Help with money

[Victoria]

Hi, i have recently moved 250 miles away from home and nobody seems to want to help or be able to help.

We are technically a working family, i dont work i have an 8 month old son and my partner is self employed. Although due to moving the business is not up and running and therefore earning nothing, but even though we are not earning anything we cannot claim anything. Its a catch 22 with the business, without money to put in we wont be able to get money out and we have no money to put in but nobody can help us.
I am now down to my last £20 and have no idea how i am going to survive. I have never had any issues with SS regarding my son and im scared if i ask them for help they may take him away because i cant provide for him (he is provided fr at the min and is in no way suffering or neglected, i make sure of that!)

I have tried; Crisis Loan, Income Support, Grants, Borrowing off family and asking charities.

Anybody any other suggestions or advice?? Please!

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi Victoria

Welcome to the board.

Sorry to hear that you are going through a difficult time financially, having just relocated to a new area in what is a difficult financial climate for many people at this moment, but not an area that the Family Rights Group tends to specialise in, as other agencies are funded to do this work.

From your post, it seems you have a number of options:-

1. Contacting your local Children's Services to request you be assessed for a section 17 payment under Children Act 1989. However, this is a is a means tested form of family support and given at the discretion of the Local Authority, so no guarantee of success.

They will want to know what options you have already tried to resolve your situation, and are likely to be more sympathetic if you can demonstrate that you require the financial support is essential and specifically needed in order to meet your son's needs ie food, milk, clothing etc

2. You may wish to contact your local
Money Advice Service to see if they would be able to help

3. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to provide alternative suggestions as a way forward, because they give specialist advice about benefits and financial affairs.

Otherwise, you may need to consider applying for a loan or overdraft from your bank.

Best Wishes


Suzie