People on benefits are just as badly if not worse off unless there's dependents with disability or they have an illness or disability themself and are getting extra elements paid.
Standard UC for someone who can work but doesn't, and also those deemed limited capability and cannot work "at the moment" but doesnt get the LCWRA element, is just shy of £400 a month. If they live alone they get shared housing LA rate under age 35, or 1 bedroom rate at 35 or over.
In my area the cheapest studio/1 bed i could find when looking last week is nearly £900 a month, and the LHA rate for under 35 is £95 a week, and 1 bedroom rate is £175.
You'd be £200 a month short to come out your £400 standard element on 1 bedroom rate, and under 35's only on shared accomodation rate are £430 short, so your entire monthly standard UC award doesn't even cover topping up the rent!
My partner has severe OCD, has depression and is autistic, for UC he is down as LCW, but they won't award him LCWRA element despite changing his claimant commitments to that of LCWRA over a year ago after a review. He gets the £394 a month, then because he's only 33 a shared housing element of £67 a week. His rent in the cheapest shithole 1 bed going in his area (he's literally had rats) is £475 a month (was hoping it would be cheaper to move to my area hence looking but is way worse) so he's £206 out of his £394 just for topping up rent. That leaves £178. His utilities for electric, gas and water are fixed at £170 a month. (going up to £185 in April)
So hes got £8 left. Then he has to pay council tax, yes he gets council tax support and single person discount but it's still £30 a month.
So he's -£22, before buying any food or toiletries, or his phone bill, or internet bill, since he can't just sit in a room staring at the walls day in day out with no means of communication or entertainment. He's almost completely housebound by his illness. He uses my streaming services so doesn't have to pay for those. I'm topping him up throughout the month sending him money to cover his basic bills and order all his food shopping online for him as otherwise, he couldn't eat, and would be dead. He's been refused PIP as he can wash/toilet/cook himself.
How is he better off in any way when his pittance doesn't cover the basic costs of roof and essentials like heat light and water, never mind being able to eat?
If he was capable of working he would, but he isn't, and he's been left in an impossible situation that massively worsens his anxiety and depression.