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[LC0112G]

thanks this is helpful but i definitely don't pay ni nor do they bill me it.

Ok - I didn't realise you are now self employed. If you're self employed then you would normally get billed. However, if you contrive to keep your earnings/profits under about £115 p/w then it's true you can avoid Class 2 and Class 4 NI. However it also means you don't add another years stamp to your NI record.

https://www.gov.uk/self-employed-national-insurance-rates

Class 2 is being abolished, and since I maintain you're going to need a few (up to 8 ) more stamps to get the full state pension, you're probably going to have to pay some future class 4.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-abolishing-class-2-national-insurance-and-introducing-a-contributory-benefit-test-to-class-4-national-insurance-for-the-self-employed/the-abolition-of-class-2-national-insurance-introducing-a-benefit-test-into-class-4-national-insurance-for-the-self-employed

also my statement says

"Your State Pension forecast    £155.65
Your COPE estimate    £43.55
COPE added to your State Pension forecast    £199.20"

it says COPE is added (although by my pension provider) not deducted.

You need to contact DWP and get them to provide a WRITTEN statement of what your starting amount is, and how it's been calculated. The online systems don't provide that figure. Anecdotal evidence from those that have got written statements is that the starting amount for people who have ever opted out is somewhere close to the higher of either the old basic SP of £115, or the new SP of £155 minus their COPE amount.

also to assist here is an example from them:


"Example – the amount under the new scheme rules is higher
On 6 April 2016, Jim has 32 qualifying years on his NI contribution
record. He has been self-employed for long periods of his working
life.
Using the new State Pension scheme rules, Jim would get £135.68
a week (£148.40 [now £155.65]x 32/35ths).
Using the existing scheme rules, Jim would get £126.50 a week
(basic State Pension of £113.10 and £13.40 additional State
Pension).
Jim’s starting amount will be the higher of these two amounts,
which is £135.68 a week."

Jim in your example doesn't have a COD/COPE deduction since he was never contracted out of SERPS.

[moggy]

Speak to Stepchange re your debts.

Would strongly recommend ringing them first thing

http://www.stepchange.org/

Pension side of things is currently irrelevant to you, but thread was side tracked...

Have a look at that link, fill in the online review (Debt Remedy) for your basic options, then ring them in the morning to discuss them

Will do mate,thanks to all on OOF for your help and advice.Regards Dean,wife,and Rodney the cat.

[LC0112G]

But there are a few problems ie the landlord will not accept housing benefit payments.

The landlord doesn't need to know you're on Housing Benefit. It is paid to you. Even if he does find out, he can't just turf you out. You presumably have a tenancy contract and that still stands. He cannot even start the eviction process till the contract expires, or you're 2 months behind on the rent. If you keep paying the rent he's unlikely to even try and evict. Even if he does, then it'll take 3-6 months for him to get the courts to issue the eviction order. If/Once you are evicted, then the council will have to find you a home.

So - apply for housing benefit, now, or sooner if possible.

And I agree with Harris K.

[moggy]

But there are a few problems ie the landlord will not accept housing benefit payments.

The landlord doesn't need to know you're on Housing Benefit. It is paid to you. Even if he does find out, he can't just turf you out. You presumably have a tenancy contract and that still stands. He cannot even start the eviction process till the contract expires, or you're 2 months behind on the rent. If you keep paying the rent he's unlikely to even try and evict. Even if he does, then it'll take 3-6 months for him to get the courts to issue the eviction order. If/Once you are evicted, then the council will have to find you a home.

So - apply for housing benefit, now, or sooner if possible.

And I agree with Harris K.

Hi mate,thanks for that.My wife pays the rent through her bank account,to a lettings agency.They pass it on to him as he lives in London,but if the bank pulls the plug how do we pay the rent.Also why would the council be obliged to find us somewhere as we are private tenants.We have just signed a new tenancy with a new lettings agency,as the old one was ripping off the landlords.Does this help in any way.Dean.

[ronnyd]

As said by others Dean, your first port of call has to be Stepchange. Don,t go for these agencies that offer to sort your debts out, they are only after fees from you. My youngest had some great help from Stepchange and it,s free as they are a charity. Also the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) are a very good source of information, but it,s Stepchange you really need to get in contact ASAP. Best of luck mate.

[LC0112G]

Hi mate,thanks for that.My wife pays the rent through her bank account,to a lettings agency.They pass it on to him as he lives in London,but if the bank pulls the plug how do we pay the rent.Also why would the council be obliged to find us somewhere as we are private tenants.We have just signed a new tenancy with a new lettings agency,as the old one was ripping off the landlords.Does this help in any way.Dean.

Believe it or not, this is very good news. The minimum fixed term for a tenancy is 6 months, so you are secure for at least 6 months from the date you signed the contract. The landlord cannot even start eviction till that 6 months is up. Once the 6 months is up, realistically, it'll take at least further 3 months to evict you, so you're secure for the next 9 months at least provided you keep paying the rent (don't fall 2 months behind). Providing you keep paying the rent, the landlord won't want to evict because it's a lot of aggro and possibly expense to do it.

As for the bank - see what Stepchange say, but I'd be tempted to open a new basic bank account with a bank that you don't currently have any dealings or debts with. Then start paying the rent out of that bank account. If/when your current bank pulls the plug you can still keep paying the rent. The lettings agency won't care where the money comes from, as long as it does come. 

The council have an obligation under law to house the homeless. This is true providing you don't make yourself intentionally homeless (by deliberately not paying the rent). If you are evicted by the landlord through no fault of your own then by law the council must find you somewhere to live. Don't expect a mansion though -  council houses are in short supply and you might end up in a room in a B&B - but you won't end up out on the street.

Finally - don't be shy about asking for help. Sign on, visit CAB, claim all the benefits you are entitled to and talk to Stepchange.  I'd also suggest asking for help over on the MoneySavingExpert boards - probably on the The Budgeting & Bank Accounts Board to start with : http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

[moggy]

As said by others Dean, your first port of call has to be Stepchange. Don,t go for these agencies that offer to sort your debts out, they are only after fees from you. My youngest had some great help from Stepchange and it,s free as they are a charity. Also the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) are a very good source of information, but it,s Stepchange you really need to get in contact ASAP. Best of luck mate.

Thanks mate,i am very great full for your advice and concern.Dean.

[moggy]

Hi mate,thanks for that.My wife pays the rent through her bank account,to a lettings agency.They pass it on to him as he lives in London,but if the bank pulls the plug how do we pay the rent.Also why would the council be obliged to find us somewhere as we are private tenants.We have just signed a new tenancy with a new lettings agency,as the old one was ripping off the landlords.Does this help in any way.Dean.

Believe it or not, this is very good news. The minimum fixed term for a tenancy is 6 months, so you are secure for at least 6 months from the date you signed the contract. The landlord cannot even start eviction till that 6 months is up. Once the 6 months is up, realistically, it'll take at least further 3 months to evict you, so you're secure for the next 9 months at least provided you keep paying the rent (don't fall 2 months behind). Providing you keep paying the rent, the landlord won't want to evict because it's a lot of aggro and possibly expense to do it.

As for the bank - see what Stepchange say, but I'd be tempted to open a new basic bank account with a bank that you don't currently have any dealings or debts with. Then start paying the rent out of that bank account. If/when your current bank pulls the plug you can still keep paying the rent. The lettings agency won't care where the money comes from, as long as it does come. 

The council have an obligation under law to house the homeless. This is true providing you don't make yourself intentionally homeless (by deliberately not paying the rent). If you are evicted by the landlord through no fault of your own then by law the council must find you somewhere to live. Don't expect a mansion though -  council houses are in short supply and you might end up in a room in a B&B - but you won't end up out on the street.

Finally - don't be shy about asking for help. Sign on, visit CAB, claim all the benefits you are entitled to and talk to Stepchange.  I'd also suggest asking for help over on the MoneySavingExpert boards - probably on the The Budgeting & Bank Accounts Board to start with : http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

LCO112G,thank you for the time out of your life,to help and advise me.Its so much appreciated,as compassion and understanding is a rare thing in this day and age.Especially from someone who does not know me from adam,i will get my finger out and start making inquirers.But like you i have always tried to pay my way in life,and have never had to rely on handouts.But now it may be the time to get back what i have put in,Kind Regards Dean.

[Jimbob]

Dare I say stepchage could be a bad idea at this point?

My thinking is, I beleive they will want to freeze your debts and start an agreed low repayment process.
However if your not earning, and relying on this credit, it will leave you with no funds?

Once youve an income, yes, way to go, but 'could' it make things worse in this case?

No definiate idea, but consider the option...

[05omegav6]

Dare I say stepchage could be a bad idea at this point?

My thinking is, I beleive they will want to freeze your debts and start an agreed low repayment process.
However if your not earning, and relying on this credit, it will leave you with no funds?

Once youve an income, yes, way to go, but 'could' it make things worse in this case?

No definiate idea, but consider the option...

Sorry Jimbob, but that is misinformed...

You fill in your details as honestly as you can and they then give you options based on what suits your current position.

Certainly a Debt Management Plan is an option, unlike an IVA it is free and flexible, bankruptcy is another option...

BUT, as said the advice they give is based entirely on individual circumstances and therefore anything else we might say is purely conjecture

From personal experience, talking to them and establishing options is a welcome relief in its own right as it's often impossible to see the wood for the trees when you're in the middle of it all

[Jimbob]

Happy to be wrong, based on heresay.  just thought it may be worth chucking in.

End of they day, i beleive its advice, and you can walk away with no action if thats the course you want....

[05omegav6]

Happy to be wrong, based on heresay.  just thought it may be worth chucking in.

End of they day, i beleive its advice, and you can walk away with no action if thats the course you want....

They are dealing with my situation, so speak as I find

[moggy]

Dare I say stepchage could be a bad idea at this point?

My thinking is, I beleive they will want to freeze your debts and start an agreed low repayment process.
However if your not earning, and relying on this credit, it will leave you with no funds?

Once youve an income, yes, way to go, but 'could' it make things worse in this case?

No definiate idea, but consider the option...

Thanks for the input Jim bob,much appreciated.Dean.

[moggy]

Happy to be wrong, based on heresay.  just thought it may be worth chucking in.

End of they day, i beleive its advice, and you can walk away with no action if thats the course you want....

They are dealing with my situation, so speak as I find

Hi HKT,may i ask if you are in a similar situation to me.Regards Dean.

[05omegav6]

Happy to be wrong, based on heresay.  just thought it may be worth chucking in.

End of they day, i beleive its advice, and you can walk away with no action if thats the course you want....

They are dealing with my situation, so speak as I find

Hi HKT,may i ask if you are in a similar situation to me.Regards Dean.

The only common ground is that we have debts that we cannot meet at the contracted amounts...

In your case, your unlikely to be able to pay anything towards them,  especially with no income... debt repayment,  with the exception of court imposed fines, is considered non essential when compared with housing and food.

Have you completed the online debt remedy? If not, I strongly urge you to do it before you ring them... it gives both them and yourselves a clearer picture of your specific situation.

In any case the last thing you want, or need, is for your creditors to be hounding you on a daily basis. Dealing with this aspect of your situation will relieve you from a burden of worry.