WFF - Im hyperventilating....
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Topic: WFF - Im hyperventilating....
Posted By: Snappy
Subject: WFF - Im hyperventilating....
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 5:04pm
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?  ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 5:16pm
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Ouch! The only thing I can think of is do you have stuff sitting around that you could sell? DH and I are doing this with clothes and other things and its amazing how quickly it adds up money wise.
And yeah if you went back to work you would have to pay back what IRD has given you this financial year |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 5:17pm
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! ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 5:29pm
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That sounds stressful! There is always a way out of these situations though I'm sure.
Have you sat down and gone through a budgeting exercise? When all of the numbers are in front of you on paper or on the computer it can help a lot with seeing where you can cut corners. I have done up a budget spreadsheet for our family in Excel so if you think it might help PM me and I can email you the template. Hang in there. |
Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 5:45pm
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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!!!!! ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 5:49pm
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Go to citizen's advice and get some budgeting help. They'll be able to tell you what you are entitled to and help out with IRD. You may find there's some sort of extension or something for financial hardship.
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 5:59pm
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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.
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 6:25pm
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if you have a loan, any chance you could change the terms of it, lengthen it? if you are eventually planning on going back to work, you can increase the3 payments later.
WFF is great BUT it can be really tough estimating what you might get. we got to the point where we cancelled it and will get it as a lump payment instead of the $20 a week we are entitled to. Also, when DH got a new job, it increased our annual wage by $10,000, BUT decreased our payments of Wff AND increased our child care payments to the point we actually lost $20 by him having a better paying job. now THATS ironic |
Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 7:24pm
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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  ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 7:38pm
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I know it might be painful, but can you talk to someone at IRD? ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 7:58pm
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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!!!! |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 10:32pm
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Ouch alright. I know that if it is hardship they will right off the debt (they did to us when we got a $500 bill). I wouls so sign your petition, even if they did it monthly that would still make it easier on families. I am givng up on it and going to the lumpsum next financial year. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 03 December 2008 at 10:59pm
| 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! |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 2:50am
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I definitely agree with talking to IRD. Otherwise, could you perhaps move to a cheaper house to reduce your rent? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 9:42am
| 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. |
Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 1:34pm
Thanks Summerlamb, have PM'd you 
We probably could find somewhere a little bit cheaper (not by more than $20-$30 though!) Just the thought of it though gives me the hee-bee jeebees! We have to give 4 weeks notice, then theres moving costs.... argh.... I spoke to IRD (actually i think I was sobbing) and told her we just cant live on that amount, she said the reason its gone so low is because they overpaid us over the last few months so have to lower it right down so that it evens out by the time 31 mar comes.And she cant put it up any higher because they will be overpaying us. We dont have any debt so nothing to actually write off yet... if that makes sense. ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 1:39pm
| 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. |
Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 1:56pm
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I just had a thought... DH has $4K in his retirement savings, they can be withdrawn during hardship.. Do you think this will go through IRD and end up being taxed and counted as "income" ? ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 2:19pm
| 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. |
Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 2:42pm
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Thanks..
I rung WINZ, they said we would have to earn under $36K to be entitled to the food grant. They said i could apply for the temporary assistance benefit to help with my repayments and costs (Yes, I got a bit excited) BUT, they only pay for essential items. So my bank loan that is consolidated (car, credit card etc) , and even my insurance is not counted. We are just going to have to wing it and hope to god we make it over the next 19 weeks Thank goodness we bought the kids xmas presents already. ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: CuriousG
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 3:25pm
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I think WFF sucks. YOU NEED THE MONEY! I had to pay everything back when we were on it BUT WE NEEDED THE MONEY AT THE TIME. How was I to know how much we would earn going forward?
I get so angry when I hear this kind of thing - we are all decent citizens paying our fair share (and more sometimes) of tax. WHY oh WHY can't they be a bit more forgiving?!!!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 3:42pm
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I am glad we had Jackson in april and at the start of the financial year (Note to all TTC!) People who have babies part way through the financial year and drop to one income dont get any money... I wonder why, do they think that we put our money aside each week?
Anyone know Mr Key personally and could possibly send him a message? ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: McPloppy
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 9:04pm
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Oh god I know how you feel.
i am looking at going back to work being a home educator through porse. You have huge tax breaks...basically If i took on one child now full time charging $5 or $6 per hour for the rest of the financial year my TAXABLE income would be so low that I would end up paying little to no tax and it would not affect our WFF. just an Idea for you. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 9:49pm
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Wow thanks Mcploppy, thats very interesting! Ive always wondered about that.
I just did another calculation, and if DH continues to do overtime it would only affect our wff by $30 per week. And thats based on $10K worth from now until march. Dh has been shaking his head all this time while ive been stressing out. I dont know why I thought he couldnt earn anymore money! Phew! Problem sorted!!!!!!!! ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 10:01pm
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Whew! Yay! I hope you can put your feet up and relax. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |