Money

[AlexisBoo]

I'm disabled which means I can't work because of that I get UC & PIP

After my Rent, Bills and £75 in savings I'm left with £338 for the month, is this enough for a single person to live on?

Yes. My son who is working full time has less than that left over after he's paid his rent, council tax, water rates, broadband/phone, insurance, commuting costs, etc. He spends less than that on food, clothes and socialising.

Thank you, that's really assuring

It's difficult but doable. I'm on pip, uc and esa. Have you looked at what else your entitled to?
Are you entitled to esa?
Have you a disabled bus pass?
Do you need community transport? (I use this instead of a taxi as its cheaper and also they'll help me into the house),
Council tax banding (mine was altered due to needing a downstairs bedroom and wetroom),
you can also get a cinema discount card, also my union gave me a grant when I had to leave work and ot helped me source a charity that could provide some adaptations when nhs said i needed them but wouldn't provide. Free prescription delivery.

It’s doable but not a great day to day life imo

After my Rent, Bills and £75 in savings I'm left with £338

You actually have £413 a month, £75 savings is a nice to have, but if you cannot afford to live on whats left after your outgoings, you cannot afford savings

So is that what you have left for food and travel ? What else does it need to cover ? Are you getting the LCWRA element of UC?

Esa is fully deductible for UC so even if op did claim it they would not be any better off by doing so although it can mean they are credited with a better class of NI contributions whilst unable to work.

And the nail is hit squarely on the head!

It depends what "bills" covers really.

If it's £338 just to feed & clothe one person then yes, that's more than a lot of people have.

I know, its bloody horrible, but unfortunately thats how life is

Yes that's why I mentioned it as op says they're not of pensionable age and therefore will benefit long term from collecting NI contributions. I should have made it clear.
Also op depending on your disability you may be able to claim (if you have one) your private pension. Look at ill health retirement.

It's fine.

When I was a working single parent, I wasn't able to save £75.

After bills that sounds ok tbh. A single person probably spends around 200 to 250 a month on food so still some for travel etc

£413 isn't bad at all. £50 grocery budget each week should be plenty to live on, so £215 left for clothes, socialising, added costs is more than many have right now.

Check you're getting everything you're eligible for, and see if you can get any more help with bills (council tax discount for example).

It's plenty. I work 4 days and receive low rate PIP and I have about the same left over once essentials have been paid.

As always, it depends.

Which of 'Rent, Bills, £75 in savings, or the £338 you're left with' is your food coming out of? What about any car costs, bus/train/taxi fares? Irregular essentials like insurance, white goods replacement etc etc? Is the amount you've allowed for utilities enough for winter heating?

Some people will think it's loads, others will struggle, but all you can do is make the best you can of what you have. If you can post on Mumsnet, you can also read Moneysaving Expert to find out about maximising the financial help you're entitled to, how to make extra bits of money like money for changing your bank account, use the Help to Save account for the government bonus, use a social tariff for your broadband, etc etc.

Not sure if you are looking for reassurance or not but I do think that sounds very hard.

I would keep up with the £75 savings but I would use it to cover those costs that always come along. So annual stuff or if an appliance breaks. It can be these costs that people end up borrowing for and before they know it they're in debt. We do it every month and it covers annual premiums like home insurance, emergency plumber, new washing machine etc. Over the year the pot might get bigger but by the end of the year we've mostly spent it.

Yes it’s enough to survive. Not a very pleasurable life I wouldn’t have thought, but it depends if you can/want to eat out, travel, go to theatre etc.

You actually have £413 a month, £75 savings is a nice to have, but if you cannot afford to live on what's left after your outgoings, you cannot afford savings

This.

As to 'whether it is enough'. It is going to depend what you are including in 'bills'.
If that is "just spends", then, as others have said, it is a lot more than some working people have.

If that's all you have to live on I'd reduce you savings to £25.

No. You're disabled to the degree you cant work so will have a lot of extra living costs
I buy chopped veg/pre prepared food etc. I cant live on £50 a week. It works out more like £100+.
you might have food preferences that are more expensive
you'll use more electric/gas
you might want things like TV or other home entertainment, or just things to feel more comfortable
you might run a car or have to pay for private transport

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates the average disabled person needs an additional £583 per month. This is over and above a non disabled persons' income, due to additional needs such as care, different foods, disabled equipment (lots isn't provided), increased energy and transport costs, needing to pay a carer to socialise etc.

And why should the OP not be allowed a minimal amount of savings? Everyone is entitled to a small emergency fund, even those on benefits. What's the betting if she came on here saying she had no money, needed a new washing machine, you lot will say "well you should have saved for it". Really can't fucking win here. 😠

So OP, no, it is most definitely not enough. Your have my empathy as I'm in similar circumstances, though also have to pay a large care bill. But then this government won't be happy 'til we're all dead and buried.

And why should the OP not be allowed a minimal amount of savings? Everyone is entitled to a small emergency fund, even those on benefits. What's the betting if she came on here saying she had no money, needed a new washing machine, you lot will say "well you should have saved for it". Really can't fucking win here. 😠

Savings is a luxury that a lot cannot afford
There is no point saving if you are starving

Also depends on whether the rent is for a furnished or unfurnished flat, and if unfurnished whether it includes white goods, as many do.

If white goods are included, then no costs for replacing or repairing them as it would be covered in the rent.

Likewise with insurance, landlord will pay for the building itself, so all the OP would need is contents insurance which can be as little as a fiver per month!