Could you survive on the Dole?

Its just gone up. You get �60.35 ish for an over 25. However you will only get all your rent rebated if you live in social housing. In private they pay a local housing allowance depending on the size of house you need, not the size you are in. So a single person who did have wife and kids in a three bedroomed house, loses job, wife and kids leave, he gets the rate for a one bedroomed place, even if hes in a three bedroomed place. happens a lot. You still have gas, electric and water, tv licence to pay at the same rate. Normally leaves you about �15 to eat. But you need bus fares cos on the dole you are obliged to apply for a certain number of jobs per week. If you dont your dole is stopped. Where I live the cheapest bus is �2.40 per day. So �7.20 of your �15 is going on job hunting. What i really love about benefits is the way people who have never claimed them go on about how those who do live in the lap of luxury. I know people who havent eaten for days, who sleep in their coats cos they cant afford heating, who walk everywhere even in the pissing rain cos they have no bus fare. If you dont have family to feed you and help out, you are really stuffed.