My daughters birthday tomoz thankfully this time she in school lol x its been hard but managed x

Every year, at the end of March, I look forward to receiving my Warm Home Discount. It often gets put straight onto my prepayment meter by the Government, due to my economic circumstances (i.e., being on a low income/benefits).

However, when I realized that the money wasn't put onto my meter this year, I began to make some enquiries.

The reply I got back wasn't one that I was expecting at all, as it turns out that the Government had recently changed the criteria on who receives this rebate (reply letter attached).

Apparently, people will now get the Warm Home Discount, based on the Characteristics of their property, rather than their economic circumstances.

I wonder how many more people who used to receive this payment, but also didn't get it this year were aware of this change? I only found out about the change because of the enquiries that I made with them about why I hadn't received mine as yet.

I'm sure that this change will further impact those of us who are already in fuel poverty as it is.

Good morning Diary

Its been a while since I put my thoughts down to express and reflect.

Half-term was costly and busy. Its my first holidays at home since moving over to universal credit and I have to really think about the cost of every activity or event that we attended or take part in.

This definitely impacts on the family time spent together beyond the back garden. One has to know calculate the cost of a educational, fun and adventurous day out with the kids.

My son is back at school on Monday, and concerns around the cost of new uniform, shoes, school trips and haircuts have started to arise again.

Been summoned for jury duty but it's expensive, it's a reimbursement situation meaning I have to pay for each of the two buses there and back out of pocket, no weekly or day passes either has to be each bus individually and reimbursed some in specified time after the jury duty finishes, ten days. Two buses each way, that's four buses a day, at £2 per bus, meaning I need £80 somehow just for buses alone. They have a £5.71 per day food allowance reimbursement also but how can they reimburse me for food I can't afford to buy I wonder, am I supposed to collect receipts for that too. It's messed up.

Never mind that I'm not sure my mental health can manage jury duty. When I responded to the summons I explained about the special measures, from hourly breaks, fidget toy and comfort item access, and what mental diagnosis' I have. Also my physical disability, fibromyalgia, which mixed with my meds that make me sleepy, aren't great for 6am buses to get there on time, meaning I'd get back around 7/8pm, meaning my health is really going to suffer these next two weeks. I'm on PIP and LCWRA for a reason, I can't physically and mentally work a full time job even for a week. So I don't understand why they summoned me even after explaining why it's not ideal, yes I'm cognitively functioning but not health wise able to do this task. Which upsets me cos I wish I could, I'd love to be able to tell my kids I'm doing my part as a citizen, it's just not everyone can. These next two weeks are gonna be hell, physically and psychologically (one of my mental health diagnosis is Cptsd so I've been the victim of crimes that never saw justice, it's going to be triggering also). Long days with no money for food cos its spent on bus fair. I hope I can explain things when I get there and resolve this but it's unlikely, I've no experience of gov agencies, especially the so called justice system, of being just.

I’ve had a very tiring day today. Nothing much has happened but I am finding it hard cleaning up after my son and his friends especially as my son doesn’t work or going to an educational service. We are just on top of each other all of the time.

I am on my emergency credit for my electric and need to do a food shop. I got paid today but it’s gone on bills and I don’t get paid for 2 more weeks. Constantly having to choose between having to pay bills or eat. Things have been more of a struggle since my son left school.

A LIFE LESS LIVED IS NO LIFE AT ALL!

You know you're living on the breadline when forced into eating mouldy bread

Subsisting on tea & toast - on a "good" day, maybe cheese, maybe an egg.

Or beans.

Cheers, Lee!

But they no longer cost only 30p - not even the cheapest own brands.

No money or motivation to cook "proper" meals

Even though you know how & know you should.

Energy prices remain high, whilst customer care is low

And shareholders dividends have them rolling

In clover

Over

And over

Again.

You know you're skint when you have to stay in bed

Because it's too cold to put the heating on.

Or you're too depressed to get your wiggle on

To cook those meals you could & should but can't afford.

Carbohydrate overdose can cause harm

My raised HbA1C causes my GP to feel alarm regularly

But

Inflation's still inflationing

Even though it's coming down, the cost of living & just existing is still high

You know you're skint when constantly overdrawn

Negative balance each morn despite refreshing the banking app

Still says, "Face it, kid! This where you're at!

Your pets know you're skint when dog food feeds cats because you've run out

The dog doesn't mind, but fussy cats are put out

Thank goodness my dog isn't fussy

She'll eat just about anything, unlike my four pussies

She'll even eat my beans on toast

As long as she sees me eating it it's fair game to her

It's an added treat to her usual meals

She'll beg & beg with wide-eyed pleas

Do I give in?

Of course I do!

But there's one thing I will not do

I will not beg.

Instead I'll tell you and all those in power

This is no way to live

Me & millions of others are just existing

Raising our families in this toxic Tory decade of austerity.

In a country as rich as the UK

It doesn't have to be this way

Nor should it.

Life as we live it is cruel & unjust

It's definitely not a game.

© SAL Widdop March 2024

We now have an up and running government in Northern Ireland after 2 years with nothing. I am still very sceptical about what changes they will make to help protect those in poverty. We are the forgotten people in society. It has taken community representatives to step in and help with the likes of food in food banks and emotional support because the community leaders have been doing the jobs of the politicians. It’s now up to the politicians to take heed and step up. They can no loner talk the talk - they need to take action and take it now.

We’ve all had the dreaded lurgy since around Christmas. Coughing what feels like constantly. This week my husband started his third course of antibiotics. It’s cost us £60 this month in prescriptions which we’re just not used to having to spend.

Starting to feel the cold again now, the temperature has dropped. The announcement about the cost of energy going down soon is still not enough to help people on the lowest incomes. I cant afford to use the heating and have to be very careful with the electricity now and this will not change. Living on legacy benefits means we do not get an increase each year like most benefits so there is still a lot of pressure to cover rising costs such as food, clothing, internet, water and other bills that all increase with the price of inflation or more each year which means more cutbacks and hard times ahead.

The costs of energy has really scuppered our budget this week. We seem to have been really cold! All been poorly and on antibiotics which I think hasn’t helped either. Myself and my husband have to pay for prescriptions and when unexpected it can also eat into our budget too. It was a long week!