Anyone live on just the government pension?

[wavingfuriously]

For those with no private pension do you manage to live on this alone?

My Mum does basic state pension plus attendance allowance. It’s hard, council tax is almost £300 a month!
If she didn’t own her house she wouldn’t be able to survive but she just about manages.

She might be eligible for CT support (check her council website).

Thank you I am in the process of doing that

Atm my cousin is living off an income of just below £221 a week

She manages perfectly. No rent to pay. Only 75% of ctax. She runs a car and sees friends regularly but doesn't holiday because she doesn't like holidays. She's very happily working. 15 hours a week. She's never sad or grouchy !

Not true.

She still works though. Her life might look differently if her state pension was her only take home.

State pension is OK if you are a couple, and better if you own your house, although repairs, being needed is a constant worry. A single pension is impossible if you have rent to pay, although I believe the housing component of UC can be claimed, which seems to open the door for other benefits, such as dentistry.

Pensioners can claim Housing Benefit if eligible for help with housing, rather than UC

My mum lives off her pension but she has pension credit and the guaranteed type. So no council tax to pay and she gets a good phone/Internet rate off BT due to the guaranteed PC amongst other discounts.
We did her house up so it's super insulated and heating bill is now lower than ever.
She now has a cleaner and a private carer a couple of times a week as she isn't out and about doing stuff. She tends to like ready meals but has nice Wiltshire Farm ones. At 92 she manages fine.

My DM was on the lowest rate of state pension and so got benefits - housing credit etc. She lived reasonably comfortably because she had two daughters who subsidised her with food, clothes and treats.

Yes, it is possible to receive Pension Credit even if you are receiving the full State Pension. Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit designed to help those of State Pension age who have a low income. Even if you receive the full State Pension, if your other income and savings are below certain thresholds, you may still be eligible for Pension Credit.

They could claim pension credit if slightly below state pension. It's easier if there are 2 pensioners both getting full state pension as gas, electric etc only need paying once

if you have deferred your state pension, it increases, that was a bad move, but encouraged

My parents - they say they have more disposable and predictable income than before they retired. They are the norm among their friends but not among the MN massive.