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Original poster

Living on benefits

167 replies

Worriednanof1 · 18/09/2023 15:36

Are there any single mums on here who live successfully on benefits alone? My pregnant daughter who has already got a 2 year old has suddenly found herself alone and much as we would, of course, take her in, it wouldn't be ideal. Would she be entitled to enough to support herself in a house/flat of her own?

OP posts:
MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 18/09/2023 16:09

Does she have her own place already?

goftlam · 18/09/2023 16:15

I managed fine on benefits as a single mum for 15 years, but it was a while ago (on legacy benefits) so I don't know about UC. I had a council flat where the whole rent was paid, I believe if she has a private rental she'd have to top it up out of benefits which would leave very little to spend. Best thing to do is make sure she gets up to speed on benefits rules, so she can make sure she gets the right entitlement. I was able to qualify for disabled benefits after a while so the amount we got was increased and that made life much more comfortable.

x2boys · 18/09/2023 16:21

I guess it depends on her personal circumstances
The housing element of universal credit might not cover her rent depending on where she lives some people I have no doubt manage very well.on benefits .

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Families
Original poster
Worriednanof1 · 18/09/2023 16:41

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 18/09/2023 16:09

Does she have her own place already?

She's in a private rental at the moment.

OP posts:
somethinghastochangesoon · 18/09/2023 16:41

Is she on the housing list

Original poster
Worriednanof1 · 18/09/2023 16:42

x2boys · 18/09/2023 16:21

I guess it depends on her personal circumstances
The housing element of universal credit might not cover her rent depending on where she lives some people I have no doubt manage very well.on benefits .

How are people supposed to manage if even their rent isn't covered?

OP posts:
Original poster
Worriednanof1 · 18/09/2023 16:42

goftlam · 18/09/2023 16:15

I managed fine on benefits as a single mum for 15 years, but it was a while ago (on legacy benefits) so I don't know about UC. I had a council flat where the whole rent was paid, I believe if she has a private rental she'd have to top it up out of benefits which would leave very little to spend. Best thing to do is make sure she gets up to speed on benefits rules, so she can make sure she gets the right entitlement. I was able to qualify for disabled benefits after a while so the amount we got was increased and that made life much more comfortable.

Where would you go to for advice on benefits etc?

OP posts:
Original poster
Worriednanof1 · 18/09/2023 16:43

somethinghastochangesoon · 18/09/2023 16:41

Is she on the housing list

For council? She's just applied.

OP posts:
Tdcp · 18/09/2023 16:44

Rent payments are done by area, in my local area you get £483 per month, the average rent is around £750. saying that, she could sign on and see how it goes? It takes a lot of adjustment and it's really bloody hard but it's not like she can realistically live with her mum for the next 20 years until the kids have moved out?

comedownwithme · 18/09/2023 16:44

How are people supposed to manage if even their rent isn't covered?

Some of them get a job...

However if the housing element doesn't cover full rent she can pay the rest from her allowance

Tdcp · 18/09/2023 16:45

Also, preferably she needs to not be staying with you if she's on the housing register as they will say she has a safe place to stay which puts her quite far down on the list for housing.

x2boys · 18/09/2023 16:45

Worriednanof1 · 18/09/2023 16:42

How are people supposed to manage if even their rent isn't covered?

Show quote history

Well.they don't I guess that s the point I was making it depends of individual circumstances.

goftlam · 18/09/2023 16:46

Worriednanof1 · 18/09/2023 16:42

Where would you go to for advice on benefits etc?

Show quote history

Citizen's Advice, or some areas have more local organisations which can have shorter queues. A book like the Advisor's Guide to Benefits will often get the answer more quickly than waiting for an advisor. If she has any disability or sickness issues, Benefits and Work website is excellent.

SleepingStandingUp · 18/09/2023 16:47

She needs to assume a council house is a decade away cos, reality.

So she needs to look at her local housing rate which is what they'll pay in benefits and what her rent is. How many beds is it?

She needs to make sure she's put in a claim for UC and update it once baby is here
Same for housing application

Child support claim for the one and then when the baby is born.

She might find she's entitled to 15 nursery hours for the 2 yo depending on deadlines but she'll only get 15 hours once she's 3 as well.

Is she currently working?

4catsaremylife · 18/09/2023 16:49

Hi she can do a benefit check on entitled to or Turn2us, she can speak to citizens advice or Gingerbread.
I was a single parent (on Income support not UC) and managed to keep up with a mortgage, and then went to university as a single parent and lived in the Student Loan. It is doable but clothing and shoes were all second hand, lots of home cooking in batches from yellow stickers, so budgeting was key, no financial support from the dad either.

supermamio · 18/09/2023 16:49

Check the entitled to calculator to work out how much uc she will be entitled to. They will only give housing element for what they have set as the rate for a 2 bed house.

Bored1000 · 18/09/2023 16:51

Will the father be paying maintenance,

Original poster
Worriednanof1 · 18/09/2023 16:55

Bored1000 · 18/09/2023 16:51

Will the father be paying maintenance,

I doubt it.

OP posts:
Beezknees · 18/09/2023 16:59

I did 15 years ago but it will be harder now with energy prices and rent the way they are.

I had a housing association flat, got my full rent paid as it was under the LHA amount. Council tax almost fully paid, I think I had to contribute £6 a month. I received £70pw income support, £60pw child tax credits, and £20pw child benefit.

I managed ok, bear in mind though utilities were cheaper, my energy bill was about £40 a month and my water was £15 a month. Now they are £180 and £30 respectively and benefits aren't that much higher.

Original poster
Worriednanof1 · 18/09/2023 16:59

Thank you so much for all taking the time to reply. I feel sick i am so worried what will happen. We don't really have the space for another 3 people and i don't know what my husband will say. I haven't even spoken to him about it yet.

No, she doesn't work, she can't afford childcare for her 2 year old and will have a second child soon. Whether i agree with her situation is irrelevant, it's where she is.

She also lives a long way from me so i can't even pop in and check her and my granddaughter.

OP posts:
Jelllibeans30 · 18/09/2023 17:00

Where about in the country are you?

turn2us is a good one as mentioned above. If she budgets carefully etc she might be ok but if shes got a credit card..,mobile….car…petrol etc then those things won’t be so manageable on benefits alone.

Beezknees · 18/09/2023 17:02

She really only has a chance if she can get a housing association property in all honesty. Most private landlords won't even rent to people on UC and she will struggle to afford it even if she can find somewhere.

Beezknees · 18/09/2023 17:03

SleepingStandingUp · 18/09/2023 16:47

She needs to assume a council house is a decade away cos, reality.

So she needs to look at her local housing rate which is what they'll pay in benefits and what her rent is. How many beds is it?

She needs to make sure she's put in a claim for UC and update it once baby is here
Same for housing application

Child support claim for the one and then when the baby is born.

She might find she's entitled to 15 nursery hours for the 2 yo depending on deadlines but she'll only get 15 hours once she's 3 as well.

Is she currently working?

Not at all. Depends on the local authority. Where I am there's about a 6 month waiting list for a 2 bedroom place if you're not picky, flats get less bids than houses.

Jelllibeans30 · 18/09/2023 17:06

if she’s in this position I would also apply through the CMS for child maintenance

mycoffeecup · 18/09/2023 17:08

Worriednanof1 · 18/09/2023 16:42

How are people supposed to manage if even their rent isn't covered?

Show quote history

They are expected to work and UC pays 85% of the childcare. Presumably you want her to work and progress her career too?