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?

Dear OP,
I’m sorry to hear there’s still no positive news. One suggestion — and please don’t take offence, as I’m not much younger than you. I recently came across the expression “Botox your CV”. Essentially, it means trying to conceal your age. Graduation date, years of employment in X (from–to), etc. Of course, it’s not easy when you have tons of experience, as it does rather make one wonder when the applicant managed to gain all that experience. But you get what I mean.
Doing so really shouldn’t be necessary, but ageism does exist. I’m going to be facing the same situation in a year’s time, and the thought of being discriminated against because of my age makes me dread the future.
Please don’t take offence , I’m only suggesting it because I was trying to be helpful. When my time comes, I’ll Botox my CV…

So tell us OP what is it you want? Because I’m confused at this point. Or is it you want a new answer to your question you posted earlier about what happens if you can’t get a job?

OP do you have a car worth anything substantial. Could you sell it and then just take taxis to interviews. Not ideal I know but if it gave you say £5K cash that would give you some breathing space? Obviously you could buy another car when you get a new job.

On the negative is your mortgage on a fixed rate? Just thinking interest rates are on the way up so if you are on a variable rate remember to build that in or remortgage now to a fixed. What about increasing your mortgage term so monthly payments are lower?

I don't think you will be alone which I guess does not fix your problem at all but with all the uncertainty in the bond markets and food and energy set to rise this winter I think quite alot of people might be struggling. Remember the mortgage company does not want to reposses your property. That would be a last resort for them and so they are likely to give you a decent amount of space especially if you have always paid it to now. Just a further negative as well to consider is that house prices are supposed to be falling now. Not sure if that is true or not. Would you be in negative equity if you sold?

I'm sure someone has mentioned a lodger or airbnb or you have thought of that yourself. Could you rent your place out and rent somewhere cheaper for you and your son?

I remember bouts of money worries and it really does consume you. I hope something works out for you.

I asked the OP if she was in a good place - see above. Confusion unnecessary?

I'm sorry there's no good news and I understand how daunted you must feel. I've no advice about the job market (long retired) but fingers tightly crossed for you 💐

No, most people dont. They end up selling their home and living off proceeds for a bit, or getting support with rent.

UC is more geared up to support rent - the expectation is you drain any store of wealth you have before you can access that.

I am not going to sell my car. I live rurally and rely on it for pretty much everything outside the home, as does my son.

My mortgage is fixed rate. I can have a 'holiday' if need be. I am unlikely to be able to lengthen my term as it already takes me up to 65 (I bought my ex out when we divorced, we were mortgage free before then).

I live in a small 2 bed terrace, there is no room for a lodger or airbnb. I'm not going to go through the upheaval of renting it out and moving into somewhere smaller (which will be hard anyway).

No offence. My generic cv has been "Botoxed" and where possible I don't include dates for things going back a bit.
Many jobs I've applied for are via a portal which requires dates.

You make it sound like I'm just being difficult dismissing all the suggestions.
I understand that there will be no option apart from selling my home. The worry of that alongside the depressing process of applying for jobs has me pretty low.
The answer to my original question is "no, home owners do not manage on UC". I might have missed something. I haven't.

You do have options - as said before (including yourself) - you could rent out your house, release equity to pay off the mortgage, go interest only, take a mortgage holiday. Are any of these options ideal or even close to ideal? Far from it, but you know you have more than one option.

I'm sorry you're having such a nightmare. I've nothing helpful to contribute other than sending good thoughts and solidarity that I think I would feel the exact same way as you. It's not you, it's the circumstances. Try and remember that x

I am unlikely to be able to release equity when I look at my age and how much equity could be released ie. it wouldn't be worth it.
Yes, I know I go interest only, take a holiday - both these just kick the can down the road, a can that grows in interest. Can you understand that if I've been unable to find work after 7 months, all the options just put off the unravelling.
I would be unlikely to be able to rent a home if my only income is from renting out my own home ie. no job.

I was made redundant in Feb 2025 with 2 others. One got a job straight away in a position that was created for one of the three of us through a personal connection. The third still is looking for a permanent position. A further 5 colleagues were made redundant in September 2025, 1 got a position straight away, 2 others got work through family connections, 1 managed to get an "any old job will do" job in April 2026 and a permanent job in the sector before completing the training in the other job but this involved relocating as the role was a 4h drive away.

In 2025 there were 10+% redundancies across most companies the sector I worked in and there were 3 other companies who were completely hollowed out like my company was. It was pretty bleak in 2025 and the beginning of 2026. I am on a career break as I found out I was pregnant at the same time as I was made redundant I went on to develop some complications in pregnancy and now unable to work. I'm keeping half an eye on the jobs market and there are glimmers of hope but it's tough. It's not just the small number of roles but the lengthy application processes. I'm seeing some companies listing the same advert every few months. From speaking with colleagues they want someone perfect for the role advertised but also perfect for the adjacent roles not included in the job spec. It's like they are trying to condense three people into one which budget wise they may well be!

I'm fortunate to have a partner who earns enough for us to manage. The benefits situation is hard, in many ways we have a decent benefit system but with specific criteria and if you find yourself out of that scope it's hard not to find yourself on a negative budget. I qualified for maternity allowance of ~£700 and I'm now signed off sick I'm looking into ESA but that would be for a year and around. £400 a month. I have a friend who has become unable to work due to a progressive disease but she's been a SAHP, now her children are in school she was hoping to return to work. She doesn't have the NI contributions for ESA, her husband earns marginally above the earnings threshold for UC. There has to be a line somewhere but there isn't room for nuance, it means that there are people all over the country struggling to work out how best to survive things they couldn't plan for, whilst a neighbour with only slightly different situation get enough of a life line to stay afloat

I'm wondering, would you speak in such a tone to a friend who was genuinely concerned and very upset about the prospect of losing her home?
I understand how to sell a home. I understand that this is what I might have to do. You breezily chiming in with your "well what are you waiting for?" attitude upsetting.

I am so sorry op. It's awful isn't it. We pay in all that NI so shouldnt be worrying about losing a modest home

Can you get a lodger?

No, that's not what I asked.
I asked for how people manage in the situation I may be facing.
They don't - they have to sell their homes.

Where were you supportive?
You told me the expectation is that I find a job. I am doing that.
Then you had a little benefit bash.
Then you gave some suggestions, none of which I am able to do, so you told me to get my home ready to sell.

This has been suggested a few times. I live in a small 2 bed terrace with my teenage son. There is no room.

You could rent a one bedroom flat - again, not ideal for you to sleep on a sofa bed in the lounge, but it’s an option. More drastically, you could sell up and relocate somewhere cheaper. None of these options are great but that’s the way it is when you’re a mortgage payer because as we all know, universal credit is geared towards renters, and that, in my view, is completely fair.

In your shoes (and have been made redundant twice) I would carry on applying for jobs in your field and also look at industries where there is work that’s commutable to, even if that work isn’t what you want and is deemed by some to be menial. Possibly look for part/time work there to get your foot in the door. Hopefully you’ve been saving aggressively these past few months.

Have you or your ex-partner any provision for your son’s university funding, if he does go to university?