How much for a single person to live on?

Eliza_2

I'm thinking that the time might have come to apply for some benefits after scrimping along working at several jobs. I've done the entitled to calculator as well as the directgov one and they're a bit different but it seems I'm entitled to a lot. I'm sure they're not right so wondered what amount the government use to calculate how much a single person needs to live on.

thanks

Eliza

Sam____2

are you working at the moment? do you rent or own your home? how old are you? any children?
need more info before anyone can help...

Eliza_2

Sam___ wrote: »

are you working at the moment? do you rent or own your home? how old are you? any children?
need more info before anyone can help...

Yes working, yes renting, no children at home. Age 59.

Just thought there might be a benchmark the benefits people use eg £somuch for single person, £somuch for couple etc etc.

Thanks

merlin68

£65 a week.

McKneff

Much more information is needed to enable anyone to help you,

Salary how much

Do yu have any other income

Rent how much

Do you claim any benefits at all at the moment

Eliza_2

merlin68 wrote: »

£65 a week.

So £65 a week, presumably that's plus rent? Plus council tax? Plus anything else?

Thanks - brill, I think I'm getting to the answer I need. Just so I can get a feel for the accuracy of the calculators - I may have entered something wrongly (weekly or monthly perhaps) which will have made the figures so generous.

Eliza

HappyMJ

It's a complex calculation if you are working as you get a bit extra for working for more than 30 hours in a week.

Eliza_2

Thanks, sorry I didn't make it clear - I didn't want anyone to do the calculations for me, just wanted a rough idea of what the benefits people use as a benchmark above or below which a person can get by. If it's say £65 a week, as merlin68 has suggested, plus rent and council tax then I can get an idea of how much I'm below that. My income is around £635 a month so if I receive something between that and what the govt benchmark is, that would be excellent. The online calculator seems to think I should get over £100 a month housing benefits which seems a lot for doing nothing!!

Thanks for answering.

Eliza

Indie_Kid

Eliza wrote: »

So £65 a week, presumably that's plus rent? Plus council tax? Plus anything else?

Thanks - brill, I think I'm getting to the answer I need. Just so I can get a feel for the accuracy of the calculators - I may have entered something wrongly (weekly or monthly perhaps) which will have made the figures so generous.

Eliza

It's £65.45 which doesn't include rent or council tax.

bigbill

http://www.welfarerights.net/benefit-charts.php

Indie_Kid

Eliza wrote: »

My income is around £635 a month so if I receive something between that and what the govt benchmark is, that would be excellent. The online calculator seems to think I should get over £100 a month housing benefits which seems a lot for doing nothing!!

Thanks for answering.

Eliza

Is the £635 per month before or after tax and national insurance?