Herbie

Hi

I must start by apologising as I have been quite absent from this group for a while. Nothing serious - just I felt less connected to my experience and what I felt this group was about.

However, this question has really resonated with me.

I am in paid employment and the older I get the more I realise its key to who I am. I would be lost if I didn't have a job. I am lucky that I have a job I enjoy, which obviously helps the daily grind, but it is not very well paid, so I am also on benefits. I get UC as a lone parent, and I privately rent.

These things are also important to me - my daughters for obvious reasons, and they are a massive positive to me.

But privately renting is a constant source of anxiety. Its a lovely flat, don't get me wrong, but I am here at someone else's whim - renewal time is up shortly and I do not know if it will be renewed or at what price. A flat opposite just went up for rent at £200pcm more than here.

My UC supports my rent - and although I have been here for almost 3yrs, the Local Housing Allowance only just used the same figure as my rent in the UC calculation. My property is only a 2-bed, but because of the ages of my children I get a 3-bed rate. Its pure fluke the LHA matches my rent.

Don't get me wrong, the UC is crucial. It helps me get decent meals for my children as well as afford my rent. I can keep a little back for surprises for the girls too.

But I know, without my job, if I was just on UC as unemployed, I would be lost. I'd not be able to keep this flat, I'd not be able to keep a good life for my girls. They are teenagers now and would likely (and understandably) want to move back in with their mother who owns a good house and has a well paid job.

I came back on to UC around 3yrs ago - before the Cost of Living Crisis took effect. Losing the £86pcm Covid "uplift" at the time was tough but I switched things around and we managed. I even think back then if I lost my job I would have coped.

But things are just too expensive at the moment, and although I can save a little towards doing things with the girls, my debt is increasing now. But as they will be leaving the nest in a few years, I am taking the risk of more debt to create memories with them.

Without my paid employment none of this would be possible. My job is me.