People on benefits - how do you cope?

[TheGreatBobinsky]

I'm making plans to leave my relationship with my 2 children, I've used an online calculator to find out what I'd be entitled too and provided I could still work some hours at work I'd be getting around £2,400 a month total (including my earnings). Rent in my area is £1,300 on average for a 2 bed flat, I've added up council tax, water, gas, electric, Internet, subscriptions for Netflix/Disney (we don't watch normal TV so no TV licence) and food and it looks like I'd have around £400 spare a month for clothes, school uniform, emergencies, childcare, travel etc. But am I missing something obvious here? (I can't drive so that's not an issue?). I have no idea how I'm going to manage, embarrassing as it is I haven't been the one to deal with the majority of the bills etc. So I'm a bit clueless about certain bills. What about furniture and kitchen things, and everything we will need in a new home? That's if I even get accepted into a flat, I know a hell of a lot of landlords just point blank refuse to rent to someone on benefits. I'm terrified, and feel sick, but if I stay here it won't be good for any of us as things are escalating rapidly and he's very good at manipulating me, I feel like I'm going crazy I have to leave but how does anyone cope?

If you've put childcare costs into the calculator that may be why you're looking at a higher than normal amount of benefits. Up to 85% of childcare costs can be claimed with UC but it's important to note that you need to pay the costs up front then claim it back each month. If you have trouble with this ask them about the Flexible Support Fund which can help if you can't get enough money together to pay the first month upfront.

I don't know if the calculation is correct! I've said this. I'm really sorry I am only going by the calculation I was given from entitled to. It might be incorrect but either way I didn't make that decision. It really does look like I've made a few mistakes like the wage deduction so that's around £200 that will be deducted straight away and clearly the gas and electric is going to go up even further so theres really no need to worry - it's very clear me and my children will struggle hugely.

You can earn up to £344 per month without any benefits being deducted. After that, for every £1 you earn 55p will be deducted from the benefits amount for that month.

No need to be snide.

Oh come on all you people having a go. Many of you could find yourself in a similar position, be glad that this government offers people help so that they don’t have to feel their only option is to stay in bad marriages. I’ve been in positions in my life where I’ve needed benefits and position where I’m paying higher rate tax. Life can change in the blink of an eye. The amount is only this high due to the huge rents in some areas.

sure you’ll be ok OP, it will be a period of adjustment. In my experience the calculator will probably be fairly accurate.

Not being snide as others have said :

"I work full time in professional job (managerial post) that required a degree and I earn less than that. It boils my piss that I could work less, claim UC and earn more than I do now. What a shambolic system this government has created."

The calculation could well be right, it's the rent that drives the amount up. You'll have to claim uc though, not tax credits and income support, and if you're not working enough hours they'll want you to increase.

For reference I earn around £1600 a month and get around £1000 UC + CB. 2 adults and 2 children. Also rent privately which is why it's so high, but I am better off on UC than tax credits.

Benefits cap shouldn't apply to you I don't think, can't remember exact amount.

And yes I work full time before any snide comments start, it's not my fault private rent is so high and wages are so low!

Sorry you're in this situation op.
Go to universal credit essentials group if you use Facebook and they will help you.
You will get 2x child element, 1 adult element, housing which you're already aware differs by area, you will be entitled to 2bed rate in your area with two young children regardless of sex.
Childcare you can claim up to 85%.
Benefit cap won't apply to you if you earn more than about 600 a month and the first 300 odd you earn won't count, neither will maintenance, after that your earnings will be deducted at 55p to the pound.
Im a single parent to 1child, my rent is quite cheap and I don't pay for childcare anymore, I've found universal credit to be fine to deal with and much more transparent and easy to understand than tax credits.
I can work out what I'll get very accurately before I get my statement, and you are always financially better off working more.

There's no point in asking how much other people will gt as it is individual. Someone in my area who pays £400 for social housing would have a much lower benefits figure than you and someone with a couple of kids in ft nursery could receive more than you.

I would say £120 for gas and electric would probably be too low, my fuel bills before the increase for a 2 bed flat were around £90 a month but have obviously gone up significantly now. The £500 a month for food etc could probably be reduced too.

Something you can look at is if there is a credit union in your area. They offer low cost loans which can help you pay for household equipment. In some areas you need to have been a member for a set time before you can borrow but some let you join and get a loan straight away.

But the UC isn't that much so no you couldnt just be on UC and be better off, the UC is around £1550 a month because I will only be able to work 16 hours a week until my youngest is in school when I can pick up more hours during term time. I think the original calculation was £1800 total benefits because I included childcare in that, I did another calculation without the childcare because it confused me and it was about £50 less. The total benefits also includes the council tax deduction (which any single person is entitled to) and child benefit (which I already get and so do many, many people). So people are better off in work. Working out the deduction I think I'd have about £145 taken from my wages.

If the OP earns £658 a month (net), she will be exempt from the cap.

I work full time and receive no benefits, I have less to spare than £400 pcm. Benefits sound generous to me.

Not on benefits OP but save every spare penny and get into the habit of being frugal. You will need a cushion for unexpected expenses

“You will have to buy household goods on finance or pit them on a credit card.”

As others have said, it’s perfectly possible to get second hand furniture, white goods, small appliances etc for nothing via Freecycle/ Gumtree or similar. In years gone by I had very little to live on and was amazed what people would gladly give away for free. You can upgrade things further down the line once you are able to save.

The only caveat is that you’d need a vehicle to collect larger bits and pieces, but perhaps you have friends/family who could help with that?

Those calculators aren't very good. I would double check it over on a universal credit group on Facebook they do pretty accurate calculations.

To those who have used this post to benefit bash, get a life. You don't need to sit on your high horse 24/7.

This sounds like a really worrying time for you, OP. I’m worried you’ve underestimated the fuel bill by quite a lot. Ours was £220 pcm
and it’s gone up to £450 with a further 68% increase on the unit price due in October. It’s staggering.

I can see why 42k per year income on pay:benefits bothers people, to be fair. My full time income after 24 years in the NHS in a really senior and highly skilled clinical role is 45k. It does seem that some of us were foolish enough to work for that when we could have worked less for the same pay, especially when we had childcare coming out of that to pay for us to go to work!

its not your fault, OP. It’s a weird system, but as the child of a single patent myself, I’m also glad the system is there to pick you all up and make sure you’ve got enough.

Im sure you can also see both sides. Just sorry people are sometimes rude.

I think you have massively underestimated your gas and electric.
I am in a two bed flat and my electric alone is £120 a month

While its a really shitty thing to do, I would go off what you need and then cross your fingers you get enough, and work out exactly what you can cut if you dont.

Its crappy but that is what might happen.

You might also find you need to advance from UC for the 5 weeks wait, so you will have less to start off with

So having taken a few things into consideration it looks like I will have a lot less than £400 spare - which as I stated many times did seem wrong. Its more like £150 spare which will have to buy my children's clothes, shoes, school uniforms, birthday and Christmas presents, any school trips/educational extras they might need, cover travel for the month, cover appliance breakdowns and other unexpected costs. I don't expect a life of luxury, and I won't be getting a life of luxury, I work as much as I can around childcare currently and fully plan to go into full time work when I am able too but I can't leave my 6 and 3 year old alone to fend for themselves. I know a lot of people don't think highly of benefits claimants but this is why women don't leave abusive relationships.

Well it boils my piss (what a revolting expression) that many of us are too ill to work but not ill enough to get any help.

I will be losing all my income next year because my son will finish his A levels but I’m still expected to support him and he’s autistic so I’m trying to keep things stable.

Im currently lying on the sofa feeling like crap because I’ve worked for two hours today, thinking how the hell am I going to do this. How do explain to my son that he will have no home to come back to because I’ll be living in a van?!

So just fuck off.

I was going to say this. My ex is a good father, daughter loves him, but he hasn’t given a penny in maintenance for several years. He takes her on days out and holidays, pays for ‘extras’, but all day to day expenses are covered by me alone. I’m resigned to being grateful for the fact that he ensures DD gets those extras, but it’s flipping hard to ensure the basics are covered. OP, you need to budget without maintenance, then if you get it, it will be a bonus.

Does your calculation include child benefit? Definitely get him paying maintenance. I think you might get some help with childcare costs too which could allow you to work a few more hours and top up your funds. Good luck. X

I take home this and have no housing costs and save £300 of it . I also have a dog which expensive, but I think even without the dog I'd struggle to pay £1300 in rent . It will be hard work balancing things but im sure it's possible if you're frugal x

Working tax credit is worth a lot, have you included that ?

My salary is 37k and I take home 2400 so not sure the calculations re annual salary re correct .

Exactly this