Can I rent working P/T

SEADUR

Due to family issues I am currently looking to get my own place. 26 years old living with parents. May seem crazy to do so based on my circumstances below but really need out.

Currently working between 12-20 hours per week at with Next Retail earling between £200 £ 400 p/m and claiming Income Support due to low earnings of £142 paid fortnightly. Is it possible for me under these circumstances to rent a property? No savings just got basic income.

Any advice (apart from the obvious - stay at home lol) will be much appreciated)

Kynthia

I'd be suprised if you could afford a whole property to be honest. Remember that the rent is just one of the bills that will need paying. Have you calculated the cost of council tax, gas, electric, water, phone, internet, tv license, food, travel, etc? Then you will need money for clothes, holiday, socialising, hair cuts, and other ad hoc costs.

It might be possible for you to rent a room in a shared house or be someones lodger as the bills and costs are lower as well as the rent.

McKneff

Im actually surprised you are getting £71 a week income support whilst working part time and living with parents.

Does the DWP know you are living with parents.

McKneff

If you paid your parents this £50 a week yu have apart from the £21 a week IS between £200 and £400 plus disposable income.

What are you spending it on. If youre wanting to move out, yu should be saving the majority of it.

Fire_Fox

Welcome! Do you have a child or a disability? If not I too am very surprised you are receiving income support living with parents. Since you are under 35 you would only be eligible to claim the shared rate of housing benefit, which means living as someone's lodger or in a shared house. You would not be able to get a flat unless you have a child or a significant disability. Why not take on a second part time job? Why don't you have any savings with so much income?

McKneff

You really need to check that you are eligible for this income support.

You really dont want them coming back to you for a massive overpayment,

Normally, living with parents means no means tested benefits.
You've been warned............

jazabelle

Do you mean Income Support? That's usually for single parents, carers, those working less than 16 hours, so from the above it doesn't seem you fit?

If you could find a way to reach 30 hours of work - you could claim Working Tax Credit, which could boost your income a fair bit. If you're disabled and getting DLA, it's 16 hours.