We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

How can i survive on £39.25 per week from the Social?

13567…10

Comments

  • stresshead81_2
    stresshead81_2 Posts: 59 Forumite
    OP - Get yourself down to the CAB as soon as is possible in relation to your benefit situation. You need legal advice as a matter of urgency. You must also speak with your mortgage company too and explain the situation. I would also suggest you speak with a local housing advice charity, google this and speak with them on Monday. If you are struggling with food ask your local CAB if there is a food bank. I know that this is embarrasing but trust me, it will be of great help in your hour of need.
    Never judge a book by it's cover!
    I may look well but I am very poorly, I am fed up with being judged because I cannot work. Grrr!!
    I am not looking at them, they just aint real!

    :j:beer::j:p:j:eek::T:):A:(:rotfl:
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    richard9991 wrote: »
    the disregard for jsa is £5 pw not £20
    The £5 disregard is for earned income. i.e from a job or profit from self-employment. Payments received from lodgers are unearned and the disregard is £20 per lodger per week and if meals are provided (even if only breakfast) a further 50% of the remainder can also be disregarded. The rules are extremely complex and that's why I'm suggesting to not do it.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • somethingcorporate
    somethingcorporate Posts: 9,449 Forumite
    Seems financially beneficial even if slightly complicated?

    £80 per month per lodger before £ for £ benefits lost seem better than no £80 per month and same £ benefits.

    Have I misunderstood?
    Thinking critically since 1996....
  • mandi
    mandi Posts: 11,932 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Stoptober Survivor
    edited 8 January 2011 at 11:24PM
    Hammyman wrote: »
    £40 a week is enough to put food in your mouth and light and heat a home. In other words, the bare essentials. So you're going to have to get rid of the internet access you're obviously paying for, mobile phone, Sky TV, fags, beer and all the other none-essentials people seem to think they can live without.

    Posts like this really hack me off .

    I would love to see how anyone could live off £40.00 a week inclusive of bills . Is this a case of " I'm all right jack " or have you actually done it Hammyman ?

    If so I am sure the OP will be interested how you coped ;)
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    somethingcorporate wrote: »
    Seems financially beneficial even if slightly complicated?

    £80 per month per lodger before £ for £ benefits lost seem better than no £80 per month and same £ benefits.

    Have I misunderstood?
    Yes you seem to have got extremely complex and slightly complicated mixed up. Trust me it's complex... Yes you gain an extra £80 per month but you must then provide at least 1 meal per day to your lodger. You must pay additional on the gas and electric and water bills. I'm assuming they actually want a shower and well it's costs extra to heat that water and provide it. You must also now pay the council tax. Granted you'll get 25% off if just 1 lodger but you must now pay it. My CT bill is £72 per calendar month with 25% off. So I'd only be up by well I wouldn't be up by anything I'd be losing.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    mandi wrote: »
    Posts like this really hack me off .

    I would love to see how anyone could live off £40.00 a week inclusive of bills . Is this a case of " I'm all right jack " or have you actually done it Hammyman ?

    If so I am sure the OP will be interested as to how you coped ;)

    JSA for under 25s is less than £52 per week and most people on this manage to have some minimal social life/ mobile phone/run a car etc. (not all of them, of course!) so it isn't that unreasonable to say that someone could survive on £40 per week for essentials, certainly for a limited amount of time.
  • mandi
    mandi Posts: 11,932 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Stoptober Survivor
    Oldernotwiser wrote: »
    JSA for under 25s is less than £52 per week and most people on this manage to have some minimal social life/ mobile phone/run a car etc. (not all of them, of course!) so it isn't that unreasonable to say that someone could survive on £40 per week for essentials, certainly for a limited amount of time.

    No they dont Older unless of course you have a link . Do you ?
  • real1314
    real1314 Posts: 4,432 Forumite
    mandi wrote: »
    No they dont Older unless of course you have a link . Do you ?

    http://www.focusondisability.org.uk/brates-1.html

    JSA rate for under 25s is £51.85.

    You shouldn't tell someone they are wrong unless you know for a fact that you are right, otherwise you look a little bit silly. :cool:

    As for the lodger/sub-tenant/non-dependant stuff, it might be hassle but it's rarely non-beneficial, especially when money is tight.
  • cit_k
    cit_k Posts: 24,812 Forumite
    real1314 wrote: »
    http://www.focusondisability.org.uk/brates-1.html

    JSA rate for under 25s is £51.85.

    You shouldn't tell someone they are wrong unless you know for a fact that you are right, otherwise you look a little bit silly. :cool:

    As for the lodger/sub-tenant/non-dependant stuff, it might be hassle but it's rarely non-beneficial, especially when money is tight.


    That may be the rate, but where does it show they are funding everything themselves, running phone, owning a car etc?

    Wont most of those in that situation be living with parents, who fund the rent, majority of the bills, probably buy them a car etc etc.

    Try living on 52 quid a week, paying rent, gas,electric, car tax, insurance, food bills, money for clothing etc etc etc.
    [greenhighlight]but it matters when the most senior politician in the land is happy to use language and examples that are simply not true.
    [/greenhighlight][redtitle]
    The impact of this is to stigmatise people on benefits,
    and we should be deeply worried about that    [/redtitle](house of lords debate, talking about Cameron)
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    mandi wrote: »
    No they dont Older unless of course you have a link . Do you ?

    Is it really too much trouble to check your facts before correcting someone?
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.3K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 601K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.5K Life & Family
  • 259.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.
Update Your Picture