I'm not sure about it being true that anyone earning less than 14k pa would be better off totally on benefits. I earn 12k pa and am a single parent. I don't get any child support as DS's dad has completely evaded the CSA but due to my low income I get some tax credits and a bit of housing benefit (my private rent is £500 per month and I pay about £420 of that myself). I also get free prescriptions and dental treatment which I'm very grateful for, but that's it - I'm not entitled to council tax benefit, income support, free school meals or anything else. If I'm completely honest I'm really struggling financially and am constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul. My work has seen some redundancies recently, so I went on entitledto.com to see what I'd receive if I were made redundant and in total it was less than my current income. If you combine that with the boredom and isolation of not working, the desperation of looking for work in the current climate and the lack of money, it's not an option for me and I'm hoping I'm not next in line for redundancy.
If you voluntarily leave employment your benefits can be withheld for a certain length of time (think it's 26 weeks but you'd need to check), so what would you live on in the meantime? Chances are you'd be put on Job Seekers Allowance anyway, so would have to actively seek work. What's the point of leaving a job only to have to look for another? Surely you'd be better off staying employed but looking for better paid/extra employment while you're still working?
As for debt, it's awful having it hanging over you while you're on a tight budget. I have debt from when I was on maternity leave that I've been paying off for the last five years - it's not a huge amount (especially now I've paid a big chunk off over the years) but as I can only afford to pay just over the minimum amount, it's taking ages. I have approx another 12-18 months to go, then I'll be debt-free. Someone else mentioned the Debt-free Wannabe forum on MSE and I second that, as you can post your SOA (Statement of Accounts) and they'll suggest areas where you can cut back and try to get you finances under control. If your debt is really bad you could see if you'd qualify for a DRO or IVA - there's lots of info on MSE about these.
Lots of people are in the same boat, OP - two weeks out of four I do a very basic food shop and we live off what's in the cupboards/freezer, and I've used the heating very sparingly this winter. However I'd say to look at your other options before taking such a major step. Go on MSE, do an SOA, then look at where you can cut back - change utility pI'm not sure about it being true that anyone earning less than 14k pa would be better off totally on benefits. I earn 12k pa and am a single parent. I don't get any child support as DS's dad has completely evaded the CSA but due to my low income I get some tax credits and a bit of housing benefit (my private rent is £500 per month and I pay about £420 of that myself). I also get free prescriptions and dental treatment which I'm very grateful for, but that's it - I'm not entitled to council tax benefit, income support, free school meals or anything else. If I'm completely honest I'm really struggling financially and am constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul. My work has seen some redundancies recently, so I went on entitledto.com to see what I'd receive if I were made redundant and in total it was less than my current income. If you combine that with the boredom and isolation of not working, the desperation of looking for work in the current climate and the lack of money, it's not an option for me and I'm hoping I'm not next in line for redundancy.
If you voluntarily leave employment your benefits can be withheld for a certain length of time (think it's 26 weeks but you'd need to check), so what would you live on in the meantime? Chances are you'd be put on Job Seekers Allowance anyway, so would have to actively seek work. What's the point of leaving a job only to have to look for another? Surely you'd be better off staying employed but looking for better paid/extra employment while you're still working?
As for debt, it's awful having it hanging over you while you're on a tight budget. I have debt from when I was on maternity leave that I've been paying off for the last five years - it's not a huge amount (especially now I've paid a big chunk off over the years) but as I can only afford to pay just over the minimum amount, it's taking ages. I have approx another 12-18 months to go, then I'll be debt-free. Someone else mentioned the Debt-free Wannabe forum on MSE and I second that, as you can post your SOA (Statement of Accounts) and they'll suggest areas where you can cut back and try to get you finances under control. If your debt is really bad you could see if you'd qualify for a DRO or IVA - there's lots of info on MSE about these.
Lots of people are in the same boat, OP. I only do a decent food shop twice a month and we live on what's in the freezer/cupboards the rest of the time, and I was very sparing with the heating this winter. Things are hard for many people but you are actually very lucky to have jobs and own your own house (a pipe dream for me). Please don't take such a major step without exhausting all other options as I'm willing to bet that being on benefits won't solve all your existing problems, but it will give you new ones.