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Original poster

Facing unemployment - just over £1100 in benefits

251 replies

BringBackCatsEyes · 25/07/2026 16:48

I've just put my figures in a calculator and think I will receive just over £1100

UC £ 362.73 per month
(standard + child, then take away JSA )

117.22 per month child benefit

Council Tax Support
£ 71.07 per month

Support for Mortgage Interest loan
£ 152.49 per month

New-style Jobseekers Allowance
£ 414.05 per month

Are people actually living on this or do they end up selling their home to move into rented?

I am trying my hardest to find work. My contract ends at the end of this year.
I am not asking for advice on finding work, I want to hear from those who have experienced moving to UC and how they manage?

OP posts:
Original poster
BringBackCatsEyes · 20/09/2026 21:37

converseandjeans · 20/09/2026 20:49

@BringBackCatsEyes that’s tricky as you are obviously well qualified & have had a great career.

I can understand not wanting to retrain in teaching. It’s a tough gig.

Good news your son is thinking about going into apprenticeship & uni fees not needed. That’s one less worry.

Are you on LinkedIn? I suppose you have thought of that.

You might need to consider driving into nearest town. DD has been waitressing & only does 2-3 shifts & often gets £6-700/month. I’m not suggesting you do hospitality work, but a min wage job would be more than £1100/month. So something like Waterstones book shop for example.

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Yes, I am a very experienced professional.

Yup, of course I'm on LinkedIn.

I have learnt (from this thread probably) that I can earn about £700 a month w/o UC being impacted. This makes a MASSIVE difference. Doing something p/t or whatever I can get while still leaving me time to seek work in my field could work.

If my son leaves 6th form to start an apprenticeship his income would be taken into account for the household so he'd need to start paying his own way, leaving less for him to spend and save. I would prefer he finish year 13, but he's become disillusioned with his 6th form (another issue to worry about). He obviously knows what's going on, but I am trying not to burden him with how worried I am.

Thank you converse, you have been kind and thoughtful.

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