Wanting to go back to England

[Anna01]

Originally Posted by MaidenScotland

I am sure you know that local authority housing is at a premium and as you are both adults I would imagine you are at the bottom of the list. Private renting would be your best option, check out craiglist and gumtree for property in your chosen area. I presume your son holds a UK passport?

Yes and this is what bothers me - I know it is going to be an up hill struggle but not as bad as the one we would face if we tried to stay here.

Gumtree - looks hopeful - thank you.

If we could fly back - get some temporary accommodation be it cheap B&B or something we could sort something out from it.

The most I am going to be able to get for my small place looks like $10,000 ( minus a large chunk for the flight ) so it does not give me much to play with - then with the exchange rate :-(

[Anna01]

Originally Posted by twostep

Do both of you have British passports? If your ex-husband has to pay spousal support this will follow you to the UK. Do you and your son have job skills you can apply in the UK?
This is a Forum for those wanting to move to the US so you will unfortunately not find a lot of answers here. Personally I suggest contacting friends, saving up in the US and reaching out to the appropriate agencies in the UK get information if and for what support you might be eligible for.

Yes both of us have valid British passports. No my ex-husband is not paying spousal support - if I went after it he would fight me over the roof over our heads. My son at the time was in therapy for his suicide attempt - I was not in the best position to argue over things.

Apart from my father there is no-one in the UK we are in touch with anymore. Staying here is not an option as I can no longer afford to keep this place going - all my savings have gone everything - I am down to selling everything I can.

We will work at anything - whatever it takes.

Suggestions on the agencies please - thanks.

I will also change forum.

[MaidenScotland]

Originally Posted by Anna01

Yes and this is what bothers me - I know it is going to be an up hill struggle but not as bad as the one we would face if we tried to stay here.

Gumtree - looks hopeful - thank you.

If we could fly back - get some temporary accommodation be it cheap B&B or something we could sort something out from it.

The most I am going to be able to get for my small place looks like $10,000 ( minus a large chunk for the flight ) so it does not give me much to play with - then with the exchange rate :-(

Do not exchange your money through the bank go for a broker who will give you a better rate and will not charge commission. I use Currencies Direct.
If you are coming back I would suggest you live in a city or large town as this will give you a better chance of work although I am sure you know that unemployment in the UK is high. Could you not move to another town in America>

Best of luck

Maiden

[mamasue]

Anna....I know it's not ideal... but how about going to your dad's... even sleeping on his floor for a few days, going straight to the local housing authority, and asking for emergency housing?
I've never done it so I'm going by what a good friend did when she left Egypt in the same situation.
I also like Maiden's idea...the US is a big country... there's lots of other places to go, if you just want to get away. The UK's crowded, cold, and unemployment is as bad as the US.
Good luck in whatever you do..... it's never easy making a new start... but it's usually possible!!

[Anna01]

Originally Posted by MaidenScotland

Do not exchange your money through the bank go for a broker who will give you a better rate and will not charge commission. I use Currencies Direct.
If you are coming back I would suggest you live in a city or large town as this will give you a better chance of work although I am sure you know that unemployment in the UK is high. Could you not move to another town in America>

Best of luck

Maiden

Thank you Maiden.

Another town in America I don't think is an option…

For more possible help / advice / suggestions etc., here is the whole story…

Came to America ten years ago and got married.
Husband left us five times in those ten years - the fifth being the last - yes I should have made the first time the last - hindsight / stupidly.
A stay at home wife and mother - have never worked in the US and do not drive.
Ex-husband worked for Ford - took a buyout - bought a mobile home which is now mine.

Son attended school here but did not get his GED - working on it at home now.
He worked at the nearby gas station for a year or more sometimes seven days a week and would fill in whenever necessary - over that time he had had three days off sick - the forth time he was off sick he was sacked.

Ex- husband never really embraced him as a son.
He didn't want to teach him to drive as it would mean another car…
But it would hopefully have meant a job with which the car could have been paid for.

Mentally I did not see what was happening to my son and I blame myself terribly for that.

Four days after he walked his little sister along the red carpet to the archway where she was married he attempted suicide - I got him into therapy right away.

His little sister my daughter has gone off into the sunset with her American husband - his family / baby and forgotten all about us.

We have no income.
We don't drive.
My son has put job applications in (again) to all the places within walking distance but to no avail.
He does get food stamps.
No medical insurance come February 1st - I am a diabetic - type 2
Selling everything I can to try and stay afloat until I can get this place sold.
We can't afford to stay and it scares the heck out of me as to what we will do when it does sell.

Yes I know some of this is my own fault - but I can't turn the clock back - what I can do is learn from it.

What I would most appreciate is help / advice / suggestions etc.
____________

If we stay here we would need to find a place on a bus route to get to jobs shops etc., which I don't really see as much of an option.

Going back to the UK scares the heck out of me as there is not much I can do this end before getting on the plane!
Looking for a place when we get there - what amount of rent should I be looking for to be covered by housing benefit?
Is it better to go furnished or unfurnished?
If it was unfurnished - where would be the best places to get stuff as we would only arrive with our personal processions?

Yes I'm stressed and worried sick.

My father's place is 'housing association' - living in Stratford Upon Avon (which is where I would like us to go) on his pension - he is eighty-five.

[Anna01]

Originally Posted by mamasue

Anna....I know it's not ideal... but how about going to your dad's... even sleeping on his floor for a few days, going straight to the local housing authority, and asking for emergency housing?
I've never done it so I'm going by what a good friend did when she left Egypt in the same situation.
I also like Maiden's idea...the US is a big country... there's lots of other places to go, if you just want to get away. The UK's crowded, cold, and unemployment is as bad as the US.
Good luck in whatever you do..... it's never easy making a new start... but it's usually possible!!

Thank you mamasue.

Please see the reply I have made to Maiden.

[MaidenScotland]

I really do not know what to suggest.. I can understand you wanting to go home, in times of trouble home is where we all want to go but the UK has very little to offer. You will not be top of any housing list and chances are you wont even get on it. I don't think any local council needs to house you as you will be classed as making yourself homeless by leaving the USA and you have no dependents. You need to rent privately and most are rented out as furnished although that might just be carpets and curtains. Most towns have turnaround help, giving out donated furniture to those in need. You will not be entitled to housing benefits if you have savings above a certain amount.
You will get very little if any help from the embassy as that is not what it is there for.

[MaidenScotland]

Sorry but why can you not turn to your daughter to help out?

[Johanna]

Originally Posted by Anna01

- get some temporary accommodation be it cheap B&B or something we could sort something out from it.
(

Anna01, not sure how "cheap" you consider bed and breakfasts, but they do not at a very cheap rate.

We spent about four weeks in the UK , found B&B's more expensive than Premium Inn hotels.

[Anna01]

Originally Posted by MaidenScotland

Sorry but why can you not turn to your daughter to help out?

My daughter moved in to help out but the financial side of it only lasted three months.

Her and her husband were working a seasonal job at the amusement park - they had their baby and the seasonal job ended.

He (the husband) stayed up all night on the internet - they both slept most of the day and stayed in their room.

Everything then fell on me. I was already coping with the extra food over and above the food stamps my son was getting.

It drained what savings I had.

When I put the place up for sale - they left - putting a lot of their stuff in storage.

They are staying at friends I believe not that she has been in touch since she left.

When the amusement park opens again he will go back there to work - he wants my daughter to stay at home with the baby.

So to be honest it does not look like they care.