How do you manage to survive on your jobseekers money?

McKneff

LadyMissA wrote: »

but then they said


' If they are paying rent (not board and lodge) and they are going to try and live on jsa, and they apply for it, they will be getting it.'

My first post was said tongue in cheek..........

My meaning between board and lodge and rent is specific.

Board and logdge you are living with parents, family member.

Rent. you are paying rent as a tenant privately, tenant usually comes with a tennancy agreement, in which case if you were trying to live on just JSA then applying for housing benefit would probably be successful.

LadyMissA

McKneff wrote: »

My first post was said tongue in cheek..........

My meaning between board and lodge and rent is specific.

Board and logdge you are living with parents, family member.

Rent. you are paying rent as a tenant privately, tenant usually comes with a tennancy agreement, in which case if you were trying to live on just JSA then applying for housing benefit would probably be successful.

you can also have an agreement to pay rent to a family memeber or even their partner and live with them and not be entitled to housing beneifts.

Surely people living this way save the Gov £1000's but we could all go out and get a flat and then this would cost them £1000's.

persa

McKneff wrote: »

My meaning between board and lodge and rent is specific.

Board and logdge you are living with parents, family member.

Rent. you are paying rent as a tenant privately, tenant usually comes with a tennancy agreement, in which case if you were trying to live on just JSA then applying for housing benefit would probably be successful.

I was renting privately as a joint tenant with my OH when I lost my job. The only benefit I was eligible for was JSA, which meant I had to be totally dependent on him for money. I couldn't afford anything near half the rent, let alone half the bills, half the food... you get the picture.

How do you live off JSA? You don't. You live off other people. You feel like you're sponging off the Government. You feel like you're sponging off friends and family. You have no job, you have no purpose (other than to try and find another job) and your self esteem gets chipped at every day.

The Daily Mail paints unemployment as fun and games, but it is utterly soul destroying. I was only out of work for three months - I can't imagine how awful it must feel to be out of work long term. It's no get rich card, it's not money for nothing - and once you've been in that position yourself, you learn not to judge other folk.

ohreally

persa wrote: »

It's no get rich card, it's not money for nothing - and once you've been in that position yourself, you learn not to judge other folk.

Too many folks are quick to pass judgement on those out of work and down on their luck without realising, - but for the grace of god, it could so easily be them in that situation.

amazingcookie

When I was on JSA I was living with my parents so I was able to spend all of the cash. Now I'm employed, living away from parents, after deducting my expenses I'm left with £10 per month for food and water. LOL! My parents said they'd help me out but I've been trying to stay within that budget. Been only drinking boiled water since rent covers water and gas. Bought heaps of rice and pasta, and some 10p noodles.

dickydonkin

Voyager2002;51559539The figure of 67.50 (which will increase next month) is the
amount the law says that a single person needs to live on for a week. It is not
intended to cover housing costs, which is why Housing Benefit / LHA and limited assistance with mortgage payments is also available to those who receive JSA

Not quite correct.

Those who have been 'silly enough' to prepare for hard times by putting a little aside in the good times do not get any assistance with housing benefits/council tax relief etc.

Income based JSA is means tested and if you have over 16 grand in the bank, then tough - by being frugal, these people have saved the welfare system a fortune.

Until the incentive to remain on benefits is removed - i.e. you are better of lying stinking in bed all day and breeding like rabbits - as opposed to getting off your !!!!! and working, then this problem will go on for ever.

And before anyone mentions the unemployment problem we have right now, this situation was going on long before the recession bit.

Just to add - yes, I have been unemployed in the current climate - at 50 years of age and after 35 years continuous employment. I got no assistance whatsoever. The jobcentre (an misnomer if ever there was one) were absolutely useless and many of my fellow jobseekers (another oxymoron) were unlikely to ever work. Would you employ someone with tattoos on their necks and face, unable to string a sentence together and when they do, it consists of mainly expletives?

In my period of unemployment, visiting that jobcentre was without doubt the worst and most humiliating experience of redundancy and it certainly brought home the state of this country.

19lottie82

amazingcookie wrote: »

When I was on JSA I was living with my parents so I was able to spend all of the cash. Now I'm employed, living away from parents, after deducting my expenses I'm left with £10 per month for food and water. LOL! My parents said they'd help me out but I've been trying to stay within that budget. Been only drinking boiled water since rent covers water and gas. Bought heaps of rice and pasta, and some 10p noodles.

Why are your expenses so high?

Do you work full time?

I live by myself, pay a mortgage, tv license, gas, electric, gym membership, virgin media package, contents insurance,run a car (inc a personal loan for the vehicle) , £50 pcm credit card payments, council tax and even if I was on NMW, I would still have £70 pcm remaining.

amazingcookie

19lottie82 wrote: »

Why are your expenses so high?

Do you work full time?

I live by myself, pay a mortgage, tv license, gas, electric, gym membership, virgin media package, contents insurance,run a car (inc a personal loan for the vehicle) , £50 pcm credit card payments, council tax and even if I was on NMW, I would still have £70 pcm remaining.

Working 21hrs a week only, at near minimum wage, and my rent's £400pcm inclusive of all bills. On top of that there's my £15.99 internet, leaving my £10 for food and water per month. I suppose I could have found a cheaper place to stay but this was the only property I was able to find where I get to live on a monthly basis, not tieing me down to a long-term tenancy contract. I plan to relocate again once I secure a better job so I don't want a long-term contract. Anyway, the cheapest place for 6 months contract I found was £360pcm so that's still only £50 per month.

I don't go to the gym, had to stop several hobbies which I was doing when I lived at my parents and used the JSA for lol. I walk 10 miles each day to work (5 miles to, 5 miles back) because I can't afford the bus.

19lottie82

amazingcookie wrote: »

Working 21hrs a week only, at near minimum wage, and my rent's £400pcm inclusive of all bills. On top of that there's my £15.99 internet, leaving my £10 for food and water per month. I suppose I could have found a cheaper place to stay but this was the only property I was able to find where I get to live on a monthly basis, not tieing me down to a long-term tenancy contract. I plan to relocate again once I secure a better job so I don't want a long-term contract. Anyway, the cheapest place for 6 months contract I found was £360pcm so that's still only £50 per month.

I don't go to the gym, had to stop several hobbies which I was doing when I lived at my parents and used the JSA for lol. I walk 10 miles each day to work (5 miles to, 5 miles back) because I can't afford the bus.

Fair play to you for working and not signing on!

Well, I guess at least you won't need the gym if ur walking 10 miles a day :eek:

Are you sure you aren't entitled to any benefits?

Try this......

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

19lottie82

Hold up....... 21 hours @ £6.06 (nmw?)

= £127.26 a week

or £551.46 pcm

- £400 rent
- £15.99 internet


= £135.47 a month remaining? Still not a great deal to be fair, but a lot more than £10 a month.