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DEBT HELP FOR CARERS
A warm welcome to the new Carers section, which, in line with the ethos of All About Debt, aims to provide friendly, non-judgemental help and moral support to carers affected by debt. It is also a friendly social platform where you can meet others in similar circumstances, let off steam and share experiences, without fear of prejudice or censure.
According to Turn2Us, there are around 6 million carers in the UK, many of whom do not receive the financial aid they are due to. In the year 2008/9 there was £19.1 billion in unclaimed benefits. Even for those who do claim, with Carers’ Allowance currently set at a derisory £55.55 per week, there is little wonder that those who selflessly give up their time to care for a relative or friend often find themselves in severe financial hardship.
Amazingly, if you Google “debt help for carers”, all you usually get is a list of profit driven debt management companies (to be avoided like the plague!) and a few news articles about the subject.
While there are several excellent websites dedicated to supporting carers, despite the unique problems there is nothing specifically aimed at helping them cope with and take control of their debts.
All About Debt fills this void, by offering free, holistic – and realistic – peer to peer help from people in similar situations.
Depending on your circumstances, there are many ways we can help in controlling or resolving your debt problems. While you may in some circumstances be advised to set up repayment plans, either self managed or via free services such as Payplan or CCCS, unlike most debt advice organisations, we don’t blindly take your creditors’ word that you owe what they say you owe! (And you don’t have to wait weeks for an appointment!
)
Very often debt balances will be inflated by unfair charges or missold PPI. The credit agreement may not be enforceable in court, or Statute Barred. You may have been a victim of irresponsible lending, been treated unfairly, harassed by debt collectors, misled as to their powers or even threatened with court action which they cannot legally take.
You will get all the help you need on here to guide you through this minefield, whether you are in debt yourself or dealing with it for the person you care for.
In addition to debt problems, please feel free to post about anything and everything related to caring, your trials and tribulations, tips and coping strategies.
It’s quite normal to resent the person you are caring for at times, to feel trapped, tired, even angry at the loss of a “normal” life.
They may be difficult to deal with, stretch your patience to the limit…. and then you experience a massive guilt trip for feeling cross with them. At the same time it’s hard to admit these stresses to others in your circle of friends and family, but you can work through these feelings and get sympathetic, understanding support anonymously here.
Just getting it off your chest often works wonders!
Shepherdess xx
PS: Don’t forget to check out the Benefits and Disability sections, and familiarise yourself with the rest of the forum…we’re a friendly bunch!
Carers - Useful Links and Resources
Turn2Us is a charitable service which helps people access the money available to them – through welfare benefits, grants and other help.
DWP – info on Carers Allowance
General Advice and support for Carers
Carers UK
Carers.org
Mind - advice for carers of those who suffer from mental disorders.
NHS Choices - Carers Direct. A good source of information for carers on many aspects from debt to local services
A warm welcome to the new Carers section, which, in line with the ethos of All About Debt, aims to provide friendly, non-judgemental help and moral support to carers affected by debt. It is also a friendly social platform where you can meet others in similar circumstances, let off steam and share experiences, without fear of prejudice or censure.
According to Turn2Us, there are around 6 million carers in the UK, many of whom do not receive the financial aid they are due to. In the year 2008/9 there was £19.1 billion in unclaimed benefits. Even for those who do claim, with Carers’ Allowance currently set at a derisory £55.55 per week, there is little wonder that those who selflessly give up their time to care for a relative or friend often find themselves in severe financial hardship.
Amazingly, if you Google “debt help for carers”, all you usually get is a list of profit driven debt management companies (to be avoided like the plague!) and a few news articles about the subject.
While there are several excellent websites dedicated to supporting carers, despite the unique problems there is nothing specifically aimed at helping them cope with and take control of their debts.
All About Debt fills this void, by offering free, holistic – and realistic – peer to peer help from people in similar situations.
Depending on your circumstances, there are many ways we can help in controlling or resolving your debt problems. While you may in some circumstances be advised to set up repayment plans, either self managed or via free services such as Payplan or CCCS, unlike most debt advice organisations, we don’t blindly take your creditors’ word that you owe what they say you owe! (And you don’t have to wait weeks for an appointment!
)Very often debt balances will be inflated by unfair charges or missold PPI. The credit agreement may not be enforceable in court, or Statute Barred. You may have been a victim of irresponsible lending, been treated unfairly, harassed by debt collectors, misled as to their powers or even threatened with court action which they cannot legally take.
You will get all the help you need on here to guide you through this minefield, whether you are in debt yourself or dealing with it for the person you care for.
In addition to debt problems, please feel free to post about anything and everything related to caring, your trials and tribulations, tips and coping strategies.
It’s quite normal to resent the person you are caring for at times, to feel trapped, tired, even angry at the loss of a “normal” life.
They may be difficult to deal with, stretch your patience to the limit…. and then you experience a massive guilt trip for feeling cross with them. At the same time it’s hard to admit these stresses to others in your circle of friends and family, but you can work through these feelings and get sympathetic, understanding support anonymously here.
Just getting it off your chest often works wonders!
Shepherdess xx
PS: Don’t forget to check out the Benefits and Disability sections, and familiarise yourself with the rest of the forum…we’re a friendly bunch!
Carers - Useful Links and Resources
Turn2Us is a charitable service which helps people access the money available to them – through welfare benefits, grants and other help.
DWP – info on Carers Allowance
General Advice and support for Carers
Carers UK
Carers.org
Mind - advice for carers of those who suffer from mental disorders.
NHS Choices - Carers Direct. A good source of information for carers on many aspects from debt to local services
well done and most helpful.
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