter’s new school, complaining that I did not give a full week’s worth of school dinner money to my eldest child. I explained the situation (I broke down sobbing on the phone actually) and the school advised us to pick up a free school meals form and get it stamped by Jobcentre. My daughter came home with one that day, so all went to the Jobcentre to complain about situation and see if our claim had been sorted out. It had not and we were advised that the form had been lost by the courier! We were given another form and were told it could take up to two weeks to re-start our JSA claim. we were so furious, confused and stressed that we forgot to get the free school meals form stamped, and only remembered after we’d returned home.

23^rd March 2007 - CHAI delivered:

*1 Double Bed (with storage) YAY NO MORE SLEEPING ON THE BLOODY FLOOR WITH THE MATTRESS FROM THE FOLD UP BED AND FOUR CUSHIONS FROM THE THREE PIECE SUIT LINED UP ON THE FLOOR!!!!
*1 Fridge Freezer YAY NO MORE BUYING MILK BY THE PINT AND KEEPING IT FOR ONLY 8 HOURS MAXIMUM IN A SILLY FLASK!
*and bedding.

Pleased, Sunbird put his name down to volunteer for CHAI. We walked to Leith Jobcentre, with the children, to hand in change of address form and see if we could chase up Child Tax Credit claim. Member of Job Centre staff emailed Bathgate to tell them they were sending the form on (next day courier) and that it was the third attempt at sending the form. She also looked up the Child Tax Credit claim and was able to tell us that we had been FINALLY paid on Today! just £11 but we’d get more next week. What a wonderfully helpful lady! Yay, Tax credit finally sorted!!!!!!

26^th March 2007 - Sunbird received a call from Bathgate telling him to go to Leith Job Centre to pick up a Giro for the amount we were entitled to. They re-confirmed our local post office details and told him all was ok. He went to Leith and picked up the Giro but it had been made out to Restalrig Post Office, about 2 miles in the OPPOSITE direction from my home!! So the Jobcentre phoned Drylaw Post Office and told them to accept it.

Our First full Payment from Child Tax Credit also arrived on this day.

We now only have to chase up the back pay of Child Tax Credit and get a washing machine and flooring for Kitchen.

To this Date, (4th April) we have had welfare payments supplemented by the social services to get us through, £20 quid here and there. Throughout this nightmare, we somehow survived on supermarket’s own brand no frills foods, we couldn’t treat ourselves. I went without meals many times so everyone else could eat, and my skin has suffered terribly. I have my teenage acne back. Hooray. Fruit and vegetables is incredibly overpriced, and so i was making sure the kids had my share and I’d fill up on toast.

My waist line therefore has suffered!

Sunbird, also having given up meals, shaved his hair off the day before Tax credits got sorted!!

If you want something to happen in your favour, shave your hair off…

In between the days recorded in this blog, were days of sheer blackness. Days where I’d comfort Sunbird with words of optimism that things will work themselves out, we just have to stick it out. Days of coping with my unruly 6 year old daughter who has behavioural problems. Days where I would get depressed. Days where we’d argue and fight over the smallest things, and it would turn into a full blown shouting match, and at times, wrestling each out of the way of the exit! Days where tears would fall until we could cry no more. Days where we’d insult each other in a way partners/lovers/friends should never do.

Dark days, my friends. Dark Days.

We have had support online at our favourite community as we are both fire performers. Well, not all were as helpful or sympathetic. We had trouble with one guy. He was wondering how we could actually get online with no money. well, for starters, there are buildings with books and computers called LIBRARIES! We do not have an Internet service provider, all our online dealings are done via the modem on my mobile, where you can pay for an unlimited daily data bundle for £1 which lasts until midnight on the day of purchase. Which is excellent as we can look for jobs, research training and look for support online, without travelling via bus to the jobcentre, or walking and having to buy snacks on the way to keep our energy levels up. A better deal all round I say! money saving and whatnot.

But this person got really nasty on our community forum. The thread I’d began, to make people aware how incompetent our government bodies are, and for ideas on what we can do, for our welfare and sanity. Nasty isn’t the word, the guy, having received my explanation on every thing he couldn’t understand continued to attack us saying we could have spent that £1 on food.

Who the hell can buy a decent meal - in Edinburgh of all places - for four people for £1??? He said he could.Anyway, after later saying on that thread that he didn’t give two f**ks, my younger, gobbier sister kind of took over and launched in to one of her defensive attacks - which we both do for each other, always have done- and it got real ugly. OOOh cyber fights - ya gotta love ‘em!

Anyway, after later saying on that thread that he didn’t give two f**ks, my younger, gobbier sister kind of took over and launched in to one of her defensive attacks - which we both do for each other, always have done- and it got real ugly. OOOh cyber fights - ya gotta love ‘em!And you know what? This experience has given myself and Sunbird something to strive for, to help people like us in the same situation. Our social worker has been so brilliant that I think I may even want to train as one - even though she told us a few days ago that a client set their dogs on her (???) when she was trying to help them.

I cannot stress how important it is to donate to charities. The charities which helped us were The Edinburgh Furniture Initiative, Edinburgh clothing and Bedding place (in the west end in the basement of a church), C.H.A.I., and the Bethany Shop. These charities work to help people in this country, people in need, people who are on a low income, have no credit rating, and are in desperate need, maybe their house had burned down and everything they owned was destroyed and these charities can help them.

They helped us so much, Sunbird will be volunteering for one of them. When we’re back on our feet and we upgrade our belongings, the items donated to us will be donated back to the charities. In fact, anything we don’t need in the future will be donated as we would have nothing if it wasn’t for these charities.

I suggest everybody looks up local charities that work for local people, and focus on these, because most people focus on different countries, forgetting the fact that there are people in this country that need help too. These charities can usually only donate things to you under referral of a social worker, also, social services in your area can let you know about which charities work in your area.

Spare toiletries, cleaning things like surface cleaner, dish clothes, sponges, tea towels, teapots, old crockery and cutlery, irons and ironing boards etc, are all donatable items, not just the odd coffee table and ancient microwave.

Keeping things in circulation in your local area will improve your communities quality of life.

Remember, one person’s fight can turn into a community’s campaign, and can overturn the system.

Stay strong, stay united, fight on! (that’s what my social worker says!)

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