Hi again everyone. just to make things clear - Me - full time student on social work course, receiving NHS bursary and student loans OH - made redundant in Jan, received contributions based JSA for six months, then nothing. Was awarded Housing Benefit from January. We have a 4 year old son. My OH was awarded housing benefit in January when he was made redundant. They had all the details of every penny of income I get from student loans and bursary, it's the only income we have. In November, they asked for all the student loans details again and the same documentation was supplied, our income and circumstances haven't changed. OH didn't realised that he hadn't heard anything so rang them yesterday. Got a call back this morning to say that they have decided that we are no longer eligible?… BackToTop

My wife has been getting income based ESA (couple rate) for around 9 months, LHA & CTB. She never had a medical assessment as she was pregnant. I am in a part-time course which will end 2011 & I am not actively looking for a job. Recently we have a baby. I understand we will get child benefit, child tax credit & healthy start vouchers. But I would like to know how long she will get ESA as she won't be available for work at least 3 years. I also understand I might have to look for work. What will happen if I don't? (Pls don't ask me why?) Any chance ESA will be stopped? In this circumstances whats the law say. thanks. BackToTop

Hello all hopefully some of you geniuses can give me some advice if possible. Sorry if the following is kinda long winded but i thought best to give nearly as much info as i can. My situation is that i currently live with my mum and dad. My girlfriend is in a private let and has a 3 year old daughter from a prev relationship who i have been bringing up as my own. My partner has finished her temp job (only lasted a month and was on income support prior to that) and was going to go onto income support. My girlfriend is also pregnant by me and will be due in July 2010. I myself am in a full time job and earn just under 16k per year. BackToTop

Hi, Please can anyone help me? i left my job back in july and since then i have been claiming JSA ,housing benefit and council tax benefit. Just recently i have been told that my JSA will not be paid any longer due to the reoson why i left my job, wich was on the grounds that i was depressed and stressed as i was and had been working in a call centre for 2 years. The company at the time were looking at redundancy and i felt they were trying to make the work place as uncomfortable as possible to make people leave. Anyhow i rent my own flat and run a car and i have only just turned 21, i now have no income and am not sure on what to do next?? BackToTop

I just need some advise as i am frustrated with the post.. I get dla high mobility, med care, and income based esa. Was told i was entitled to the disability premium, and once dla tell them i would start getting the money, that never happened, when i did call dla they said how would they know to call esa, (knowing how long it takes to get hold of anyone on the esa helpline) i call esa back, it took a few weeks, i relay this back to them and they say no its wrong, but said they would send out a form for me to fill out and once they receive it they could decide if i need the extra money, they did, i filled it out and sent it back at the same time as my sick note BackToTop

Hi, I was looking for a bit of advice and i thought someone on here may be able to help me. My partner and I are in receipt of ESA and are living in a private rented house. NIHE help us pay our rent with housing benefit. Recently we got broken into and the landlady was to change our locks and make the house more secure and after 2months she still hasn't done anything, so we held the rent money as the locks were broken on or doors and aren't 100% secure. Since we held the rent she has issued my partner and I with notice for eviction on 2nd November. As neither of us are in employment at the minute, we don't know how we are going to find the money for a deposit and 1st months rent. We applied for a community care grant and got declined. Does anyone know who could help us with the money to … BackToTop

I have a rather large table and my table cloths are all looking a bit old, so I decided to make a new one for christmas dinner. I bought some lovely swede effect burgandy material from the market and i've made a really nice table cloth. I have a bit of material left- 48 inches by 16 inches - which not enough to make napkins (i have 9 people coming) but i'd really like to use it on the table somehow. Can anyone think of any ideas? The only thing i can think of is a little drawstring bag for each person with a little gift in, which i put on each plate to open as they sit down..but i have no gifts and chocolates are difficult as one relative is diabetic and won't even eat diabetic chocolates...so can anyone help me? What can i do with this small bit of material? BackToTop

Hi there, just wondered if there was anything I could do with out-of-date eggs (apart from chucking them in the bin) if i was unable to eat them before the date?? BackToTop

OK this isn't very old style especially since there's the lovely sounding thread on Best Mince Pies Ever but we're buying mince pies this year. Any opinions on who does the nicest mince pies to buy? BackToTop

I got two large packets of sliced ham opened for some reason. I know one of them needs really to be eaten today or tomorrow at the latest or it will go off. Any ideas what I can do with it besides give it to the cat. I usually make cabonara sauce with some pasta or slice potatoes and onions and layer it with cheese and ham in the oven...but the kids and hubby are a bit fed up with these two dishes. Quick and easy recipes would be fantastic since my cooking skills are a bit limited. Edit: Cant do a omelet or quiche since my boys absolutely hate eggs BackToTop