Housing Benefit and JSA not enough D:

moseymoose

I feel that first I should explain my situation. Because my college course expired that I was on a sponsorship for, which I can't get back on so I have to fund myself to finish the course. But because I live 200 miles for the college and I only have a limited amount of time to get my coursework done, I found a job and moved up to Newcastle upon Tyne, which is a few miles from the college, the job was in sales and was 100% commission, and I started the job almost completely broke after finding a flat share and paying up £640 bond and 1st months rent in advance. The job was long winded, was incredibly strenuous, and involved 14 hour days, I had to pay for my own travel and I was on what was called a 6 day trial period.
Because my money was so limited the amount of money I was forking out to travel to different postcodes for door to door sales with no wage meant that I had to get my grandparents to send me money just so that I could eat. During the trial they asked me to get a passport photo done for my ID badge, which was going to be £5, I didn't have that much money so as a final straw I went back to the flat and didn't return, and I don't regret my decision because I would have hated every minute of the job, and with it being so demanding I would never be able to get to college during open hours to submit work and attend remedial sessions and examinations.

Soon after I look desperately for work in all the nearby coffee shops, bars and restaurants to no avail, and then applied for JSA, Housing and Council Tax Benefit, unaware of how the system works etc. I thought that Housing Benefit would pay my rent for what it was to keep me housed. But it doesn't, and this is my problem.

I'm coming up to my second month of not paying my rent having moved in on the 12th July, due to the fact that even though I'm on housing benefit, it doesn't cover my living expenses and at the moment, I'm actually spending into the benefit to keep myself afloat. My rent is only £340, and I'm supposed to have 100% council tax benefit so I don't have to pay it. When I take into account my mobile phone bill, which is my sole source of communication with potential employers and with the Job Centre at an average cost of £40 a month, and my food expenses of roughly £10 a week, not to mention that this week I need my hair cut, and I've run out of shampoo and conditioner, and that I also need to commute to college this week to hand in work it puts me back to the exact same position I was before the last weeks benefit came in. I hardly live beyond my means, I even stay at my friends house a couple of days in the week out of his charity so that I spend less on food. I just don't understand how people can get by on the amount the government give to the unemployed who are renting a property.

My landlady hasn't mentioned anything about my missed payments, and I'm not reminding her because there's nothing I can do about it, but eventually I am sure she will notice and I will only have enough to pay £340 rent probably mid way through next month, and then that will put me again at the depth of my overdraft and will take me nearly 6 weeks to get the money from the benefit after expenses to live to pay the rent again. There isn't a chance in hell that I can pay the 2 months I'm outstanding, only next months.

How do you get by in a situation like this? and how do you guys on JSA and HB pay your bills?

Oldernotwiser

I'm afraid that full time students are ineligible for any benefits unless they're lone parents or disabled. In addition, the LHA shared accommodation rate for Newcastle is only £59 pw so you've chosen an enormously expensive flat share for the area.

What course are you on and when do you finish it?

MsBlonde

at the end of the day I was always told you're not meant to be comfortable on benefits, I basically see it as their way of saying, hurry up and get a job. I'm in the same situation near enough, however i've just signed off JSA, started a new job (had to become self employed) and of course they stop you're money and you're suppose to live a month with no help =\

HappyMJ

MsBlonde wrote: »

at the end of the day I was always told you're not meant to be comfortable on benefits, I basically see it as their way of saying, hurry up and get a job. I'm in the same situation near enough, however i've just signed off JSA, started a new job (had to become self employed) and of course they stop you're money and you're suppose to live a month with no help =\

A month? No help? The jobcentre were offering me crisis loans to tide me over. Employers can also pay a small amount in advance. If you are becoming self employed you may be getting some benefits such as working tax credits which is only £15 a week less than the full single persons JSA payment and without the expense of going to/from the jobcentre. If you have been unemployed for 26 weeks or more you can also get the Enterprise Allowance of £65 a week for 13 weeks and then £33 a week for another 13 weeks and an interest free loan of £1,000. I'd say that is a lot of help. Also a 4 week run on of Housing and council tax benefits and if still low income they will continue.

dibuzz

£40 a month seems a lot for a mobile phone and I'm afraid hairdressers bills are the bottom of the priority list, also the value brand shampoo and conditioner will be fine until you can afford the more expensive ones again.
Do you have to hand in the work personally or could you post it to save on fares?

Marisco

First thing I'd do is look for a cheaper flat share!! There used to be an estate agent that specialised in student flats, opposite the Civic Centre (up by Haymarket Metro station) in town. Not sure if it's still there mind. But I'm sure there will be others, or look in the local paper. You could try trawling the bars and clubs (of which there are many!!!) for bar jobs. Although the term has already started and they will be scarce, but it's worth a go. Popular student areas are Heaton, Byker and parts of Jesmond

Use the free phone in the jobcentres for phoning prospective employers, to cut down on your mobile phone, and maybe drop down a tariff. The Grainger Market sells cheap fruit and veg, and Byker High Street is quite good for bargains as well, and go late for the best bargains!! Sorry I cannot help you re benefits, as I'm not well up on benefits for students. Also check out student discounts for the Metro, and other things as well, it's a "uni town" so there are discounts to be had, ask around the uni for the best deals.

ETA, for haircuts you can get cheap haircuts at the Tyne Met College on the Coast Road, if you're willing to let the students "practice" on you! But they are supervised!! lol

Marisco

Here's an idea of what's available.

http://www.stud-lets.co.uk/searchresults.php?min_bedrooms=1&max_bedrooms=10&min_rent=&max_rent=&rent_mode=weekly&month[]=9&type=simple&Submit=Search

Lady_gaga

I didn't think ft students could claim jsa?

Oldernotwiser

Lady_gaga wrote: »

I didn't think ft students could claim jsa?

As I said earlier, FT students can't claim any benefits, unless they're disabled or lone parents.

amistoso

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

As I said earlier, FT students can't claim any benefits, unless they're disabled or lone parents.

I thought that, it all sounds a bit strange. They haven't mentioned being either of those things.

Oldernotwiser

amistoso wrote: »

I thought that, it all sounds a bit strange. They haven't mentioned being either of those things.

It is odd - they haven't mentioned anything about applying for a student loan etc either.