To think I won't survive on £48 pcm !

[Thegardenismine]

Long story short I've just become single 😀I've many a thread on here under a couple of user names over the last few years and you've helped me get through a really bad period with H. Thank you.

I was actually preparing to leave as the control and EA was getting so much worse. I need to do the Freedom Program. My plan was to attend the council as homeless.

But !!! He left on Sunday saying he was fed up went depression and I was an embarrassment. He's moved in with his Plan B.

So I applied for universal credit etc and met with a really helpful person at the job centre. It seems I'm entitled to £848 a month. But that includes my rent . Great except my rent is £800 pcm.

What do I do ? If I can't pay my rent I'll be intentionally homeless I expect so they won't help me ?

What are my options. My GP has said I'm unfit for work. Thanks to the H I've no family support. I'm not sure which way to turn. £48 won't cover the water gas electric etc.

I was so relieved when he left but now it's a hot mess !!

If you’re unfit for work, do you not get an allowance for that?

Check your entitlement at entitledto.com

Just to be sure!

It won't solve anything overnight, but can you move somewhere cheaper? £800 is high unless you're in a very expensive area - and if it is, would you consider moving to a cheaper area? It will be difficult at the start, but you've definitely done the right thing

Do you have any children? That amount seems very low

And congratulations on your newly found single status!

(Sorry, don’t really know the correct terminology etc but just seems if you can’t work you should be getting proper government assistance!)

Sounds as if you need to find work you can do. You won't be able to live on that, it won't even cover council tax.

Go and speak to your council housing department. I don’t think you’d be classed as intentionally homeless if you can prove you couldn’t afford to pay the rent. You obviously have to eat and pay for water/council tax/gas and electric etc and £48 a month won’t do that!

Have you looked at the entitled to website?

Why are you only entitled to your rent? Is it the Local housing rate cap? Are you in a property too big for your needs etc?

What is the council housing situation in your area?

The area is v expensive. To move to anything cheaper would be out of the area. Plus I'm not sure how emotionally and physically I'd manage to do that as well as financially.

I'm a year or so away from pension age . No dependents.

Do you work?
Is your rent private?
Do you have children?
Those figures aren't right if so.

Yes they will not pay your £800 rent so you need to downsize. That wouldn't necessarily be a flat it might be a room in a shared house.

You may have a discretionary fund, charity, citizens advice, or the Salvation Army who might be able to get you a one off payment for your gas and electric (sometimes more than once) and you would need to use the food bank.

We need more context. Are you living in a three bed? Can you move?
If you’re not fit for work can you get any PIP?

Rental is private.
Two bed.
I'm near to pension age.
GP has said I'm unable to work.
Job centre has asked for a fit note which I take in next week.
No dependents.
I'm thinking it would of been better had he stayed !!

Rent out spare room for £500

Thank you @DizzyPigeon it's been a long time coming, I've had fantastic support from all the lovely posters who've kept me sane!

@LaurieFairyCake oh I could but am I allowed? Wouldn't that be classed as working income?

If there's nothing tying you to your current area (job, schools etc) then you could move somewhere cheaper?

It is a big change you are looking at- but think how much happier you will be in the end, you wanted this change, don't let him beating you to it take away your confidence.
had you been working prior to this? any savings/ sellables/ pension?
are you unable to work AT ALL?- look at a different paced job?
I know it may be emotionally/ physically challenging- but you said yourself that you were planning on moving out anyway...

@Thegardenismine

No you can't it's classed as subletting.
Is your ex on the tenancy?

Have you talked to the landlord? They might be prepared to let it the other room to help share costs (I don't know the legal implications of this though, it's just a thought).

This area is somewhere I feel safe.
This house is now my safe haven.
But obviously that has to change. I'm just worried that the council will say they can't help me as I'll be intentionally homeless.
The stress of this ( he only left six days ago) isn't helping my mental health and I'm worried that the GP will end up sending for the men in white coats !

If you have savings, use them. They're for a rainy day, and it's pretty wet where you are now!

Turn 2 us shows your entitled benefits. You have to put in your postcode and it will calculate the local housing allowance, if your rent is more than that it could be a problem. For me (cheaper rent area) it came up as £1050 total as a single person with student dd. You may need to claim esa separately though if your area isn't a full up area. And if you can't work look into pip, feel free to pm me as I've successfully done pip applications and also appealed multiple times now for various people.

I don't have any savings.
I haven't told my landlord yet as am very embarrassed.