Jobseekers doesn't cover rent? minus £30 per WEEK!

Wiggynut

Hi

I've just left student hood and worked part time freelancing but this work is for a small (dying) company that can't increase it's hours so I am having to go on job seekers (gargh!) I've been applying for jobs (I have 25 year career in media/graphics/photography industries as well as now having a First class degree) so I am more than qualified plus I am also applying for anything else I can find that links with my experience but no joy so far!! (I have a database of the jobs applied to so far and it's nearing 100 - not counting freelance/temp job agencies) so I'm somewhat hopeful that going on jobseekers will be a short term thing thing (:o)

The housing benefit rate for my area (London) is £85 but my rent for a medium sized room is £115 so I'll be £30 short each week... after bills (which I keep purposely low but still comes to £10-15 per week (I don't go out or smoke anymore) that will leave me £15 or less for food/travel to interviews etc... how is this possible? I have one brother who lives in another country and I found him through the internet so I can't borrow money of anyone and being a student and freelance means no loans etc (not that I want to run up any debts... I currently have a small credit card debt and student overdraft which is more than enough .

any suggestions... what do others do... I can't believe everyone on benefits manages to live in places for £85 and under so how do they manage?

Barneysmom

I don't know I hope someone will come up with some ideas for you.
I heard on the radio last week that Stoke council are thinking of only allowing £41.00 a week! You could probably only get a room share on that pittance.

You might have to do some silly EBaying to raise funds?

Hammyman

Find somewhere to live you can afford. Plenty of single person accommodation to rent where I live for £85 a week or less. My uncle rents out flats for £60 a week....

Perhaps if you can't afford to live in London you should move to somewhere else.

marywooyeah

if you're on jobseekers I'd hazard a guess that you'd be entitled to housing benefit too, have you looked into that?

an9i77

You should be able to get travel paid to interviews, although it may only apply when the interview is a certain distance away. But may help you in some situations - I'd check it out

an9i77

marywooyeah wrote: »

if you're on jobseekers I'd hazard a guess that you'd be entitled to housing benefit too, have you looked into that?

OP factored in HB at £85 pw

Wiggynut

Barneysmom wrote: »

I don't know I hope someone will come up with some ideas for you.
I heard on the radio last week that Stoke council are thinking of only allowing £41.00 a week! You could probably only get a room share on that pittance.

You might have to do some silly EBaying to raise funds?

I have a list of stuff ready to go on ebay...:p not worth much though!!

I did one see an advert for a room share in camden... you actually shared the bed with them :eek:- £20 a week... lol
another one were advertising their hallway as a bedroom for £60 per week!!!

I wouldn't mind but I only live in a room... 10 others share the bathroom and kitchen which is disgusting.. I'm sick of cleaning it..so I live on sandwhiches... I really want a job just so I can move house!

Wiggynut

Hammyman wrote: »

Find somewhere to live you can afford. Plenty of single person accommodation to rent where I live for £85 a week or less. My uncle rents out flats for £60 a week....

Perhaps if you can't afford to live in London you should move to somewhere else.

which would take moving costs/deposit and rent to move?
I don't live in london for luxury or choice... I have no family and moved 30 plus times in care as a child...where should I live? some random place and then what? better chance of work in london... but the rent prices have shot up - I've spent most of my adult life living in cheap places purposely as to not cost much and I have never relied on others to pay for me.. .hence why I do not want to go on the dole but it's an emergency situation only!

I would love to live somewhere else but to shove a pin in a map and then move would be childish!

robpw2

Wiggynut wrote: »

I have a list of stuff ready to go on ebay...:p not worth much though!!

I did one see an advert for a room share in camden... you actually shared the bed with them :eek:- £20 a week... lol
another one were advertising their hallway as a bedroom for £60 per week!!!

I wouldn't mind but I only live in a room... 10 others share the bathroom and kitchen which is disgusting.. I'm sick of cleaning it..so I live on sandwhiches... I really want a job just so I can move house!

£20 to share a bed is reasonably cheap lol you wouldn't get a prostitute for that much lol

Wiggynut

marywooyeah wrote: »

if you're on jobseekers I'd hazard a guess that you'd be entitled to housing benefit too, have you looked into that?

yes they don't pay the whole amount... I'm £30 under my rent. - I do not live in luxury... it's the cheapest place I could find that wasn't on a crack estate - I have had gun fights outside my window though!!!

Barneysmom

I dunno, I do tend to agree with the up sticks and try somewhere else idea.
I'd much rather be unemployed by a nice beach with scenery than in London.
Toss for it, heads you stay, tails you move. You've got nothing to lose by giving it a go