How is someone supposed to live off £72 per week?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Jumpstart

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
444
Reaction score
76
Points
28
Age
47
My Satellite Setup
Motorised dish
My Location
North East
A friend of mine has recently gone on sickness benefit after the mother he was caring for died suddenly.

He's suffering from depression.

This is short term as he wants to get a job.

However, the government is giving him just £72 per week to live off. How can anyone live off that? No wonder there are food banks. I take home £350 and my life is still a struggle. I have some savings but I am never gonna go wild on a 6 month cruise.

Yesterday, he got paid £144 for two weeks benefit but he has to pay out £360 in bills: gas, electric and water.

I had to lend him £200 to keep his head above water as I'd hate to see him borrowing money elsewhere where it's something barmy like 2,000% interest.

So one question, how can anyone survive on £72 per week? It's an insult.
 

Channel Hopper

Suffering fools, so you don't have to.
Staff member
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
Messages
35,537
Reaction score
8,554
Points
113
Age
59
Website
www.sat-elite.uk
My Satellite Setup
A little less analogue, and a lot more crap.
My Location
UK
£360 for two weeks of gas, electric and water ?

What does a carer get paid these days ? and is there anything stopping your friend from caring for another person ?
 

Jumpstart

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
444
Reaction score
76
Points
28
Age
47
My Satellite Setup
Motorised dish
My Location
North East
£360 for two weeks of gas, electric and water ?

What does a carer get paid these days ? and is there anything stopping your friend from caring for another person ?
He's not a carer anymore, because his mum died. He's now on his own and receiving sickness benefit of £72 per week.

The bills are for the last quarter or something. Not just weeks.
 

Channel Hopper

Suffering fools, so you don't have to.
Staff member
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
Messages
35,537
Reaction score
8,554
Points
113
Age
59
Website
www.sat-elite.uk
My Satellite Setup
A little less analogue, and a lot more crap.
My Location
UK
So his average fortnightly bills are under his fortnightly benefits.

If he is registered as a carer there should be little to stop him from taking a job in the same profession.
 

sonnetpete

Grumpy Old Retired Moderator and quiz inquisitor..
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
8,948
Reaction score
3,491
Points
113
Age
73
Website
wordpress.com
My Satellite Setup
Laminas 1.2M fibre dish with an IBU, on a Clarke Tech USALS motor, covering 57E - 24.5W to an Octagon SX88. Displayed on a 20" Dyon LED TV.

Seperate 80 cm dish on 28E with a Humax Freesat for SWMBO.
Free Sat V8 meter. Sony Bravia 46" LCD, Sony BluRay and Home Cinema.
My Location
Normandy, France
Whilst I acknowledge I live in France and don't have a mortgage, I manage to pay my bills and feed myself, my dogs and cats on just over £80 a week. I don't think that's possible for many people in the UK but it can be done....
 

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
After SWMBO was made redundant, we lived off about £500 per month for a couple of years. Was not a problem.
 

Topper

Amo Amas Amant Admin
Staff member
Joined
Nov 18, 2004
Messages
23,991
Reaction score
4,014
Points
113
Age
69
My Satellite Setup
Has gone to a good home elsewhere
My Location
Blackburn, Lancashire
I feel sorry for him but the government does not even give me £72 per week so I do not even bother signing on any more as the wife fortunately still works (I am a kept man), the reality is that the people that have contributed the most to the system in my case 42 years are the people that get the least out when needed, that's democracy
 

Jumpstart

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
444
Reaction score
76
Points
28
Age
47
My Satellite Setup
Motorised dish
My Location
North East
So his average fortnightly bills are under his fortnightly benefits.

If he is registered as a carer there should be little to stop him from taking a job in the same profession.

ChannelHopper, he isn't a carer any more. Yes I would say his bills are more than the money he gets from the government.

He's thankful for the money I lent him, but he reckons his diet is just gonna consist of bread, potatoes (chips and mash) and sandwiches.

Rather than borrow money from the likes of Wonga.

I guess there are a lot more people worse off.

Thanks for the replies.
 

PaulR

Dazed and Confused Admin
Staff member
Joined
Jun 28, 2003
Messages
18,023
Reaction score
4,046
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
-----------See sig-----------
My Location
Wirral, NW UK and Vaucluse, France.
I would guess that the bills are high because of his mother's previous needs. Now he's only paying for himself I'm sure they'll be much lower Doesn't help in the short term of course.

Is the property his own? Or is there rent or a mortgage to pay? These can make a huge difference.

It's no consolation but I believe that in the US he would be even worse off.
 

Vipersan

Emmett Browns Ghost
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
10,918
Reaction score
6,663
Points
113
Age
66
My Satellite Setup
IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
Thank Higgs ...I own my house ..and don't drive..
Sadly I can't draw sickness benefit and had to carry on working with reduced hours..after being diagnosed with MS related nerve damage.
Yes the bills hurt like hell ..and I have minimal savings ..
Wages vary from approx. £100 on a good week to Zero when the work dries up..
I have to cover my shop expenses ..rates .electric .rent etc..before all else and there are weeks when there is nothing left for me..
It ain't easy living below the breadline ..but it _can_ be done..
Sorry to hear of your friends plight mate ..but know that he is not alone in this.
rgds
VS
 
A

Archive-8

Guest
So his average fortnightly bills are under his fortnightly benefits.

If he is registered as a carer there should be little to stop him from taking a job in the same profession.
I think he means he uses to get carers benefit.

The j.s.a. Rate is £72.40 according to gov.uk a week.

Carers is £61.35 a week oh and he could also clim a 25% reduction on his council tax.

But now he is no longer is entitled to carers benefit.
 

Vipersan

Emmett Browns Ghost
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
10,918
Reaction score
6,663
Points
113
Age
66
My Satellite Setup
IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
There is one bill that really irks me ..
The council tax ..
Say for example A family of 4 pay a typical band A amount of £1000 per year ..
A single person like myself has to pay £750 ..
Only a 25% discount for a single person living alone.
I find that grossly unfair.
Typically council tax pays for things like bins emptied ..
schools,police etc ..
I produce less waste than a family of 4 ..
I have no children so do not use schools ..
..as a by product of having no kids ...I am less likely to need social services ..nor take up police time with kids going off the rails ..
So ..I find the whole thing disproportionate and geared Against single people.
Mutter Mutter Mutter ..
Perhaps this bit should be moved to the grumpy old gits thread.
but it wouldn't make my point any less valid.

and I recently learned this 25% may soon be revised to 20%..
bstds
rgds
VS
 

Huevos

Satellite Freak
Joined
Sep 11, 2008
Messages
6,036
Reaction score
1,273
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
57E to 58W, C-band and Ku, DVB-S2, 4:2:2 and blindscan.
My Location
38.5ºN, 0.5ºW
There is one bill that really irks me ..
The council tax ..
Say for example A family of 4 pay a typical band A amount of £1000 per year ..
A single person like myself has to pay £750 ..
Only a 25% discount for a single person living alone.
I find that grossly unfair.
Opposite here. Single people don't get a reduction, but large families do. A large family means more than 2 kids. I get a 40% reduction in council tax bringing my bill to 80€... per annum.

schools,police etc ..
I produce less waste than a family of 4 ..
I have no children so do not use schools ..
..as a by product of having no kids ...I am less likely to need social services ..nor take up police time with kids going off the rails ..
So ..I find the whole thing disproportionate and geared Against single people.
Mutter Mutter Mutter ..
Children don't just belong to their parents, they belong to the state too and must be looked after by it. Parents make a direct contribution to the next generation. So non parents have to make an indirect contribution. If these children are brought up in poverty and with a low level of education the country will suffer in the long run and so will your pension.
 

Vipersan

Emmett Browns Ghost
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
10,918
Reaction score
6,663
Points
113
Age
66
My Satellite Setup
IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
Opposite here. Single people don't get a reduction, but large families do. A large family means more than 2 kids. I get a 40% reduction in council tax bringing my bill to 80€... per annum.

Children don't just belong to their parents, they belong to the state too and must be looked after by it. Parents make a direct contribution to the next generation. So non parents have to make an indirect contribution. If these children are brought up in poverty and with a low level of education the country will suffer in the long run and so will your pension.
..Errrrr ..what pension ???
According to govt figures ..there is insufficient in the pot for the next trench of retirees..
They have also upped the retirement age ..hoping you drop dead before you need to claim your pension..

..and the number of so called educated kids leaving school and going straight to welfare is unprecidented ..
How is this generation indirectly contributed to by people like me contributing to my non existant pension?
 

Huevos

Satellite Freak
Joined
Sep 11, 2008
Messages
6,036
Reaction score
1,273
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
57E to 58W, C-band and Ku, DVB-S2, 4:2:2 and blindscan.
My Location
38.5ºN, 0.5ºW
..Errrrr ..what pension ???
According to govt figures ..there is insufficient in the pot for the next trench of retirees..
What pot? Pensions are paid for by the next generation, not from a pot, so people who didn't have their own children are relying on the children of people who did to finance their old age.
 

Vipersan

Emmett Browns Ghost
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
10,918
Reaction score
6,663
Points
113
Age
66
My Satellite Setup
IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
..Well Huevos you are entitled to your opinion ..and I mine ..and there we will leave it before it gets heated..
;)

..and the 'pot' referred to is that topped up by the previous generation..
but the global population is expanding at a ridiculous rate so it stands to reason that the previous generation cannot generate enough wealth to accommodate the next generations pension requirements.
Throw in the mix that people are living longer ..plus a world recession ..and you got a recipe for disaster.
 
Last edited:

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
There is one bill that really irks me ..
The council tax ..
Say for example A family of 4 pay a typical band A amount of £1000 per year ..
A single person like myself has to pay £750 ..
Only a 25% discount for a single person living alone.
I find that grossly unfair.
Typically council tax pays for things like bins emptied ..
schools,police etc ..
I produce less waste than a family of 4 ..
I have no children so do not use schools ..
..as a by product of having no kids ...I am less likely to need social services ..nor take up police time with kids going off the rails ..
So ..I find the whole thing disproportionate and geared Against single people.
Mutter Mutter Mutter ..
Perhaps this bit should be moved to the grumpy old gits thread.
but it wouldn't make my point any less valid.

and I recently learned this 25% may soon be revised to 20%..
bstds
rgds
VS


This argument is exactly why the Community Charge was introduced - but look what happened there.

I thought (and still do) that some "Poll" based Tax would be more defensible (with safeguards for the impecunious) as the rate of consumption of services is far more aligned to the number of adults in a household than it is to the size or alleged value of the building in which they reside.

So what happened to the LibDem idea of a Local Income Tax? Nothing.
 

Vipersan

Emmett Browns Ghost
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
10,918
Reaction score
6,663
Points
113
Age
66
My Satellite Setup
IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
This argument is exactly why the Community Charge was introduced - but look what happened there.

I thought (and still do) that some "Poll" based Tax would be more defensible (with safeguards for the impecunious) as the rate of consumption of services is far more aligned to the number of adults in a household than it is to the size or alleged value of the building in which they reside.

So what happened to the LibDem idea of a Local Income Tax? Nothing.
Totally agree Gordon ..
I can quote an example which shows again how unfair the current system is ..
Next door to my left is a good friend and neighbours house ..
He has a loft conversion ..thus can house 4 adults each with their own room ..common kitchen bathroom and chillout area.
But he still only pays one lot of council tax ...yet 4 working adults reside there..
Again is this fair ..??
that's £250 per head as opposed to £1000 subsidised to £750 paid by me.
The current system imo needs a total re-think.
nuff said.
 

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
Yep.

The Flip-Side is "Miss Marple Syndrome" whereby a house of substantial value (when sold) is occupied by an elderly widowed person with a small income. The House" is wealthy, but not the Resident.
 

Vipersan

Emmett Browns Ghost
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
10,918
Reaction score
6,663
Points
113
Age
66
My Satellite Setup
IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
Needs a compromise and re-think imo..
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top