To ask what mumsnetters think is a low income

[Pimmsoclocknow]

Totally inspired by another thread, but what do you think is a low income. - for a individual and for a family of four

[afreshstartplease]

Living on min wage or benefits nothing extra

[ThereIsACarInTheKitchen]

Living on MNW would be a low income for me.

[kippersmum]

The actual amount will vary around the country taking into account local housing, fuel & food costs. I don't think you can put an exact figure on it.

My DH & I have a household income way below the national average & we live somewhere where there are no benefits apart from child benefit & we are doing OK. I know where the next meal is coming from & the gas bill is paid.

However I suspect alot of MNetters in the south of england couldn't last a week, nevermind a month, on our income.

[Vitalstatistix]

I'd say anything under 25,000 pa household income is low income.

[AlpacaYourThings]

For an individual? NMW. For a family of 4 anything less than 25k? I live in the SE so that may skew my thoughts.

[walkingcontradiction]

Depends where you live

[ilovesooty]

It's far too generalised a question. For a start off, it's dependent on the location.

[exWifebeginsat40]

i'm in the South of England and on benefits - believe me when i say it's definitely a low income.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

NMW.

I also think DH is on a low wage in comparison to what he does. Certain jobs are vastly underpaid and undervalued even if they are above NMW.

I earn more than he does yet my job is much much easier and requires a lot less skill/experience.

[shouldnthavesaid]

For an individual, probably just less than what I earn (15k). I'm not too bad but then I pay very cheap rent for a nasty flat..!

[sillymillyb]

I have £1100 coming in each month for me and ds, I know I'm broke, but according to the calculator thing someone posted on that thread there are only 18% of the uk earning less than me each month.

I was shocked, I know things are really tight, no savings / screwed if something breaks etc, but I didn't think I was that bad off if you know what I mean?

sorry, I know that's a bit of a tangent and it's all subjective, I was just shocked!

[LegoCaltrops]

£10k, net, if you live in the north, for a single. No idea about the south.
£15k net, if you live in the north, for a family of 4.

[SomeSortOfDeliciousBiscuit]

I'm up north so that skews it. 14 - 15k for a single person. Living on minimum wage and/or benefits too.

DH earns about 15K. We are a family of three and DS has autism and receives DLA. I don't have a paid job as I'm DS's carer and receive Carer's Allowance for him. We have no car and our bills are as low as they could be. We couldn't survive without the DLA and tax credits we receive.

[Fabulous46]

I can only go on my local area in Scotland. £15k for a single person and £24k for a family.

[ZanyMobster]

We are in the South and I would imagine anything under £25k is a struggle. My DB and SIL earn over £50k between them, they have a 2YO DC and they cannot afford to move from a 2 bed to a 3 bed so more children is off the cards for a bit, nursery fees are extortionate, they have 2 cars as could not work without them and their mortgage. No benefits. They aren't poor at all but that is why I think under £25k would be considered a very low income from where we are from (if no benefits are received).

I am not sure of the thresholds for tax credits but presumably those earning under £25k between them are entitled to help.

[TalkinPeace]

Median UK income for an individual is under £19,000 per year
ie half the population earn less than that

Median UK income for a family is around £26,000 a year

Median London individual income is under £25,000
half of all Londoners earn less than that

[MrsPiggie]

Minimum wage (about 14k?) for an individual, 22k for a couple, 1k on top for every child.

[MrsBigginsPieShop]

I'm on 23k and DH on 29k. One DS. We are average I'd say.

[TalkinPeace]

MrsBiggins
According to this www.ifs.org.uk/wheredoyoufitin/
you are richer than 86% of the UK population

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

Might be better to ask what is left over after bills for basic housing, heating and food.

[Fabulous46]

That where do you fit in thing isn't right. It can't be after what it just said about our position. DH did it and we both fell about laughing! If only.....

[pointythings]

Talkin agreed - DH and I between us are on a smidge more than MrsBiggins and we are very comfortable, even in East Anglia which is a fairly expensive part of the country. I'd say anything less than £25k in this part of the country would be a real struggle for a family and even around the £25k mark you'd struggle if there was a crisis - car dies, major appliance goes bust, someone loses a job - you've got no realistic chance of saving on that low a wage.