If you’re on a low income or out of work, Universal Credit should be there to help you. But with just £98 per week available for single adults - does that really stretch when you’re adding up life’s essentials?
*The figures in this quiz are based on Joseph Rowntree Foundation research into the cost of essentials. They're average weekly costs across a year and different household circumstances. The examples in each question are illustrations of the kinds of essentials these costs need to cover.
£42 is what a single adult needs for a week of essential food and drink – that's around £6 a day.
Running the fridge. Cooking dinner. Keeping warm in winter or a fan on so you're not lying awake overheating in summer.
What's the cost of a basic week of gas and electricity?
£42 is what a single adult needs for a week of essential food and drink – that's around £6 a day.
Running the fridge. Cooking dinner. Keeping warm in winter or a fan on so you're not lying awake overheating in summer.
What's the cost of a basic week of gas and electricity?
£7 is a basic water bill for a single adult for a week – that has to include things like washing, showering and cooking.
You've got a job interview tomorrow. First impressions really matter and you need a smart shirt. What is a realistic weekly clothing budget?
£7 is a basic clothes and shoes budget needed for a single adult for a week - this would need to cover essentials like work wear and clothes to relax at home.
Nearly there - ordering repeat prescriptions, paying bills and searching for jobs online.
What's the weekly cost to stay connected with phone data, internet, or by post?
£7 is a basic clothes and shoes budget needed for a single adult for a week - this would need to cover essentials like work wear and clothes to relax at home.
Nearly there - ordering repeat prescriptions, paying bills and searching for jobs online.
What's the weekly cost to stay connected with phone data, internet, or by post?
£13 is how much all those other things we need add up to for one person for a week.
Finally, be honest. Do you think £98 actually covers it?
£13 is how much all those other things we need add up to for one person for a week.
Finally, be honest. Do you think £98 actually covers it?
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates that a single adult needs roughly £120 to cover the essentials. Universal Credit gives you £98. That's a £22 debt - every week - just to get by.
When it was decided how much Universal Credit should be, no one looked at what food costs. Nor heating. Nor getting the bus. The amount given has never been checked against what people actually need.
We're calling on the UK Government to check the cost of essentials and ensure Universal Credit is enough to afford them. Will you add your name to help pile on the pressure? It takes 30 seconds.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation calculated that a single adult needs roughly £120 to cover essentials. Universal Credit gives you £98. That's a £22 debt - every week - just to get by.
When it was decided how much Universal Credit should be, no one looked at what food costs. Nor heating. Nor getting the bus. The amount given has never been checked against what people actually need.
We're calling on the UK Government to check the cost of essentials and ensure Universal Credit is enough to afford them. Will you add your name to help pile on the pressure? It takes 30 seconds.
