Please sign This petition Ian Duncan Smith to live on £53 a week.

seven-day-weekend

Dunroamin wrote: »

But you've said that many of those single people in 2 bedroom flats can't manage now that their HB has been reduced so that will surely leave a pool of people looking to share?

I don't think that you can have it both ways.

Spot on. .

nannytone_2

i accept your point. but deciding to give up a property to move into someone elses property means losing all security.
and understamdab;y, people are reluctant to do that.

i have a friend in the same position as ,e, apart from the fact that she is a carer.
she could move in with her mum, but once her mum passes, she would be homeless. and the same thing would apply if she moved in with me. we argue at the best of times. living with someone else takes it to the next level.

you really under estimate how important security is.

and yes, i know that not everyone has security.
but for less people to have security doesnt make the system fair.
you always want to bring everyone DOWN to the same level. you never want to raise anyone up!

nannytone_2

this applies to both of you. you can have it both ways?
you are pensioners, so even if you were almost destitute, you wouldnt be facing the changes that are happeninjg.

its so easy to cast judgement when you know that you arent, and cant be affected

seven-day-weekend

I do understand why someone does not want to give up their security, I wouldn't either.

All I am trying to do is point out options which means that someone can keep their security. One of which is having a lodger, which I know is not appropriate for some people, but for the vast majority it is totally do-able. However this seems to be met with huge opposition. I personally do not know why, but that's how things seem to be.

So if someone does not want to move, does not want to have a lodger and is unable (or unwilling) to work, then the only option left is to pay the extra rent.

Dunroamin

Hysnbrg wrote: »

No the jobcentre does suggest it though, and yes walking is a good option but surely a bus pass would be the best investment a jobseeker could make to find work. Also not everyone can walk that far, I get blisters after 20miles and cannot walk for a week. Can't assume everyone can ride a bike either.

Dunroamin you've got it bang on. But I don't feel like a jobseeker is in a very position, after-all there supposed to be looking for work not using there time budgeting for everything. Staying healthy and happy is important for someone looking for work. Unhealthy and sad is a unemployable person- I think.

I would really like a breakdown though, no-one up for the challenge?

Oh well, head above the parapet time!

For essentials, I would expect to spend about £15 on food, £10 on utilities, £5 on cleaning stuff (for me and the house), £2 pre payment prescription card, £3 TV licence and £5 on fares for interviews. That would leave £13 over to allocate on the basis of need. I should say that this is based on sharing a house or flat because, as I said earlier, having a place of your own isn't financially viable when you're under 25 and unemployed.

(Considering people who work long hours manage to spend time budgeting, I'm pretty sure those who are unemployed can find the time to do so - you don't job hunt for 40 hours a week.)

Dunroamin

nannytone wrote: »

this applies to both of you. you can have it both ways?
you are pensioners, so even if you were almost destitute, you wouldnt be facing the changes that are happeninjg.

its so easy to cast judgement when you know that you arent, and cant be affected

I expect that 7DW, like me, hasn't always been a pensioner though.;)

I've certainly lived through some very tough times financially so my opinions are based on how I coped with them at the time and how I know I could cope again if I had to.

seven-day-weekend

You're looking pretty good on that parapet Dunroamin....I was just working out a budget myself because I did it for my son when he was unemployed.

My budget was similar to yours except I would allocate a few pounds more to bus fares.

nannytone_2

£10 on uktilities?
so gas, electric, water and phone for £10?

Pollycat

nannytone wrote: »

i accept your point. but deciding to give up a property to move into someone elses property means losing all security.
and understamdab;y, people are reluctant to do that.

So if someone doesn't want to give up a property, then they actively look for a lodger or accept the reduction in benefits because they are living in a property with spare room - and continue to actively look for a lodger.

nannytone_2

uf xiyeaw tiy werent always a pensioner. but i also dont think you realise how hard things are right now for people that have no alternative to claiming benefit.

my utilities cos no more for you than they do for me.
fuel costs are the same
food prices are the same.
and your income could well be at a standstill.
my we are lsong income, and have no alternative