Can I afford to live alone?

93123

I get £366 a month from DLA and ESA. I'm 18 and will be living alone so the LHA will give me about £216 (unless I get more for lower rate care and mobility DLA?) I'll need to make up about £134 as the rent is £350.

I don't smoke, drink, go clubbing or go out much. I'll buy a weekly bus ticket (£11) for my transport and won't get a TV license until I can afford it. All I do really is sit on my laptop all day. Can someone advise me?

huckster

You will find it very difficult financially and what about any changes to the benefits you receive i.e they are reduced or taken away.

How will you cope with increases in the cost of living ?

BugsyBrowne

As you say your sitting on your computer all day What about Looking for a job that involves working on a computer?

McKneff

I think you will find it very difficult affording to live alone, is there anyone you could share with.

Do you have any parents or other family who could give you some support emotionally and financially

huckster

BugsyBrowne wrote: »

As you say your sitting on your computer all day What about Looking for a job that involves working on a computer?

They would have already have gone through an independent work assessment. Sounds like it has been assessed that they are unable to work or have limited capacity.

huckster

McKneff wrote: »

I think you will find it very difficult affording to live alone, is there anyone you could share with.

Do you have any parents or other family who could give you some support emotionally and financially

Perhaps there are 'reasons' why they are unable to live at home. Up to the OP, whether they wish to share this on a public forum.

McKneff

What are your living circumstances now then.

93123

BugsyBrowne wrote: »

As you say your sitting on your computer all day What about Looking for a job that involves working on a computer?

That's what I want, but as far as I'm aware they require experience. I'm going back to college to do a computing course to enable me to do this. I'm on ESA for depression and anxiety. There are very few jobs that wouldn't affect my social issues, co-ordination+anxiety issies etc. I have Asperger's and Dyspraxia just to elaborate.

I live with my cousins and their 4 noisy children in a 3 bed house. I have become increasingly depressed, irritable and withdrawn since moving here and am stressed every single day because I'm over-sensitive to noise and require my own space.

I only intend on being on ESA for a few months. I have an assessment on July 4th and if I get taken off then I can't argue with them, but the condition is mental and not really physical. I moved here due to failing college and not coping with anything where I used to live and as I find it hard to function normally I couldn't cope with the stress of a job at the time, but now it's come to moving out I need to be financially secure as I am desperate to get out. I've never had a job before as I'd been in school and college full-time. However I do want one now if I can find a suitable one.

I'm just worried that while I can just about manage it now will I always have support? I mean, if I get taken off ESA I'll go on JSA, but how long will that take and how will it affect me paying my rent? And if I finally get a job how secure will that job be, and if I get sacked will I be eligible for JSA again? That's the main reasons I'm too scared to venture out just yet.

PasturesNew

93123 wrote: »

I get £366 a month from DLA and ESA. I'm 18 and will be living alone so the LHA will give me about £216 (unless I get more for lower rate care and mobility DLA?) I'll need to make up about £134 as the rent is £350.

I don't smoke, drink, go clubbing or go out much. I'll buy a weekly bus ticket (£11) for my transport and won't get a TV license until I can afford it. All I do really is sit on my laptop all day. Can someone advise me?

Rent is just the start of it, as, by the sounds of it, you're going for somewhere self-contained.

You'll have council tax, electricity, gas, water, food, cleaning materials, loo roll all to pay for... before you even start to get to landline, internet, etc.

£366-£164 = £202.

Bills alone would be £100, council tax £100, food £100 ... for example.

No chance.

opinions4u

Go to https://www.makesenseofcards.co.uk.

Look at the statement of affairs section and work through each line. When you see the total you will have a better idea of affordability. I've put some estimates in below.

Rent
Council tax £75
Water £30
Gas / electricity £80
Food £125
Bus fare £50
Phone and Internet £20
Contents insurance £10

Setting up costs too. Bed, mattress, chair / settee. Fridge. Washing machine. Kettle. Look around the freebie sites for that.

Lith

93123 wrote: »

All I do really is sit on my laptop all day. Can someone advise me?

advise? you sure? :T