WFF - Im hyperventilating....

IRD have cut our WFF right down to $120 a fortnight (It was $256).


Apparently I earnt $11k this year (Even though I havent actually worked - just back payments and a bonus) and DH has apparently done so much overtime hes gone right over my estimations.
We are now at the point where DH cant even do any overtime (he needs to do $100 worth a week usually)

So, to cut a long story short, we are $200 short a week. Ive done some cutting down on costs, and even if we cut off our phone and our internet, and did as much as we can, we are still short $70 a week. Unless we starve of course.

I really really dont know what to tell DH. And I dont know what to do.. Im just a zombie walking around stressing out about what on earth is going to happen!
Sure, I can go back to work if I put in my 6 weeks notice, but then we are STILL going to have to pay back every last cent IRD gave us anyway, arent we?
I cant even go and get a part time job.. Cause that will take us way over.
Any advice?

Wow, that really sucks Not really any advice, but I didn't want to read and run, so take a deep breath (or several!), and I'm sure you and your DH will be able to work something out together.

It sounds like you've been working through budgets anyway, but I can recommend the Sorted website as it's really easy to change one thing and see what effect it has etc. (Can you tell I've been doing the same exercise?!)

Maybe check out the money saving tips thread...?

ETA: Hey great idea Stacey!

Edited by weegee

Thanks
ive spent the last 2 hours doing a budget. $560 goes out every week just on a loan and our rent!
Yeap ive been on a budget for months now, make my own bread, baby food etc. There is just no movement left in the budget. ive just cancelled our health insurance


ive put a couple of things on trade me - we made about $500 or so over the past few months... theres nothing left!!!!!

Eeek!

Havent really got much to add, but there seem to be some alright ideas. Do you get any accomodation supplement or anything?

 

I have a feeling we are going to be in the same situation, DH has started getting a regular comission which put our anual income up by nearly a half. Its not like we have all this extra money now so I really dont know where to cut back. Im desperatley trying to save enough to move from my partents but it doesnt look like it will ever happen at this rate.

 

 Hugs, Hope you manage to sort something out!

Yeah ive enquired about the loan, im on the special graduate loan of 8 or 9%, and if i drag it out any longer ill have to go on the 17% one, and it will end up costing me more

WFF should run like WINZ, whatever you earn THAT WEEK changes your entitlement for that week. Maybe I should start a petition?!

Lizzle - we worked out that if I went back to work full time we would actually be WORSE off than if I wasnt working (Well, prior to this mess anyway!) isnt it ridiculous?

DH thinks we should just keep going as we are (ie him keep doing overtime when he can) , and if we owe at the end then we'll just have to pay it off weekly, and it will be less interest than most loans

I'd definately go down to IRD and talk to them.  Take your budgets and show them.  WFF is a BUNCH OF ARSE!!!!  I had to pay back all of ours (thankfully I was owed a tax refund so that came out of that...which sucked a little). 

 

i read somewhere that they had been making mistake and in cases of genuine hardship were able to write off the amount owing.  Call them and make a time to go in and see someone.

 

Re your idea of a petition....I'll sign!!!!

me too.  We genuinely needed it at the start and then as our situation changed I notified them and they reduced our amounts and then I asked them to stop.  I never realised that I would have to give it ALL back....just assumed that would only happen if you didnt notify them and kept claiming the full amount......NAZIS  I think!

I've got experience with financial planning so if you wanted to PM me your budget I will happily take a look at it for you.

Oh you poor things, we have had endless problems with IRD too. It sucks when you actually rely on WFF to eat. I'd ring up IRD and WINZ and explain the situation, you could maybe get a couple of food grants from WINZ if things get really tight.

Where are the retirement savings? They generally have very strict rules around withdrawals, and to the company financial hardship would be if you were in a substantial amount of debt. As you aren't currently in any trouble I don't believe you would qualify (but it depends which scheme he is in). Some allow a 20% withdrawal per year which would assist you, if you want to PM me that info as well I might be able to tell you if it is one of the schemes we deal with.