Posting again but updated

RoisinDee

Community welfare officer was NO help whatsoever very rude.. and the St Vincent de Paul said I 'have no need' to visit the food Bank?...
Im really not that sure what to do.. I'm deeply deeply depressed and have extreme anxiety & suicidal ideation for the past 5 years now, I can barely function. I nevery seem to find psychiatrists any help, and no medication such as anti depressants or anti anxiety medication ever works for me. My life is an endless cycle of tears, depression thinking of suicide, and extreme panic attacks. but that isn't why I'm writing this . Due to my mental state along with numerous deficiencies im extremely fatigued most of the time which makes it pretty much impossible to work. Due to the panic and depression. I have been on Jobseekers allowance since September and in early December I recently applied for Disability Allowance which won't get a decision until about March or April according to the department.. I get €100 euro weekly currently and I am living with my boyfriend who also gets €100 weekly. My boyfriend actually gave up everything to look after me due to me being a mental and physical wreck most of the time that is why he isn't working. Also he has applied for numerous jobs to no avail.. The problem is is that we are now over 1,000€ in debt and also outstanding medical bills of about €700 which I haven't paid a penny back of (I have a medical card was in Northern Ireland where medical card is not valid) also owe a couple of hundred for a phone bill that I used when I was hospitalised over the border so the costs were huge and It went outside my data plan.. and our rent is 110 per week (we don't qualify for rent allowance) our electric is at least 30 per week (the last tenants tampered with the electric box so it drains faster), I pay 50€ a week back to Cabot financial (non negotiable 50 is the minimum per week) for the outstanding bill of over €1000 and will have to pay back something for the medical bills soon or I'll end up in court so it leaves us with absolutely nothing for food or heating. We are hungry pretty much all the time every single day and freezing cold just miserable.. we get no help from friends or family so that is not an option. I have contacted st Vincent de Paul who gave us a food voucher and ordered us some coal and turf which we were beyond grateful for, but I have no idea what we are going to do in the long run about buying any food. I did contact st Vincent de Paul again asking for a few vouchers for local food Bank but they were rather rude and said I don't 'see a need' for me to visit the food Bank.. Anyway We literally don't have enough money for toilet roll food coal or other essentials and are constantly Freezing. I am in such a bad place mentally that my boyfriend just can't go away all day to work and leave me he knows I won't cope alone  I have no idea what to do I'm hopeless can anyone give me some advice? Thank you for taking the time to read

johnnyskeleton

Sorry to hear about your situation.

Prioritise food, heating etc over paying debts. Better to have to go to court than to hospital.

Hope it all works out.

Roselm

You guys need to get a social worker to advocate for you and support you in accessing any services you may be entitled to.
Contact your local health centre and ask for the number of the primary care social worker.

Roselm

Where are you based?

RoisinDee

Roselm wrote: »

Where are you based?

I am based in Donegal, everywhere I have went to for help has been so horrible and unhelpful. I showed proof to the St Vincent de Paul that I have nothing no food no nothing, and they say I have no need and don't qualify for use of the local food Bank. The community welfare officer said 'i dont need to know about your personal medical problems' when I told her that severe depression and severe anxiety makes it all hard.. And that there is nothing she can do to help me whatsoever...

tomwaterford

If I read this right ignoring bill....out of e200 a week e180 is gone before you start??

Go back down to the CWO....there is noway in hell they should cut you off like that....trying to survive in <e2 a day each


Though I don't mean to be bad....but is there any hope you'd get disability (clearly can't work atm) and your BF get carers allowance (possibly someone more upto date can tell you what to do)


SVdP shouldn't be turning you away....As said prioritise food/heating first..

RoisinDee

tomwaterford wrote: »

If I read this right ignoring bill....out of e200 a week e180 is gone before you start??

Go back down to the CWO....there is noway in hell they should cut you off like that....trying to survive in <e2 a day each


Though I don't mean to be bad....but is there any hope you'd get disability (clearly can't work atm) and your BF get carers allowance (possibly someone more upto date can tell you what to do)


SVdP shouldn't be turning you away....As said prioritise food/heating first..

Yes I do have a pending disability allowance which a decision won't be made on until about March or April according to the department, and my BF currently has a pending carers allowance.. Both of which will probably be refused knowing the way the department works but anyway.. Everyone seems to get rejected for DA no matter how bad their personal situation is..

SVDP said 'there is nothing we can do for you as we had a meeting and we all feel as though you aren't in need' I asked for them to review the situation which they said they can't? Unbelievably rude on phone..

Did go back to CWO who different person said same thing.. It all seems hopeless..

njs030

Have you done the things that were suggested in your last thread like applying for the council housing list to be able to get rent allowance?

RoisinDee

notjustsweet wrote: »

Have you done the things that were suggested in your last thread like applying for the council housing list to be able to get rent allowance?

I have the form that decides if you get to go on the housing list, which I am filling out but really, you have to have kids etc to get put on the housing list.. Most people getting refused will try and most likely fail...

And going on the council waiting list doesn't get you rent allowance unfortunately

Roselm

I found a direct number for We Care food bank in Letterkenny. We Care LK Contact: 086 867 6565 / 087 191 7609
Maybe you can go around SVDP.
Those numbers were from online a year ago so hope they still work.

RoisinDee

Roselm wrote: »

I found a direct number for We Care food bank in Letterkenny. We Care LK Contact: 086 867 6565 / 087 191 7609
Maybe you can go around SVDP.
Those numbers were from online a year ago so hope they still work.

I had contacted them, but SVDP had told them they didn't see a need for me to use the food bank for some bizarre reason..

Gatling

RoisinDee wrote: »

I have the form that decides if you get to go on the housing list, which I am filling out but really, you have to have kids etc to get put on the housing list.. Most people getting refused will try and most likely fail...

And going on the council waiting list doesn't get you rent allowance unfortunately

That's not true at all .

Anyone with a housing need can get on the housing list especially those with little or no income .
Have you considered moving back to your parents or other family members

Roselm

They actually have a Facebook page with another number on it
086 8676565

Roselm

RoisinDee wrote: »

I had contacted them, but SVDP had told them they didn't see a need for me to use the food bank for some bizarre reason..

I would phone again and arrange to go down in person to meet with them and explain your situation.

RoisinDee

Roselm wrote: »

I would phone again and arrange to go down in person to meet with them and explain your situation.

They did Call out to my home and meet me in person.. But thank you so much for your advice

c montgomery

Call Joe Duffy tomorrow and by the end of the day you will have councillors working on your behalf and people falling over each other trying to help you

strandroad

RoisinDee wrote: »

SVDP said 'there is nothing we can do for you as we had a meeting and we all feel as though you aren't in need' I asked for them to review the situation which they said they can't? Unbelievably rude on phone..

Did go back to CWO who different person said same thing.. It all seems hopeless..

Are they aware that you're paying off debt? Perhaps they feel that with two welfare payments you should be well able to cope, otherwise why would so many people refuse you. Are you making your debt situation clear?

njs030

RoisinDee wrote: »

I have the form that decides if you get to go on the housing list, which I am filling out but really, you have to have kids etc to get put on the housing list.. Most people getting refused will try and most likely fail...

And going on the council waiting list doesn't get you rent allowance unfortunately

Neither of those things are correct. To get rent allowance you have to fulfill certain obligations one of which is to apply to the county council for social housing.
Its also not true that you have to have children to be on the list.
Google rent supplement and the rules are explained.

I mean this in a nice way op but if you won't help yourself other people can't help you and that means applying for every single thing you could possibly be entitled to and conticting the cwo. This was said in your last thread and it's really important you do these things rather than helplessly deciding you "can't" get it so why bother.

sunbeam

Roselm wrote: »

You guys need to get a social worker to advocate for you and support you in accessing any services you may be entitled to.
Contact your local health centre and ask for the number of the primary care social worker.

If you are currently under the care of your community mental health team, they should also have a mental health social worker who will advocate on your behalf.

BreadnBuddha

RoisinDee,

As others have said, prioritise your housing, heating and food first.

Cabot financials €50 per week is unreasonable. Stop paying that amount as you cannot afford it. Speak to MABS and do it this week. They are blowhards, they'll keep chasing you with letters, but it's no more than that. MABS will help explain this to you, and more importantly, to Cabot.

In relation to your medical bills, again, speak with MABS. They will make a reasonable arrangement on your behalf, in line with what you can actually afford to pay. Same goes for Cabot.

Financial debt is NOT something to put before the roof over your head, some warmth in a cold room and VERY importantly, decent meals on the table.

If you're not sheltered, warm and fed, nothing else matters. These are the most important things, the necessities for having the foundation to build your recovery, mentally and financially.

Stop paying debt for now, don't create any new debt, warm and feed yourselves and understand that the debt collectors and accounts department at the hospital/clinic/GP's will just have to wait until you have the means to pay them what they are owed, and only then.

You MUST understand, SVP and other agencies will NOT want to give you allowances or aid while you are paying out what's given to you so you can be sheltered, warmed and fed, to a firm that speculates by buying debt and looking for blood from a stone.

It's the first step. Right now, your perspective on this is skewed. Threats and fears about ending up in court, making the situation worse you would think, is exactly what's holding you back and keeping you down. See it for what it is. It's madness to give your health to a debt collector. The hold they have over you is all in your head and you CAN and SHOULD take advice and direction from MABS to turn this around.

In time, they'll be paid, if and when you can afford it. Until then, look after yourself NOW. That's what that money you get is for. It's why we all pay taxes, not to be used for paying an old loan or credit card bill.

That makes sense, doesn't it?

Talk to MABS. They'll help put your mind at rest and get those monkeys off your back.

strandroad

notjustsweet wrote: »

Neither of those things are correct. To get rent allowance you have to fulfill certain obligations one of which is to apply to the county council for social housing.
Its also not true that you have to have children to be on the list.
Google rent supplement and the rules are explained.

I mean this in a nice way op but if you won't help yourself other people can't help you and that means applying for every single thing you could possibly be entitled to and conticting the cwo. This was said in your last thread and it's really important you do these things rather than helplessly deciding you "can't" get it so why bother.

I agree and also OP get your boyfriend to do the forms ASAP rather than struggling with them yourself. You may not be in the best shape right now, but there's nothing stopping him from helping out.

RoisinDee

BreadnBuddha wrote: »

RoisinDee,

As others have said, prioritise your housing, heating and food first.

Cabot financials €50 per week is unreasonable. Stop paying that amount as you cannot afford it. Speak to MABS and do it this week. They are blowhards, they'll keep chasing you with letters, but it's no more than that. MABS will help explain this to you, and more importantly, to Cabot.

In relation to your medical bills, again, speak with MABS. They will make a reasonable arrangement on your behalf, in line with what you can actually afford to pay. Same goes for Cabot.

Financial debt is NOT something to put before the roof over your head, some warmth in a cold room and VERY importantly, decent meals on the table.

If you're not sheltered, warm and fed, nothing else matters. These are the most important things, the necessities for having the foundation to build your recovery, mentally and financially.

Stop paying debt for now, don't create any new debt, warm and feed yourselves and understand that the debt collectors and accounts department at the hospital/clinic/GP's will just have to wait until you have the means to pay them what they are owed, and only then.

You MUST understand, SVP and other agencies will NOT want to give you allowances or aid while you are paying out what's given to you so you can be sheltered, warmed and fed, to a firm that speculates by buying debt and looking for blood from a stone.

It's the first step. Right now, your perspective on this is skewed. Threats and fears about ending up in court, making the situation worse you would think, is exactly what's holding you back and keeping you down. See it for what it is. It's madness to give your health to a debt collector. The hold they have over you is all in your head and you CAN and SHOULD take advice and direction from MABS to turn this around.

In time, they'll be paid, if and when you can afford it. Until then, look after yourself NOW. That's what that money you get is for. It's why we all pay taxes, not to be used for paying an old loan or credit card bill.

That makes sense, doesn't it?

Talk to MABS. They'll help put your mind at rest and get those monkeys off your back.

Thank you very much for your advice and taking the time for your reply. I will contact mabs tomorrow.

gline

Going to court about the debt 'could' be a blessing in disguise. The judge will see you have no money to pay the debt at the moment and could put a hold on the debt,legally. They definately wont force you to pay the amount you are now. Stop paying the debt until you can pay for all necessaties first.

Shrap

OP, go in here during one of the opening hours and go see someone. Bring your forms - all of them. They will help you complete your forms, tell you what to do next, and will have a financial adviser on board who can either talk to MABS with you or sort it out themselves. This is what they're there for so go see them eh? What happens is, you go in, you take a seat and you wait your turn to see someone who will hear you out and then help you out. Go for it.


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