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Hello. If, like me, you went into a sheer panic at loosing your income and signed on to Universal Credit then had a bit of a moment thinking that was all you could really do, here's some more things you can get help with now you're ready to peer out of your deep dark hole -
1 - You can get Council Tax benefit, but you need to apply for it yourself through the local council. You need to remember UC will not automatically kick other benefits into gear. DWP wont talk to Anyone who wants money from them.
Just like me.
Just like me.
2. Bills - Some water companies do fixed rates for people on UC, water meters are no longer just the only option. Electric/Gas companies also have the Warm Home Scheme - see if you are eligible.
3- Broadband - BT do a £10 month internet plan for anyone on UC, but its fucking boggins and amount to only 2.5hrs of streaming telly a week. But still - it's there.
4. Prescriptions - some of you (me) might not realise but they're free! Same as dentists, and opticians - you get the rubbish frames and black fillings, but if this is your first time on the benefit merry-go-round (makes it sound a lot more fun than it is) then it's something.
Anyone reading this thinking 'Pah! Benefit scum!' has forgotten we're in a pandemic and half our livelihoods have been ripped away. Also, benefits are stressfull as fuck - take my 6 month struggle to find the mere basic necessity of A HOME.
Id also like to throw in two letter I recieved recently - one of them 22 pages long - detailing how they overpaid me one week and were demanding I pay them back the grand sum of *checks notes* £1.37
2.a - There are only a limited amount of grants for the Warm Home Scheme, so APPLY NOW because it's first come first served. Like..literally...get off twitter and look at your electric/gas co page.
And it's nothing to be ashamed of.
You don't need 'an excuse'. Times are not just hard, but Fucking Ridiculous.
(And also, fuck myself for blaming the pandemic for people going on UC - it's ok to need it no matter what.)
You don't need 'an excuse'. Times are not just hard, but Fucking Ridiculous.
(And also, fuck myself for blaming the pandemic for people going on UC - it's ok to need it no matter what.)
5. This is all based on what I've learnt, if you have kids then it's seriously worth googling what help is out there.
6. If you have pets, PDSA and RSPCA provide free treatments, but you need to sign up with them - Don't wait until it's an emergency!!!! They'll ask for a donation, so please drop them something if you can afford it.
7. If you need furniture, a lot of local councils have their own 're-use/recycle' places where they have rescued unwanted furnature, and its available only to people on no/low incomes.
8. The Job Centre might be able to help you with next steps - for instance they have details on courses for your CVs, interviews and opening your own business. (I realise we're now all thinking of that bleak 'Full Monty' grey office, but it's not always like that)
