Emergency funding

OnTheCounter

I spoke to my local CWO today as my housemates want to get heating oil this week and the soles are coming off my shoes but I dont have money for either.

CWO told me that there is no emergency funding for either heating oil or clothes unless I have a medical condition that would require them which is not the case.

He did mention that I would get a bit extra in the weekky payment to cover heating during the winter but that wont kick in for about 3 weeks.

Its just that right now im caught between a rock and a hard place. Do I have any access to some scheme that may help me?

Thanks for any advice.

mp22

The only thing you could try is to ask the CWO for a loan to purchase heating oil,how the repayments would be handled is a another question.

TheBeach

The St. Vincent De Paul might be able to help you.

OnTheCounter

TheBeach wrote: »

The St. Vincent De Paul might be able to help you.

how so?

I did an internet search and couldn't find any revelant information.

mrsbyrne

OnTheCounter wrote: »

how so?

I did an internet search and couldn't find any revelant information.

Go to your local Catholic parish centre/presbytery/centre and ask for the nearest St Vincent de Paul contact details. You dont have to be a catholic to avail of their help. Bear in mind that St Vincent de Paul is manned mostly by volunteers, and elderly volunteers in the main and that they may only meet once a week. But they do have funds to help you out. you may get this hel in the form og vouchers for the local oil supplier, or a particular shoe shop, but you can understand how this is the best way for them to operate.

mikemac1

Can the housemates put off the heating oil order for three weeks?

It's not cold out, it's not even winter

When your payment gets bumped in three weeks you'll be in a better situation then now

OnTheCounter

I recently moved house as the landlord wanted to rent the former house out to a group of students.

In the current house are two girls who are complaining about the cold and im not in a position to suggest they wear an extra jumper.

I will call in to SVP tomorrow and see if they can help me out.

Would the correct approach be to go in to any of the shops?

Anywhere online I could find out the location of the nearest shop?

Thanks for the advice.

OnTheCounter

I just did another SVP internet search and came across a recent thread in the personal issues section regarding this.

Seemingly the done thing is to call the SVP and 2 people from the local community call to the house for a chat to see the best way to help.

There is another guy in the house who is here most of the time and he would be in the kitchen/sitting room when I am talking to the SVP people and besides being mortified at having to resort to this I am fairly sure this guy would tell everyone and wouldn't let me forget it.

I know it could be a lot worse but this is getting very stressful.

mrsbyrne

OnTheCounter wrote: »

I just did another SVP internet search and came across a recent thread in the personal issues section regarding this.

Seemingly the done thing is to call the SVP and 2 people from the local community call to the house for a chat to see the best way to help.

There is another guy in the house who is here most of the time and he would be in the kitchen/sitting room when I am talking to the SVP people and besides being mortified at having to resort to this I am fairly sure this guy would tell everyone and wouldn't let me forget it.

I know it could be a lot worse but this is getting very stressful.

Thats not what happens in my area. In my area you would go to have an interview with the St v. de P at their meeting rooms, but the way i see it you wont know unless you ring them.

maryk123

why dont you just come clean and tell the girls you dont have the money at the moment and that you will get your fuel allowance from next week and can give them that for a couple of weeks. honesty is the best policy and then you wont have to go and ring vincent de paul.. are the other people in the house working

StillWaters

maryk123 wrote: »

why dont you just come clean and tell the girls you dont have the money at the moment and that you will get your fuel allowance from next week and can give them that for a couple of weeks. honesty is the best policy and then you wont have to go and ring vincent de paul.. are the other people in the house working

I'm not sure that's fair on the housemates, particularly new ones. The fuel allowance is €20 per week, and 500l of oil will be at about €350

You should find your nearest church, ring their parish office, and they will give you the VdeP contact for your area. Ring them and explain your circumstances. They don't tend to give out cash, but rather vouchers, so no harm to find out cheapest oil provider in the meantime.

OnTheCounter

Got a call from SVP in reply to an email I sent them. They took my address and some details and seemingly two people will give me a call in a few days, call out to my house, and see how best to assist me.

I need the money for rent/ESB/oil sooner than that and I don't know what SVP will do for me, if anything.

Long story short I applied to a money lenders and am waiting to hear from them today or tomorrow.

Balagan

OnTheCounter wrote: »

Got a call from SVP in reply to an email I sent them. They took my address and some details and seemingly two people will give me a call in a few days, call out to my house, and see how best to assist me.

I need the money for rent/ESB/oil sooner than that and I don't know what SVP will do for me, if anything.

Long story short I applied to a money lenders and am waiting to hear from them today or tomorrow.

If your housemates are expecting a big outlay for oil, then it is well to acknowledge that you are living in a situation which you cannot afford. There are many working people who cannot afford oil, so be careful about being pressurized into spends which are not within your means. And beware of moneylenders. It is not so much that they should be your last option but that
you shouldn't go next or near them under any circumstances whatsoever.

petersburg2002

StillWaters wrote: »

I'm not sure that's fair on the housemates, particularly new ones. The fuel allowance is €20 per week, and 500l of oil will be at about €350

You should find your nearest church, ring their parish office, and they will give you the VdeP contact for your area. Ring them and explain your circumstances. They don't tend to give out cash, but rather vouchers, so no harm to find out cheapest oil provider in the meantime.

And I'm afraid 500 litres of oil costs around €475 at the moment. Horrendously expensive. But most delivery companies will let you order less.

mrsbyrne

OnTheCounter wrote: »

Got a call from SVP in reply to an email I sent them. They took my address and some details and seemingly two people will give me a call in a few days, call out to my house, and see how best to assist me.

I need the money for rent/ESB/oil sooner than that and I don't know what SVP will do for me, if anything.

Long story short I applied to a money lenders and am waiting to hear from them today or tomorrow.

How do you propose to pay back the moneylenders!?!:mad: Do you realise if you borrow €500 you will be paying back €1500 or more!! If you cant manage your money now how are you going to manage that??!!
You are giving the impression that you will be evicted and homeless if you dont get funds soon. If you are in danger of being homeless you need to locate the homeless CWO in your area and discuss your options with him/her. Go to your local CIC to get help with this.http://centres.citizensinformation.ie/

maryk123

well i am sure your house mates would prefer if you told them your situation rather than going to a money lender.

unimpressed

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
Seriously go to the VDP offices they are very very helpfull in genuine cases and dont call to your house as they are aware of the issues surrounding extreme poverty.

Your post (to be honest) make it look like you want someone to do all this for you rarther than sort it out for yourself?? Sorry if thats not true or a bit hard. Action is what you need to do not talk ?

Kristopherus

unimpressed wrote: »

Kitty do you work for that company ??? sounds like a sales pitch ??

That what it looked like to me as well. My advice is NEVER,EVER GO NEAR THE LIKES OF PROVIDENCE OR ANY MONEYLENDER.THEY ARE VULTURES IN DISGUISE.

@ Onthecounter. How in the name of all thats holy are you or you housemates not able to afford 200ltrs of oil? I get a feeling that we are not being told the full story here.:( Students (or their parents) know full well that oil is a necessity and has to be paid for when they rent accomadation, and in most cases budget accordingly.

Kristopherus

mp22 wrote: »

The only thing you could try is to ask the CWO for a loan to purchase heating oil,how the repayments would be handled is a another question.

CWOs do not give out loans.

mp22

Kristopherus wrote: »

CWOs do not give out loans.

Urgent needs payments

An Urgent Needs Payment may be paid to people in emergency situations. For example, in the case of a fire, flood or other disaster, you may get a payment to help with the immediate cost of food and clothing. Depending on your circumstances, for example, if you are working or when an insurance claim has been settled, you may have to pay some or all of this back at a later date.


from here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/exceptional_needs_payments.html

Kristopherus

mp22 wrote: »

Urgent needs payments

An Urgent Needs Payment may be paid to people in emergency situations. For example, in the case of a fire, flood or other disaster, you may get a payment to help with the immediate cost of food and clothing. Depending on your circumstances, for example, if you are working or when an insurance claim has been settled, you may have to pay some or all of this back at a later date.


from here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/exceptional_needs_payments.html

All thats gone out the window over the past 2 yrs. CWOs are now subsumed into DSFA. They are no longer employees of HSE. The culture in DSFA is the client has to prove an entitlement before an application for assistance is processed. The criteria for entitlement is being tightened all the time. Discretion is now almost non existant at CWO level.

juan.kerr

The solution here is layers.

mp22

juan.kerr wrote: »

The solution here is layers.

Indeed, time to lay this thread to rest.

Closed