What happens if you are a single person who rents privately and then you lose your job?

[Shillelaghsally]

I’m just wondering how it works. I myself am renting but I have a back up in that if I lost my job I could always move back to my parents house temporarily. But if you are a person without a safety net and no pension and you suddenly lose your job, what help is actually out there - if you are single and without any dependents? Do you get enough benefits to cover rent somewhere?

Depends on what enough is and what savings you have.

If you rent a studio flat in london and lose your job will benefits cover your rent and bills? Nope.

I remember watching tv programme about poverty and one guy lost his job and found another but not straight away. He was using savings for rent and went practically without food in between jobs only what he’s got from food bank. Scary.

My brother (a chef) experienced this in lockdown 1. UC was enough for him to survive on. But he has no dependents and low living costs. He got a new job when things opened again last July and thankfully new job furloughed in lockdown 2.