Many of the money decisions we make today are based on what to do with the disposable income that we have. That’s the amount that’s left after covering basic costs, such as food, rent and utilities. A large proportion of people have experienced a drop in disposable income, particularly since the financial crash in 2008. But there is perhaps no section of British society that has been quite as hard hit as those on benefits.
What is life like on benefits?
Many of the government’s austerity measures have been aimed at reducing the strain that benefits place on the public purse and this has resulted in a lot of cuts. Those of working age who claim benefits have had their incomes frozen since 2015 as part of general austerity measures. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, by 2020 on average these households will have lost £450 a year.
Who claims benefits?
There could be any number of reasons for someone finding themselves in a position where they have to claim benefits. Medical conditions that prevent people from working mean that life is restricted to what the state can provide. Redundancy and being unable to find another job could be the reason for signing on for benefits for some and, for others, it’s responsibilities such as being a full time carer for someone with medical issues. Stories in certain parts of the UK media have been rife about those living the Life of Riley on benefits but the reality of where this leaves personal finances, in disposable income terms, can come as quite a shock.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for long term health condition or disability £55 a week, paid per month
A single job seeker
Job seekers Allowance £115 a fortnight (reduced by £15 a fortnight to repay job centre loans)
A couple, one the carer for the other
£150 a week income support + PIP
The reality is for many people on benefits that, after the cost of gas, electricity, council tax, food and other routine bills have been covered they have just a couple of pounds left.
What kind of sacrifices have to be made?
On this kind of income, the idea of going out at the weekends or going shopping for new clothes is simply a pipe dream. Job seekers may find it hard to get to appointments they can’t walk to because they can’t afford the bus fare. This opens up the risk of benefits being stopped because appointments haven’t been attended. The luxuries that many people take for granted, such as holidays, being able to get onto the property ladder and even just travelling to see relatives, are all out of reach. And getting credit when on benefits is going to be tricky too.
Tips from those who balance budgets on benefits
When it comes to coping with the cost of every day living expenses there are a number of ways in which people on benefits cope, including:
Prioritising paying bills by transferring money into a separate account to ensure that these essential costs are met first
Establishing another separate account so that money can be put aside for basic living
Always creating a list before going shopping – no spontaneous purchases
Checking the cupboards and fridge before going shopping to ensure that nothing is being purchased twice
Choosing shopping times carefully – product markdowns often happen in the late afternoon, which can be a great time to get more for less
The basics of budgeting
Work out all your income – total monthly benefits, any wages and any other income.
Add up your outgoings per month – look at your household bills and add up exactly how much you pay every month. Be as exact as you can about your supermarket spend per week, don’t forget the cost of insurance and loan repayments, as well as any regular travel costs that you have. If you have additional expense for pets or childcare include those here too.
Once you know what your affordable monthly budget is then stick to it. The more faithfully you commit to what your income allows you to spend, the more likely you are to be able to balance your household budget, even on benefits.
Alex Hartley is a keen advocate of improving personal finance skills. She's worked at Solution Loans since 2014 and written hundreds of articles about how people can manage their money better. Her interest in personal finance goes way back to...Read about Alex Hartley
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