Facing unemployment - just over £1100 in benefits

[BringBackCatsEyes]

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, I saw your thread when you first posted it and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. I knew some people would give you a hard time (and they didn’t disappoint). The usual crowd: “It’s plenty, you just need to budget better”, “I feed my family of five for a week on one chicken”, etc. I’m almost surprised nobody suggested taking in ironing – apparently that’s the answer to everything on Mumsnet and a great income booster.
On a more serious note, I honestly don’t know anyone who could pay a £500+ mortgage and survive on £1,100 a month in the current climate, even with very careful budgeting.
For comparison, we live in a small three-bed semi and pay around £580 a month just on the essentials: council tax, gas, electricity, water, internet and the cheapest SIM-only mobile plans. My best friend lives in a two-up, two-down Victorian terrace and actually pays even more.
Of course people are expected to have savings to cover periods of unemployment or ill health. The general advice is to have 3–6 months’ worth of essential expenses put aside (I'm sure you know this). The problem is that you’re then supposed to be able to find another job within that timeframe, and I’m not convinced that’s a realistic expectation for many people in the current economic climate.
The “just get a job at Tesco” myth has already been debunked upthread, quite rightly.
For what it’s worth, here’s what happened to a few friends and former colleagues of mine who were made redundant over the last year. One eventually found a job by working her way through every contact she had. Another is living off a probate windfall after a family property was finally sold (she’s been redundant since last October). A third managed to get a six-month maternity cover contract.
You come across as highly intelligent. Your posts are thoughtful, well-structured and organised. I remember your original question was how people are expected to survive on £1,100 a month, not a request for career advice.

I don’t have a crystal ball, but I do think you’ll either find another fixed-term contract in your field or something permanent will come along.

Best of luck.

Yes I am sure.
I find your post a bit patronising actually. Do you really think I might suddenly think "oh that's a good idea....I could talk to the decision makers"?
If you're read my posts you will see that I am mature and have been working for very many years, not a new graduate unsure of how to navigate the work place.

Anyway, when I signed the 12 month fixed-term contract I said that if they were unable to renew my contract I would need to start looking for a new role end of June. We had a discussion end of May where I was told. I am fully aware of other opportunities within the company (none).