I put...

[emalou90]

... A deposit on my flat yesterday

but somehow need help furnishing it
ive only been on income support for a few weeks, can i get any sort of help?
i dont qualify for community care i dont think. xxx

 

[purpledahlia]

dont think so hun, have a goood look on freecycle tho!

 

[BumbleBump]

Hey hun, here in Southampton they have a charity called Scratch that will donate basics for people in your situation. When I moved into my own flat 2 years ago after OH and I broke up last time, they gave me a bed, some tables, could have got sofas (but I had already ebayed a pair for £30!!), cutlery, plates, mugs etc. I think I just had to pay £10 for delivery.

https://www.frn.org.uk/need.asp

The website above should tell you if there's a similar scheme in your area, I hope there is! I was referred through the Domestic Violence team (wasn't on benefits) so I'm not sure what the requirements are, but hopefully someone there might be able to help x

Edit: I'm not sure exactly where in Northamptonshire you are but https://www.spencercontact.com/default.asp seems to be the best one, and if they don't cover your area they have numbers here: https://www.spencercontact.com/default.asp?id=13 that cover some other areas that might be helpful.

 

[JennaSmith]

Hi when i moved into my property i applied for a crisis grant from job centre (didntget it for a few circumstanses) but u may if they do it in ur area x

 

[purpledahlia]

I didnt get that crisis grant either, theyre very very strict and i think mainly people coming out of care get it only, If youve only been on benefits a short while i dont think you'd qualify. You might be able to get a budgeting loan though?? worth asking at jobcentre for that. can apply for as much as 1500 and you pay it back automatically out your benefits for however long, And if you post wanted ad's on freecycle people tend to reply, (Also gumtree house clearance section is cheap!)

 

[anna matronic]

Crisis loand used to be available for people who had just moved. but they only paid for the real basics, only for you, not for children. (cooker, cutlery, crockery, bed, bedding not even a fridge) Iused to work for DSS and we used to get the prices from Argos catalogue!!

Other than that you need to be 6 months on IS to get budget loan. Are there any charities or anything? Your council may be able to direct you to some that can help. Maybe look in the Free Ad section as some people get rid of stuff for free. Also, Netmums has a free bit too with people getting rid of stuff x x

 

[purpledahlia]

Ah i wasnt sure if you had to be on IS for a certain amount of time or not! Bummer.

I still didnt get the crisis loan not even for a fridge!

Oh also look in charity shops! I got a few bits from them! you'd never even be able to tell!

 

[anna matronic]

They never gave crisis loans for fridges as it isn't considered essential. You can effectively live without a fridge, only exceptions were for medication purposes!

 

[purpledahlia]

washing machine? bed? kettle? needed a fridge/freezer/kettle for baby food and bottles lol. i needed everything

My Mum works with kids in care and they usually are able to get crisis loan and she was told when helping them apply that theyre really picky and its really hard to get one. anyhooo! I had to borrow£

 

[emalou90]

thanks ladies you're all very helpful.
but i need silly things like a bed, kettle. i guess i dont need something to sit on but with my bad back i certainly do! haha.
hmm im gonna try the charities route.xxx

 

[purpledahlia]

You should def get some if theres charities around you!

p.s, I love the name Amelia! It was my 2nd choice!

 

[anna matronic]

washing machine? bed? kettle? needed a fridge/freezer/kettle for baby food and bottles lol. i needed everything

My Mum works with kids in care and they usually are able to get crisis loan and she was told when helping them apply that theyre really picky and its really hard to get one. anyhooo! I had to borrow£

this is so off topic, but yes to bed and bedding. No to washing machine (hand wash) kettle (boil water they will give saucepans) A baby does not need food kept in a fridge until on solids (then you could get a budget loan)

I never made the decisions on the loans, I just helped with the applications and gave the decisions. The criteria was pretty tough but no impossible to get one if it was a serious crisis. This was years ago though, I left in 2003 so it may well be much much tougher now!!

There is another place Gingerbread that is an organisation for single parents. I am not sure what they do exactly, but they can certainly give advice at the very least.

https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/portal/page/portal/Website

 

[purpledahlia]

Lol yeah off topic haha, Well ava was starting solidds when i moved and yeah even bedding was no no for me! and i had been on IS since october and JSA before that since July, and had not much savings! i think it is a bit tougher now, the jobcentre didnt even tell me about it when i asked, they just said budgeting loan! why it wasnt mentioned i dont know, i just knew to ring from my mums work.

Never heard of gingerbread tho! good to know!

 

[emalou90]

You should def get some if theres charities around you!

p.s, I love the name Amelia! It was my 2nd choice!

I hope so!! I'm going to start the hunt today sooner i get things before moving in the better.

Thanks

I tell you what, the only thing that's kept me strong through all this is my daughter, she always makes me smile, i cant be sad around her

Also i love all the support on here, you're all so kind xx

 

[purpledahlia]

Let us know how you get on! Do you have family who can help a bit? If you can save a bit then do look on gumtree.. its full of bargains!