To think the benefit cap is going to plunge families into poverty

[Firsttheworst]

Next month the benefit cap comes in. It sets out the maximum that can be claimed in a week across all benefits. This doesn't include disability or wtc. Its aimed purely at women (mostly) claiming income support. You can only claim income support if you have a child under 5 and don't work.

The benefit cap is in the government owns words designed to get IS claimants out to work. The cap is currently £500 and will be reduced to £384 a week.

This includes, housing benefit, CT benefit, tax credits, income support. So all in total cannot be more than £384 a week. Over a 30 day month that comes to £1645.

From that £1645 I need to pay

rent £900 a month (no I can't move, its impossible to rent on benefits as it is, not giving this house up and its below market rent as it is)

CT - £60 a month

Electricity £80

Oil £80

Diesel £ 120 (rural don't drive anywhere other than school runs and supermarket/town once or twice a week)

Car insurance £49

Car tax £19.99

Phone/internet £40 (thats a basic mobile and broadband)

House insurance £13

TV licence £11

That leaves 272 a month to pay for food, clothes, car breakdown, school trips, birthdays, miscellaneous and god knows what else. For one adult and 3 children.

AIBU to think that the government have just decided that if they starve us out for long enough we'll be forced to go out and find a job? Like I said rural area so jobs are rarer than hens teeth and believe me i'm looking. It is pure discrimination against single mothers with small children (i doubt many men claim income support)

Boffin my mum used to tutor pupils after school and run Saturday morning drama club - to pay bills but also because she liked drama...

I can completely see how you end up trapped in this kind of situation. It's very expensive to move and it's difficult to fit work round the children.

Rebecca how is it helping people up to keep them stuck on benefits because that's easier than changing anything else in your life?

No matter what, the cap is coming in, OP. So, first check when all your contracts are up for renewal. It's all well and good people saying, 'Get cheaper insurance/internet/etc' but if you're locked into a contract you can't just switch without penalties for a lot of them. So find out when they are coming up adn get on some sites to find cheaper ones.

Get onto the council about your son's transport.

Oil is so expensive, so glad we have GCH now. But if you haven't already, things like door curtains, fleece back curtains on windows and radiator liners (Aldi has them) can save a lot when you need to put the heat on.

"minifingerz by what definition is the op living in poverty?"

In the UK you are deemed to be living in poverty if your household income is less than 60% of the median UK household income. So under 18K. The OP's income on the new regime would be a higher than this, however, because of her higher than average housing costs she will still be living in relative poverty.

Op, if the 1600+ isn't enough for you can I ask how much you would like?

I agree the feckless ex should somehow be held to task.

I bet he isn't at home worrying.

And he might not be 'turning a profit' but he's taking three kids on holiday once a year. I work full time and earn a relatively 'good wage' but haven't been on holiday for five years and only went then because my Dad gave me a few hundred quid.

Can't afford to run a car either. Bet he does.

Op, if there are no jobs in your area then you need to move to somewhere where there are jobs.

You are setting a terrible example to your children.

I sympathise OP and I'm not sure why you are getting such a hard time on here.

I can't understand why people think it's so easy to just move- we rent and although we don't claim housing benefits we would struggle to find the thousands of pounds needed to move - add that to the OP already struggling with money and needing a house that accepts HB and it would be extremely hard to "just" move somewhere cheaper.

Your ex sounds like a waste of space - that's the issue here one parent dodging responsibility not he remaining parent not budgeting well enough

The sad thing is that it's not enough to live on in the OP's circumstances but she's not getting any support just people saying it's tougher for them!

Turn your anger on the people who deserve it, those who brought in the cuts not those having to live with the consequences whether working or not working.

^This. I didn't vote for this OP, and I hope you did vote and didn't vote Tory.

That aside, all the people saying how they get by on a handful of cold gravel a year is the whole reason we're always being mugged by the well-off politicians.

As for the pp who just used this to enumerate all the myriad ways in which brexit will make it worse (but hilariously claimed to sympathise) - how daft!

OP - it is a massive cut and it will mkae your current circumstances unsustainable - for that I am truly sorry and I wish people could see past the "I earn less than that" comparisons. Working should pay, of course, but as another pp said, if we had sensible housing costs,decent transport links and reasonably paid work, spread more evenly around these islands it would be start.

If you are claiming benefits you can apply for social housing and access to bid on ha, your problem is that your banding will be low because you are adequately housed. The easiest way to up your banding is overcrowding. So by saying no council list all you are doing is reintergrating you don't wish to move.
If I were you I would look at retraining, as it will cost less when you are not working, a friend of mine just qualified as a dentist, it was extremely hard work and she relocated with 3 girls under 8 for her degree, but she now has independance.

How does benefits equivalent to well above the median wage and close to the average wage not equate to a 'decent welfare system' .

£384 pw is equivalent to £24/25k pa, about 60/70% of full time workers earn less than this.

Rebecca

You may joke and my mum was lucky in having a 4 bedroom house - but it was either that or don't pay the mortgage and we'd be in a hotel.

Moving away helped my friend whom I mentioned - lots of people move.

cash in hand - why on earth not?? my friend when on benefits due to mental health issues (psychotic etc) used to do cash in hand jobs.

I work full time and bring in just a bit more than that a month but you know what? I agree with you OP, its not enough no. Through my work i an going to see families that are struggling and losing their homes, my work load will be huge, like it isn't already! I absolutely do not agree with the benefit cap.

Some parents may have made bad choices in life but to make the children suffer? Na, that doesn't sit right with me sorry.

' I was in a similar position and I used to do things like babysitting and tutoring cash in hand to pay the bills. It's not easy but you have to get on with it.'

And if it's over £25/week, you have to declare it to the DWP, who will most likely first cut off your benefits entirely whilst they investigate.

in terms of raising deposits, won't she get one back from the let she's in at the moment?

No it didn't work like that when I last rented. There'll be an overlap.

Or she could sell the car.

If she sells the car (and who says it's worth more than a few hundred £ anyway?) then her job hunt will be further restricted and she'll have to start her new life in Bury by (expensive) train.

Probably heading to a tent, because nobody outside the deprived North rents to HB claimants. (There have been so many threads about that issue.)

" I used to do things like babysitting "

Presumably someone minded your kids for free while you did this?

Badtasteflump

I thought the same after a happy marriage lasting decades. However it didn't stop mine abandoning us overnight. People change. It can and does happen.

Anyone could easily find themselves in a version of the ops shoes.

BARBARA AND THOSE WORKERS WITH CHILDREN RECEIVE TOP UP BENEFITS

But the system is there to help people up. It's not there to maintain them indefinitely in a situation everyone else has to work to achieve. In fact, many who do work would find the 'nice house in the country/car' unachievable, so therefore don't choose it. OP doesn't mention any family nearby, perhaps moving to where they are and she can have some support would be a good idea, since the ex apparently doesn't pay anything, do any school runs or have the children at any time to enable her to work.

OP if I were you I would be directing a lot more anger at your children's father who sounds like a complete shit. At least the benefits you receive now give you a roof over your head, while he happily provides nothing

YANBU to rant when the cuts are going to make your life harder, but it isn't going to change what the govt do, so practically what can be slimmed down?

Your car expenses seem extortionate. I also live rurally so appreciate the situation with driving more often, but even then your costs are high. What do you drive? I used to have a mark one focus and a full tank of fuel would last circa 550 miles without deliberately trying to drive economically. These cars are only worth a few hundred pounds now, there's thousands of them around and they're cheap to repair and run. I bet a more modern car wouldn't cost much more and would be even more economical to drive.

Shop around to get better deals on Internet and electricity. It's worth investing a morning/ afternoon to get this sorted, as it will pay off. Lots of comparison sites online.

I don't live in the SE so cant comment on whether that rent is typical, but it does sound high. You say you won't leave the house, up to you, but if you're worried about starving the priorities towards housing will have to change.

How far is your nearest town/ city? There are loads of seasonal jobs being advertised now. This sounds like the best solution if you're going to be better off working with tax credits.

Good luck, I hope you manage to get something sorted.

" in terms of raising deposits, won't she get one back from the let she's in at the moment?"

If she's lucky and has a decent landlord.

Oh, as for the pp citing the USA - housing is much cheaper in some areas of the USA, if you had a job previously you can qualify for Unemployment pay which varies greatly from State to State but can be quite generous, and there is (because there is a less of a Welfare State) a much much more active network og charities and voluntary groups - it isn't perfect, but it's not as bad (in some places) as it's painted. That said, if I had to be poor (or in particular poor and sick), I'd rather do it here than in the USA. It's not really a comparable situtation.

But the system is there to help people up

Exactly. Not grind them into the dirt.

"Also OP I think you need to stop worrying about how close you need to be to your ex so he can see the DC. You need to move somewhere where you can afford to be, then let him sort out how he can get to you."

Sorry but I think this is worth considering as well - if hes not looking after them regularly and not paying anything towards their upkeep apart from a holiday once a year, I'm not sure why you need to live so close to him when its financially crippling you.