`I have a daughter to bring up and I´m struggling to survive´
(The Guardian Money News)

Jason Cordingley, 41, on how he has battled to make ends meet and now hopes to move into teachingName: Jason CordingleyAge: 38Income: Occasional part -time casual work plus rent supportOccupation: Student I´ve lived all over the country but the only place I´ve really struggled to find work is Plymouth. I moved from Brighton more than a year ago after my ex moved here with our daughter. I have a decent CV with lots of experience and qualifications in areas like accountancy and graphic design but they don´t seem to be in demand here. This year I´ve had three jobs: a maternity cover PA role which ended when she returned early; an admin assistant job that went from temp to permanent but I was let go when their budget was cut; and cleaning bird mess off the warships in the dockyards. I apply for lots of jobs but am often told I´m overqualified and so they don´t take me on.From Christmas to May this year I was on universal credit and it was a nightmare. I received £406 a month towards rent but my accommodation at the time was £750 as I was living in a two-bedroom flat so my daughter could come and stay. I was left out of pocket. I hoped I wouldn´t be out of work for too long but in the end I had to move into a cheaper place. Now I´m stuck in a shared house, which isn´t exactly a great environment for my daughter. The situation is far from ideal. But at £450 including bills, at least the rent here is more affordable. Continue reading...