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Redundant in 39 days

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Hello!

Right this is a long one.

I will be made redundant through public sector cuts on March 31st.
My Fiance works for himself after being out of work for 8 months (started in November) - luckly i had some inheritance then but its all gone now.

Our average outgoings etc are

£1300 per month (Inc £101 Council Tax, £750 rent (private tenant))

My partner earns £400 pw (average for 45 weeks) before deductions. We have less than £800 savings.

What can i claim for? I am so scared that we will ose everything, i have een for interviews but am not successful or they are offering me minimum wage for 45 hour (10 hours - 1 hour lunch) week in london which i don't think is vaiable when you take into account my travel will be £3,600.

:(

Comments

  • B_Blank
    B_Blank Posts: 1,105 Forumite
    £750 pm is alot for rent outside london. I would try and leave that property and move somewhere cheaper. If you got a place for £500 pm then you can cut your outgoings by about 20% in total. You have to live within your means.

    Maybe you should contact CAB about benefits and stuff and see what you would be entitled to
    I am not a financial expert, and the post above is merely my opinion.:j
  • Thank you B Blank but sadly we live in the commuter belt and the cheapest property around is £695 for a studio flat.

    Where we live is stupidly expensive
  • themull1
    themull1 Posts: 4,299 Forumite
    have you got any family you could live with temporarily? or move/get a job outside London? If oh is SE and you are redundant you could move to a cheaper area?
  • Emmzi
    Emmzi Posts: 8,658 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    am confused.

    outoings = £1300 pm
    income = £1600

    leaving £300 for food, toiletries etc?

    are you getting redundancy pay
    have you paid enough NI to get 6 months contribution based JSA

    you only need a little extra a month to get by, I'd take a min. wage job for now if it were me
    Debt free 4th April 2007.
    New house. Bigger mortgage. MFWB after I have my buffer cash in place.
  • B_Blank
    B_Blank Posts: 1,105 Forumite
    Emmzi wrote: »
    am confused.

    outoings = £1300 pm
    income = £1600

    leaving £300 for food, toiletries etc?

    are you getting redundancy pay
    have you paid enough NI to get 6 months contribution based JSA

    you only need a little extra a month to get by, I'd take a min. wage job for now if it were me

    Ya, even if the travel eats most of the wages up at least yu have a job which could give you a pay rise/contacts for a new job. Also easier to get a job if you have a job...or so they say - could be rubbish!
    I am not a financial expert, and the post above is merely my opinion.:j
  • Alleycat
    Alleycat Posts: 4,601 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 24 February 2011 at 10:57PM
    From your figures it sounds like you would be entitled to Housing Benefit and possibly some Council Tax Benefit. No Working Tax Credit though (assuming your partner is over 25 years and no children). Try running some figures through the entitledto calculator to give you an idea of how tight your finances would be with and without the job offers. Do note though that they are not going to be exact as maximum weekly rent that LHA will pay for will be reducing at the start of the new financial year.

    Though if I were in your shoes (might be very soon!) I would take a job offer as it is always better to stay in employment especially during these difficult times. There would I assume be opportunities in the future for payrises, promotions etc and I do believe that it is always easier to find a job when you are working.

    Alternatively, depending on your fiance's business venture is it something you could work at with him to increase the takings?
    "I've fallen down a hole" - said in best Monty Python voice-over.
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