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Original poster

Is £150 a week enough to live on?

31 replies

InsideNumberNine · 15/08/2021 09:41

My Dad died recently. My mum was his full time carer (dementia and Alzheimer's) so she was financially ok. She's 67 and started claiming her state pension in April.

No debt but no assets and lives in a three bed council house. She's just trying to sort her claim for housing benefit and this should mean her rent and CT is covered. We're still doing sums but think her outgoings will be about £400 a month. Her pension will be £716.

My sister and I have discussed supplementing her pension to the tune of £150 a month each taking her incomings to £1016, leaving her with around £150 a week once everything is paid for. She doesn't drive.

Is this enough? I don't think I could afford much more than this but I don't want my Mum to be short of money in her old age..,

OP posts:
Original poster
InsideNumberNine · 15/08/2021 09:42

Sorry, should have added that her financial situation is now completely different due my Dad dying and she only has her pension to live on.

OP posts:
Shouldbedoing · 15/08/2021 09:42

Be careful if you give her money that it doesn't lead to a reduction in HB etc

Bookaholic73 · 15/08/2021 09:44

If she lives in a 3 bed council house as a single person, her rent and council tax will only be partially covered.

I would think that £150 a week would be adequate for a single person.

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Original poster
InsideNumberNine · 15/08/2021 09:51

Yeah, I'm hoping she can downsize to a smaller property.

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 15/08/2021 09:52

Yes, that's fine. Housing benefit will not cover a 3 bed for a single person though, there will be bedroom tax.

SoddingWeddings · 15/08/2021 09:57

Did your Dad leave any pensions behind? Is it possible he paid into something she's not aware of in an old job?

As she's claiming her pension, I understand she will not be affected by the Bedroom Tax for an under-occupied property which will help her.

Have you looked at Council Tax credit? Pop the details through one of the benefits calculators online and check what she's entitled to.

SalvationArmyCounters · 15/08/2021 10:00

I think pensioners are exempt from the bedroom tax.

Original poster
InsideNumberNine · 15/08/2021 10:01

No, definitely no work or private pension. That's also good news about being unaffected by the bedroom tax.

OP posts:
Orf1abc · 15/08/2021 10:07

She is exempt from the bedroom tax, but it would make sense to move to reduce her bills. The council may even pay her to move, as it frees up the property for someone that needs it.

Has she checked if she is eligible for pension credit?

Glwysen · 15/08/2021 10:10

Second the post above that she should check re pension credit. Both my parents and my MIL manage fine on the state pension. Will depend on outgoings of course

Original poster
InsideNumberNine · 15/08/2021 10:13

Right, I'm away to Google pension credit!!

OP posts:
Glwysen · 15/08/2021 10:16

Although i think pension credit tops up to £177, which is before outgoings, and you are looking at her position after bills?

Thighdentitycrisis · 15/08/2021 10:17

My local council offers a benefit check service to advise and make sure people are getting their full entitlement

Maybe see if hers does?
How much was she living on before your Dad passed away? Maybe try and match that

BillieSpain · 15/08/2021 10:17

I suppose it depends where you live but to me that is plenty.

You could live comfortably off that.

You sound like sweet daughters Flowers

Glwysen · 15/08/2021 10:19

I think you are looking at whether £150 a week is enough after outgoings? It sounds plenty to me but it will depend on what is included in outgoings and what she is like / what she spends

MrsSkylerWhite · 15/08/2021 10:20

What do you include under outgoings?

angstyaugust · 15/08/2021 10:22

Contact Welfare Rights (or whatever the service is called by your council) for a benefit check

Original poster
InsideNumberNine · 15/08/2021 10:23

Yes, it seems not entitled to pension credit as she gets the max amount of £177.10 per week.

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 15/08/2021 10:23

She will be able to claim a reduction of 25% for her Council Tax, as she’s now a single occupant. You have to apply for it, as it’s not calculated automatically.

missbunnyrabbit · 15/08/2021 10:32

I think that's loads. I budget for £75 a week as someone who lives alone.

SmileyClare · 15/08/2021 10:41

after all her outgoings she'll have £150 a week

What is the £150 a week for? Food? Clothes, trips out, presents for family, hairdresser? It sounds more than enough.

All household bills are paid for and she would have a free bus pass for travel? I assume she's quite mobile and independent being in her sixties?

It's great that you and your sister are supporting your mum like this but only contribute what you can afford.

GemmaRuby · 15/08/2021 10:45

Are you counting groceries in that or not?
I think approx £600/ month would be fine for clothes, outings, presents, holidays etc.

Original poster
InsideNumberNine · 15/08/2021 10:50

That's counting groceries too - but she has the appetite of a bird so could easily spend less than £50 a week on food.

OP posts:
MilduraS · 15/08/2021 10:55

Do you know what her utility bills are like? Well worth sitting down with her and using a switching service to reduce them as much as possible. I use Look After My Bills and they now switch me every once in a while without me having to do anything. After that, try to persuade her to apply to the council for a smaller property. It might be a while before she's ready to move out of the house she shared with your Dad but once she is the council will jump at the chance to free up a 3-bed property.

Hen2018 · 15/08/2021 10:59

Absolutely, providing you don’t have a terribly exciting lifestyle.

We live on £25 a week here for me and 2 large teens, with another £15 for the petrol and about £10 a week to save in case one of us wants to go out.