No Income w/ disconnection pending...

[youngwife]

Hi ladies!

To our complete shock, my dh was terminated this month. They sent him home on administrative leave on the 8th, and didn't inform him that he was officially terminated until the 21st!

So, we've lost 1/2 of a month + some of income!!

Essentially, we have three birthdays in May (their ages will be: a sweet 16, a newly 10 yr old, and a newly 13yr old!)

All of our efforts for assistance have been just a hair too late because of the time that lapsed when we *thought* administrative leave meant he was going to be paid!!

So, I need ideas to keep our utilities on..

I have called the utility company, the salvation army, and any other source I could think of, with no help!!

Any ideas???

Thanks so much in advance!

Rebecca

[Drummer's Wife]

The utility companies won't let you set up a payment plan or extend the due date? I hope they don't disconnect - and it's unlikely they would if you are only late by one month.

I'm sorry about your DH's layoff. I hope he has already applied for unemployment, and that you all try to get on wic, food stamps, medicaid - whatever you qualify for.

Best of luck finding a solution.

[youngwife]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

The utility companies won't let you set up a payment plan or extend the due date? I hope they don't disconnect - and it's unlikely they would if you are only late by one month.

I'm sorry about your DH's layoff. I hope he has already applied for unemployment, and that you all try to get on wic, food stamps, medicaid - whatever you qualify for.

Best of luck finding a solution.

Thank you!!

We have called twice, and they said we've only had four bills rather than the needed 6 to qualify for assistance!!

So, if we don't pay it by the 3rd, it will be cut off!

We missed the cut off for increasing our food stamps because his employer didn't fax the form back in time!!

And, there wasn't time for Salvation Army or local utility assistance because we didn't request help early enough in the month!!!!!!!!

I believe the Lord is in control of all of this, it's just getting REALLY tight and scary....

Thankfully, my dh started a new job this morning. We just don't know how long it will be before he gets a check!

Thanks again,

Rebecca

[velochic]

Originally Posted by youngwife

We have called twice, and they said we've only had four bills rather than the needed 6 to qualify for assistance!!

So, if we don't pay it by the 3rd, it will be cut off!

I'm not understanding the above. First I read it that you were behind 4 payments and you have to be behind 6 to get assistance... but then that doesn't make sense, because they wouldn't shut off your utilities on the 3rd of May. Then I read it as you have been in your place only 4 months and have gotten only 4 bills for utilities... but then that doesn't make sense because you probably paid a deposit and if you're late just one cycle (or even two), they probably wouldn't shut you off that soon. So... I'm not sure.

Anyway, my thought was how about your dh's new workplace write a letter (on company letterhead) stating that he is a new hire and his first check will be distributed on such-and-such date? Perhaps they would extend your utilities until that date and you can hand-deliver a money order that very day your husband gets paid. It's worth at least asking.

[painefaria]

Can you borrow money for the utility? I know it sucks, but paying to get it turned back on is more money that you don't have. Some churches have assistance programs for situations like these.

[Thystle]

In some areas LEAP/HEAP is still taking applications until tomorrow.


Have you called your local United Way (211)?

[youngwife]

To clear up the confusion...

They don't extend a deferment until you've gotten 6 billing cycles on your account...and we've only had 4 thus far. Yes, I paid a deposit, but apparently that isn't considered!!

We have asked his mother (Ohhhhh, how we hated to) for help. She gave us a credit card to make the payment with. We'll hear about it 'til Kingdom come, but I am grateful for the relief!

Thank you all for the ideas! We may still need them between now and our next pay day!

Rebecca

[KatWrangler]

So are you already behind in payments? Because they usually don't shut you off if you are only late on the current payment.

[youngwife]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

So are you already behind in payments? Because they usually don't shut you off if you are only late on the current payment.

I guess we owe April's bill (March), and May's (which is April) will be due as well. So, we are one month behind, but owe for two months??

This utility company won't take payment arrangements, you can't partial pay (like for the past due month only) online, and they won't take a payment by phone. So, now my dh is going to have to go to his mom's (out of town) to get the cash, and we'll pay it that way.

I really don't understand why they are so backward...we live in a smallish town, but not the smallest in our area!!!


And I just talked with our land lord about the rent that we can't pay at this time.... I feel about two inches tall, now!

This is just stinky!!!

I am trying to be positive and think of my blessings. My dh and I were talking about how we said "for better or for worse, and for richer and for poorer"...I said it seems like we haven't see the richer, yet! He said that our "richer" is in our children! I thought that was so sweet!


Thanks, again, for the ideas and encouragement. I know we're not the ONLY ones that are struggling right now!

[ErikaLeigh]

Also there are normally a lot of churches that if you talk to them they will assist with bills.

I am glad you guys found a solution Things will get better.