Single mums on benefits

[purpledahlia]

Tose of you JUST on benefits, How do you manage? im really scared !!

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

I'm not a single mum but you should be able to get

Income support- which I think is £53 a week for a single person
You will get child tax credits and child benifit

I'm sure you will be fine hun
xx

 

[purpledahlia]

Think its 130 a week total,Possibly 150 if i get the 20 thru CSA for child maintenence. But how do people cope? bills, food, insurance, transport, heating, water, etc...

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

What I do is I sit down each month. Work out my money coming in and then my money going out on bills I spend in Total about 100 pound a month on bills maybey a little less thats gas, elcectricity, water, tv licence everything

and then about 150 for a montly shop and then I put some money away for emergancys each month. So you will have money to play with. You will be fine
xx

 

[purpledahlia]

I have money for a tv liscence saved, so i dont need to include that. Hopefully will have money to spare, its just a worry. Coz when i have to leave my mums, i wont have any extra till i get a job. £130 a week is what...£520 a month?? aahh

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

what is is 150 for??

Dont for get to include tax credits and child benifits
xx

 

[purpledahlia]

I think in total, like income support, child benefit and tax credits, it equals 130 a week, then if i claim CSA i can maybe get an extra 20 a week. So in total its 150 a week i have to live off, which is 600 a month. But i might not get the 20 from CSA for ages so might only be 520 a month i have to live off. so im worried its not enough, to pay for everything and still manage..

 

[lorrilou]

you should be able to manage just fine on that hun. you wont be paying rent or council tax and if you just manage on the basics for a while till your on your feet properly you'll get by just fine.

 

[purpledahlia]

hope so, i hate it.

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

You will defiantly have enough hunni
xx

 

[smartiepants]

I manage on less than £600 a month after paying my mortgage and I earn a decent wage. I think you'll find it's perfectly normal!

 

[HannahGraceee]

Where do you live? with parents or by yourself?

 

[purpledahlia]

At the moment im with my parents but i have to move out basically as soon as shes born... MAXIMUM 2 months. So by Feb i have to be out, i wont be able to get a council house i HAVE to get a private rent. theres no other way. I used to earn 800 a month in one job and 75 a week in another job, and i guess i found ways of spending it. Now im really panicking. 130 a week for me and a baby, for everything. Im scared!!

 

[HannahGraceee]

thb hun, i live with my parents on benifits and i more then surive your be ok babe - plus you can get grants

£500 pregnancy sure start grant
£190 health in pregnancy grant

 

[Kirstin]

While your living with your parents and have some spare money you can start stocking up on things like nappies, wipes etc. If you budget you will be fine

 

[purpledahlia]

Yeah i can start to stock up as of now, but i wanna use re-useable nappies after a couple of months so i cant get TOO many disposables, plus nowhere to store them.
The grants will be used to buy a pram, carseat, cot for when moses basket is too small, bedding etc. So doubt much will be left,

 

[purpledahlia]

I think TBH its BILLS that scare me, Coz u never know how much they will be. i lived in my old job, so didnt pay any, now dont, i contribute to my food supply, but i dont pay bills. The fact of eventually having them again after 2 years is scaring me!!

 

[smartiepants]

Just out of curiosity, why do you have to private rent?? Surely if you're going to be homesless with a baby, you'd be top priority for a place?

Even if you do have to privately rent, you'll be able to get housing benefit which covers the cost.

 

[purpledahlia]

Because I havnt lived in this area for a year so i dont qualify as having what they call a ''local connection''.. i moved from scotland to london and live'd in to work, and because i was there nearly 2 years my local area is there. And i am not from there and have no family or support there. I have to live up here.

the housing benefit will cover most of the rent but generally two bed flats in the area are about 50 more a month than what the benefit covers. And as soon as i work i have to pay a percent, so thats what im scared about because the rent is almost 600 a month for a private rent flat. After a year i guess i could apply for a council house, but tbh i dont think im likely to get one.

 

[smartiepants]

Have you confirmed this with the council?? I'd fight for that one if I were you, if they've told you that, I'd ask to go above their heads.