How to avoid the bankers problems and survive

1) Retail banking is protected and is being more so your wages and benefits going there are ok, savings up to £50,000 are protected under FSA guidelines (though the DWP rules that savings over £16,000 are regarded as taxable an you lose income support an have to pay for your own basic health care (dentistry, chiropody, and in England prescriptions tho...ugh there is a NHS prepayment certificate).
2) Speak to your housing benefit officer at the council and ask that in defence of your credit rating you want like the ill and elderly for your benefits to be paid in the following way:
a. Housing and council tax direct to the landlord and local authority so that you or your kids don’t overspend and end up on rent arrears.
b. Income support into a savings account
c. DLA into an account that can pay for your carer and treatment / transport where there is less concessionary travel than greater London (ie less frequent trains and buses and not the Freedom Pass) and you can ensure through the citizens advice / law centre that where they need help they and you have a contract of employment / taxi account as well.
d. Main benefit (ESA, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit) into a current or savings account with debit card to pay for utilities, food and the like.
e. Family allowance and Child benefit to the mothers account for paying for childcare and household expenditure so that the household functions.

That way the landlord can invest and maintain the property and if housing budgets aren’t raided, invest in new shared ownership properties which maintains the housing stock and allows for purchase of properties where insurance can’t meet the repairs for flood damage as part of its statutory duties (same for housing associations), you maintain day to day expenditure and can save for holidays if you don’t qualify for respite care.

3) Shares and unit trusts and other investments are regulated by the FSA / Financial services Commission (being reformed)
4) There are credit unions for lower interest on borrowing and higher for savings. These are counted in some local authorities as ‘protected assets’ which enable the council to borrow against for infrastructure (but not more current expenditure) depending on devolved assembly and government guidelines.