A Universal Credit claimant has shared their painful experience of trying to live on just £300 a month, a sum they say “is not enough at all.” On a popular Reddit forum, they described going hungry and struggling month after month to make ends meet.
Despite having qualifications, their attempts to secure entry-level employment have been repeatedly unsuccessful. “No one will hire me without experience,” they explained, highlighting the difficult catch-22 faced by many jobseekers. Their frustration with the job hunt is compounded by the impersonal nature of online applications, where AI systems scan résumés, often leaving candidates overlooked.
“I even paid a career coach to review my CV, and the Job Centre said it was fine,” they said. “But I keep getting denied. I’m sick of living like this. At this point, I feel fed up with life in general.”
READ MORE: UK households must act by February 27 to secure £150 energy bill discount
READ MORE: New Parisian Gelato Boutique with Flower-Shaped Ice Creams Set to Open in Birmingham
Living outside a town limits their options further. “I can’t move to a different place; I’m stuck,” they said, adding that sparse savings — just £100 — offer little comfort. Bills consume what little they manage to set aside. “It’s disgusting,” they lamented. “I have deep hatred for those in power causing this suffering. It’s obvious the system just isn’t enough to live on.”
The reply from the community included practical advice: one recommended booking an appointment with Citizens Advice, which can offer help ranging from access to food banks and local charities to assistance with utility bills. Another suggested volunteering to gain work experience, or checking with temp agencies for short-term roles to build a résumé. They reminded the user that Universal Credit doesn’t need to be closed if temp work begins, as earnings are reported automatically and benefits adjust accordingly.
Fellow forum users shared their own stories of hardship, resonating with the claimant’s experience. One described scraping by after redundancy, with no social life and a tough job market, while another admitted struggling on £160 a month after rent despite living in the city.
Citizens Advice emphasizes that their support is free, confidential, and available online, over the phone, and in person — aiming to provide practical advice for people facing financial difficulties.