Worst Case Scenario

Cousin_Creditor

If everything goes belly up for me and I end up out of my flat, I would be forced to put my name down for social housing. In the event of that, would I be eligible for UC to pay the rent? Would I also get the usual payment for job seeking and wound I be eligible for council tax reduction?

I am panicking to say the least. The street doesn't look too inviting. 

elsien

Given the complete lack of context here and that many people would have no idea why you might be put out of your flat, why do you think you would not be eligible for benefits?
Means tested benefits are based on income and assets. Nothing more, nothing less. 

Three or four days ago, you’d been offered a new well paying job. so it would seem that there may be an element of catastrophising going on here, that you need to try and stay on top of.

huckster

As has been said, you have not provided any real information about exact circumstances.

If you were evicted by landlord after they had followed correct process to force you to leave, if you had no means to pay for Housing, you could go to your local council for emergency Housing help. If the Council accepted your emergency Housing request, the Council would pay for this out of their funds.

 But this is only temporary and you would be registered to help you find alternative more permanent Housing to rent and once found, you could then report these Housing costs as part of a Universal Credit claim. 

Cousin_Creditor

elsien said:

Given the complete lack of context here and that many people would have no idea why you might be put out of your flat, why do you think you would not be eligible for benefits?
Means tested benefits are based on income and assets. Nothing more, nothing less. 

Three or four days ago, you’d been offered a new well paying job. so it would seem that there may be an element of catastrophising going on here, that you need to try and stay on top of.

There's a lack of job vacancies so I'm worried about slipping into mortgage arrears or forfeiting my leasehold for not payment of service charge or ground rent.

As it stands my priority bills are up to date, but the clock is ticking and the new job that I thought would be 48 hours per week has turned out to be an ad hoc arrangement wherein so far I've been given 3 shifts during a two week window.

Things "might pick up" during the new year as some have suggested vaguely hasn't filled me with much reassurance. 

Spoonie_Turtle

What's your current source of income, how you were surviving before this job?

huckster

At the point where you can see you will be unable to pay mortgage and other important bills, you need to contact mortgage company and others you pay money to, so that you can discuss what options are available. 

Do some budget forecasts based on your current outgoings and the likely earnings based on 3 shifts every 2 weeks. At what point would you get to a position where you run out of money.  What outgoing budget items can you cut as not essential?

Contact all local recruitment agencies in January about work available and keep in contact with them. At the moment the jobs market is quiet and any jobs scattered across many different agencies. And come up with a list of local employers to contact about possible work, as sometimes direct approach is required. So many people sit at home on their phones click applying for loads of jobs on Indeed etc and gain very few responses for interviews. 

elsien

Depending on your level of savings, you might be eligible for universal credit now while the number of shifts you are doing is lower.
Have you run the figures through a benefits calculator?