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| What it's really like living on benefits? | |
| (6 months later) | |
| Monday saw the start of broad welfare cuts including the so-called 'bedroom tax' that will leave up to 660,000 people with an average of £14 less a week; council tax changes that will see 2.4 million households paying an increase of £138 a year; and the replacement of the disability living allowance with the more rigorously assessed personal independence payment (PIP) that narrows roads to payment. | Monday saw the start of broad welfare cuts including the so-called 'bedroom tax' that will leave up to 660,000 people with an average of £14 less a week; council tax changes that will see 2.4 million households paying an increase of £138 a year; and the replacement of the disability living allowance with the more rigorously assessed personal independence payment (PIP) that narrows roads to payment. |
| Iain Duncan Smith claimed that he could live on £53 a week, but rejected calls do so - from a petition of 300,000 signatures - telling his local newspaper that he had already lived on the equivalent twice whilst unemployed. | Iain Duncan Smith claimed that he could live on £53 a week, but rejected calls do so - from a petition of 300,000 signatures - telling his local newspaper that he had already lived on the equivalent twice whilst unemployed. |
| Guardian readers share their experiences of living on welfare, including what it's really like living on £53 a week. | Guardian readers share their experiences of living on welfare, including what it's really like living on £53 a week. |
| anemag | anemag |
| I am a scientist with an excellent education, but when my funding ran out and my efforts to secure more funding to continue my were rejected I was made redundant. I get about £640 a month. I pay 520 for rent/bills (I share a house in East London) that leaves 120 a month or 30 a week. I am the master of economy and budgeting . I say George Osborne would go green with envy. Still, all my savings are gone. A friend gave me 3000 quid more than one year ago, which I keep for emergencies. like when my bicycle broke down the other day and had to be fixed - I cycle everywhere in London within an 8 -10 mile radius. I can't afford the tube on a regular basis and the job centre forgot to inform me that actually I was entitled to have a reduced fare card until it was too late. Now I am only entitled to take the bus, because once you're out of work you no longer should take the tube? Because we have so much time that we needn't rapid transport? | I am a scientist with an excellent education, but when my funding ran out and my efforts to secure more funding to continue my were rejected I was made redundant. I get about £640 a month. I pay 520 for rent/bills (I share a house in East London) that leaves 120 a month or 30 a week. I am the master of economy and budgeting . I say George Osborne would go green with envy. Still, all my savings are gone. A friend gave me 3000 quid more than one year ago, which I keep for emergencies. like when my bicycle broke down the other day and had to be fixed - I cycle everywhere in London within an 8 -10 mile radius. I can't afford the tube on a regular basis and the job centre forgot to inform me that actually I was entitled to have a reduced fare card until it was too late. Now I am only entitled to take the bus, because once you're out of work you no longer should take the tube? Because we have so much time that we needn't rapid transport? |
| I cannot tell you how degrading and humiliating my trips to the job centre are. They do not miss any opportunity to make you feel like pond life. It sucks all the joy out of me, JK Rowling must have had this institution in mind when she created the dementors. Once I had to remind them that as far as I know I haven't committed any crime - no murder nor fraud nor any other offence, I only lost my work, so there is no reason to patronize me. | I cannot tell you how degrading and humiliating my trips to the job centre are. They do not miss any opportunity to make you feel like pond life. It sucks all the joy out of me, JK Rowling must have had this institution in mind when she created the dementors. Once I had to remind them that as far as I know I haven't committed any crime - no murder nor fraud nor any other offence, I only lost my work, so there is no reason to patronize me. |
| I do loads of volunteer work, you can easily fill all your days with work - it is just not paid. This country survives on unpaid work force! Perhaps the government should pay a thought on that. At least when I will find work in my profession again, it will be comparably well paid and that isn't given for most of the other poor sods. | I do loads of volunteer work, you can easily fill all your days with work - it is just not paid. This country survives on unpaid work force! Perhaps the government should pay a thought on that. At least when I will find work in my profession again, it will be comparably well paid and that isn't given for most of the other poor sods. |
| Anonymous – via email | Anonymous – via email |
| I have been unwell since the birth of my daughter in January 2011 and subsequently my husband has been unable to work while he has to care for myself and our daughter. | I have been unwell since the birth of my daughter in January 2011 and subsequently my husband has been unable to work while he has to care for myself and our daughter. |
| We currently survive on around £100 per week (after bills) and its an extreme struggle trying to budget and make sure that we can afford the food we need for the three of us, not excluding needing the heating on more during cold spells or my daughter needing new clothes...The list is endless. | We currently survive on around £100 per week (after bills) and its an extreme struggle trying to budget and make sure that we can afford the food we need for the three of us, not excluding needing the heating on more during cold spells or my daughter needing new clothes...The list is endless. |
| The statements flying around about the 'work shy' and 'people who don't work for their money' are actually pretty offensive to me. This is not a life that we chose and my own experiences have shown me that it really could happen to anyone - we have gone from living in a privately rented home and earning a good wage to the very real struggles of living in social accommodation while struggling to get by. | The statements flying around about the 'work shy' and 'people who don't work for their money' are actually pretty offensive to me. This is not a life that we chose and my own experiences have shown me that it really could happen to anyone - we have gone from living in a privately rented home and earning a good wage to the very real struggles of living in social accommodation while struggling to get by. |
| I would give anything for a fast recovery and for a steady income from work but it is simply not as easy as that for us. | I would give anything for a fast recovery and for a steady income from work but it is simply not as easy as that for us. |
| Pyschonaut | Pyschonaut |
| I have lived on £53 a week JSA for the last several months, £53.09p to be exact. The reason for this? I owe the social fund some money. Fair enough. I needed £400 to get off the streets, then I found a job and was ok for a long time but then became unemployed again and needed a crisis loan so now I am paying it all back and have no other income. | I have lived on £53 a week JSA for the last several months, £53.09p to be exact. The reason for this? I owe the social fund some money. Fair enough. I needed £400 to get off the streets, then I found a job and was ok for a long time but then became unemployed again and needed a crisis loan so now I am paying it all back and have no other income. |
| Is it enough to live on? Heh, try it. How do I manage? I sell my possessions. And have applied for over 300 jobs. | Is it enough to live on? Heh, try it. How do I manage? I sell my possessions. And have applied for over 300 jobs. |
| iwhittam | iwhittam |
| I worked for 25 years as a registered Nurse, whilst suffering from bi-polar disorder diagnosed some 30 years ago. I have worked with a debilitating condition, but when my chronic generalised arthritis kicked in some ten years ago I tried as hard as possible to maintain some level of work. Eventually after the same advice by two consultants and two GP's I took disability. My retirement dreams are gone, my pension is non existent, but at least I was given DLA and associated benefits. Since my wife was made redundant by our local council she has suffered from anxiety. We lost our house in my decline from full to part time working prior to grudgingly accepting disability but the council re-homed us in a 2 bed bungalow and following the help and advice of my social worker, the council spent over £20,000 on adapting our home to my needs. Due to increasing health problems ie incontinence ( a great condition to go to work with...such a hoot) health advisers suggested my wife needed to be my full time carer... not really the life she signed up for either! My mental health is all over the place, my self esteem is rock bottom and we now have to find an extra £75 per month because we have a spare room and now have to pay council tax... where do we get the money from. We do not drink, smoke or go on holidays. Suicide is my resort of choice at the mo. I seriously cannot face much longer living in a society that treats everyone like spongers, scroungers or criminals. I wish IDS could bother to take the time to read this, but why should he? | I worked for 25 years as a registered Nurse, whilst suffering from bi-polar disorder diagnosed some 30 years ago. I have worked with a debilitating condition, but when my chronic generalised arthritis kicked in some ten years ago I tried as hard as possible to maintain some level of work. Eventually after the same advice by two consultants and two GP's I took disability. My retirement dreams are gone, my pension is non existent, but at least I was given DLA and associated benefits. Since my wife was made redundant by our local council she has suffered from anxiety. We lost our house in my decline from full to part time working prior to grudgingly accepting disability but the council re-homed us in a 2 bed bungalow and following the help and advice of my social worker, the council spent over £20,000 on adapting our home to my needs. Due to increasing health problems ie incontinence ( a great condition to go to work with...such a hoot) health advisers suggested my wife needed to be my full time carer... not really the life she signed up for either! My mental health is all over the place, my self esteem is rock bottom and we now have to find an extra £75 per month because we have a spare room and now have to pay council tax... where do we get the money from. We do not drink, smoke or go on holidays. Suicide is my resort of choice at the mo. I seriously cannot face much longer living in a society that treats everyone like spongers, scroungers or criminals. I wish IDS could bother to take the time to read this, but why should he? |
| Anonymous, 25, Wolverhampton – via email | Anonymous, 25, Wolverhampton – via email |
| I recently became unemployed, and was forced to go on Jobseekers Allowance. At first, I thought I was lucky. Money every fortnight whilst I searched for a job was a God send! I felt thankful that my government had plans to look after me when I fell into difficult times. However, a few months past, and luck was not on my side. Slowly, I lost hope in finding a job and lost the spring in my step. From once going to my job centre dressed smartly and ready to find work, I started dressing down, often in jogging bottoms and tshirts. This was mainly because I didn't see an end in sight. I became depressed, didn't want to leave my bed in the morning and it even got to a point where I was scared to leave my house. It was one of the darkest times of my life. Now, I'm not saying the money I was receiving wasn't enough - but the help an support to come with this needed injection of finance was lacking. On one occasion, I missed a signing on appointment because of my depressive situation. Even though I had been actively looking for work, and proved I was, when I spoke to my local centre about my difficulties in leaving my house, I was spoken to like a "benefit bum" and was sanctioned with absolutely no benefits for FIVE WEEKS. I was finished. I got more into debt, and had to rely on family to help me out.I really think a lot of the problems in people not finding work is down to the advisors in Job Centres who make claimants feel dumb, worthless and who obviously need extra help. I truly think this is where the government need to start, rather than just slashing peoples payments. Payments which people so desperately need to survive. | I recently became unemployed, and was forced to go on Jobseekers Allowance. At first, I thought I was lucky. Money every fortnight whilst I searched for a job was a God send! I felt thankful that my government had plans to look after me when I fell into difficult times. However, a few months past, and luck was not on my side. Slowly, I lost hope in finding a job and lost the spring in my step. From once going to my job centre dressed smartly and ready to find work, I started dressing down, often in jogging bottoms and tshirts. This was mainly because I didn't see an end in sight. I became depressed, didn't want to leave my bed in the morning and it even got to a point where I was scared to leave my house. It was one of the darkest times of my life. Now, I'm not saying the money I was receiving wasn't enough - but the help an support to come with this needed injection of finance was lacking. On one occasion, I missed a signing on appointment because of my depressive situation. Even though I had been actively looking for work, and proved I was, when I spoke to my local centre about my difficulties in leaving my house, I was spoken to like a "benefit bum" and was sanctioned with absolutely no benefits for FIVE WEEKS. I was finished. I got more into debt, and had to rely on family to help me out.I really think a lot of the problems in people not finding work is down to the advisors in Job Centres who make claimants feel dumb, worthless and who obviously need extra help. I truly think this is where the government need to start, rather than just slashing peoples payments. Payments which people so desperately need to survive. |
| KirstyDavide | KirstyDavide |
| I gave up my career to look after my sick mother. She has now passed away. I have been on JSA since end of January. I am now a nervous wreck! It is impossible to live on this money with 2 kids. My hair is starting to fall out due to the stress. I have applied for more than 200 jobs and not even had a reply from one!! I have been put on the most ridiculous 'Workshops' via the job centre on how to build a CV or how to get a job lol! I am made to feel a failure and a liability every time I go in to sign my little piece of paper. I am told that I should have found a job by now! I am told that there are more than 17000 jobs available to me..... Where are they then?! I would love Iain Duncan Smith to come and live my life for 1 month, pay the TV license, the Gas, the Electric, the Phone bill, the Water, buy Food for me and my kids every week...... because he couldn't. I would like him to feel my panic every time something breaks.... every time I get a letter from school asking for money for school trips etc.....every time my son needs something essential. I never go out, I never drink, I never smoke, and even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I am worse off than a prisoner because at least they get fed, have hot water and heating..... come on Mr Smith.... come and live with me for a month! | I gave up my career to look after my sick mother. She has now passed away. I have been on JSA since end of January. I am now a nervous wreck! It is impossible to live on this money with 2 kids. My hair is starting to fall out due to the stress. I have applied for more than 200 jobs and not even had a reply from one!! I have been put on the most ridiculous 'Workshops' via the job centre on how to build a CV or how to get a job lol! I am made to feel a failure and a liability every time I go in to sign my little piece of paper. I am told that I should have found a job by now! I am told that there are more than 17000 jobs available to me..... Where are they then?! I would love Iain Duncan Smith to come and live my life for 1 month, pay the TV license, the Gas, the Electric, the Phone bill, the Water, buy Food for me and my kids every week...... because he couldn't. I would like him to feel my panic every time something breaks.... every time I get a letter from school asking for money for school trips etc.....every time my son needs something essential. I never go out, I never drink, I never smoke, and even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I am worse off than a prisoner because at least they get fed, have hot water and heating..... come on Mr Smith.... come and live with me for a month! |
| Anonymous and name changed – via email | Anonymous and name changed – via email |
| Joel lives on £53 a week job seekers; this was not enough to allow him to offer a decent contribution to his Mum. When Joel finished his college course studying plumbing, his Mum lost her family credit and single person council tax discount. Her low earnings meant she was struggling to pay the uplift in council tax, heating bill, and food. His Mum works full-time but relies upon a top up in housing benefit to cover her rent. Joel had hoped to get an apprenticeship. | Joel lives on £53 a week job seekers; this was not enough to allow him to offer a decent contribution to his Mum. When Joel finished his college course studying plumbing, his Mum lost her family credit and single person council tax discount. Her low earnings meant she was struggling to pay the uplift in council tax, heating bill, and food. His Mum works full-time but relies upon a top up in housing benefit to cover her rent. Joel had hoped to get an apprenticeship. |
| The stress of a damp flat resulted in floor to ceiling saturation of Joel's bedroom, and he slept on the sofa for a few years. This coupled with rows about money resulted in Joel becoming homeless. | The stress of a damp flat resulted in floor to ceiling saturation of Joel's bedroom, and he slept on the sofa for a few years. This coupled with rows about money resulted in Joel becoming homeless. |
| Joel now 'sofa surfs'. One of his friends in a similar situation has actually slept on benches and in people's cars. He lives in a small town where employment opportunities and transport links are limited. In the event of securing a job interview, lack of money for travel and clothes would impact his success. This lack of opportunity and prospects has impacted Joel's confidence and he is sometimes depressed. | Joel now 'sofa surfs'. One of his friends in a similar situation has actually slept on benches and in people's cars. He lives in a small town where employment opportunities and transport links are limited. In the event of securing a job interview, lack of money for travel and clothes would impact his success. This lack of opportunity and prospects has impacted Joel's confidence and he is sometimes depressed. |
| Joel's mum is also now homeless (staying on a sofa) and suffering severe depression so she could no longer cope with her damp and cold flat. His mum (like many on the estate) is vulnerable without the education or confidence to progress out of her situation. Her own story is quite sad as she grew up in a children's home. | Joel's mum is also now homeless (staying on a sofa) and suffering severe depression so she could no longer cope with her damp and cold flat. His mum (like many on the estate) is vulnerable without the education or confidence to progress out of her situation. Her own story is quite sad as she grew up in a children's home. |
| I lived on the same estate as them growing up and often babysat Joel. I always kept in touch and tried to assist where I could in terms of finding work and helping him manage his finances. | I lived on the same estate as them growing up and often babysat Joel. I always kept in touch and tried to assist where I could in terms of finding work and helping him manage his finances. |
| What are your experiences of living on benefits, and have you been affected by the recent cuts? Share your story in the comment thread below. | What are your experiences of living on benefits, and have you been affected by the recent cuts? Share your story in the comment thread below. |
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