Comments on: Heating bills will force UK’s poorest families into debt

By: Alexis Jarvis

Alexis Jarvis — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:41:04 +0000

I completely understand what you mean. I live with my husband and we have a 2 year old daughter. he works full time and I work part time. However, once childcare, rent, council tax, and other smaller bills are paid, we’ve hardly got anything to get by on. just got our winter gas bill and it’s £350. We’re already in debt with a credit card, the electricity bill, and a bank account that is always in overdraft. Yet, because we don’t get income support or job seekers, we’re not eligible for any help at all. My husband says we can only afford £30/week for food so that we can try and pay off some of the debt. I want to cry at the thought of how impossible it is to feed three people and purchase formula, wipes, tioletries as well on just £30/week. There’s just no help for us at all. i feel so hopeless and trapped.

By: JULIE WILSON

JULIE WILSON — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:30:16 +0000

I AM A SINGLE PARENT WITH 2 CHILDREN AGED 7 AND 8 YEARS OLD. I WORK 31 HOURS A WEEK. I HAVE A MORGAGE ON AN EX COUNCIL HOUSE THAT I BOUGHT PRIVATELY. I GET £320 A WEEK FROM MY WAGES, CHILD TAX CREDIT, WORKING TAX CREDIT, CHILD BENEFIT. I HAVE TO PAY MY COUNCIL TAX, NATIONAL INSURANCE, TAX, MORTGAGE ANG ALL THE LIFE POLICYS THAT GO WITH A MORTGAGE FROM THAT MONEY, I AM LEFT WITH £95 A WEEK. A WOMAN IN MY SITUATION WITH 2 CHILDREN GETS £193, SHE HAS NO HOUSING COSTS OR COUNCIL TAX TO PAY AS THE GOVERNMENT PAYS THIS FOR HER. SHE WILL GET HELP WITH HER FUEL BILLS EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS £98 MORE THAN ME IN HER HAND. I DONT KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO PAY FOR MY FUEL BILL. WHY IS THEIR NO HELP OUT THER FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE TRYING TO SECURE A FUTURE FOR THEIR KIDS IT IS SO UNFAIR. I HAVE WROTE A LETTER TO GORDON BROWN AND HOPE YOU CAN SUPPORT ME ALSO
.JULIE WILSON