CHRISTMAS IS all about giving, but not for single mum Debbie Hughes, who this year has been left heartbroken by the fact that she couldn’t afford to buy her children Thomas, 9, and Olivia, 13, a single present.
With mum Debbie £2,000 in debt and struggling to get by on Universal Credit the children’s small pile of gifts were kindly donated by a local charity and their school.
While many children across the country were working their way through mountains of presents this morning, Thomas and Olivia were thrilled to unwrap a craft set, crayons and a game of Guess Who? from local charity Coventry Mission.
“The kids were ecstatic, it was so nice of them,” said Debbie, who has been forced to rely on food banks six times in the past year.
“I felt like a failure, knowing I can’t get my children presents. The charities are amazing – I don’t know what I have done without their kindness.”
Debbie, who works unpredictable hours as a healthcare assistant in a local hospital, says Universal Credit has left the family so poor that her daughter’s school had to buy her new shoes.
“My daughter had the sole of her shoe hanging off and she was threatened with detention because I can’t afford the shoes,” she says. “I’ll fight her corner – why should she get punished when it’s not her fault but mine?”
‘I was ready to top myself’
This is the second Christmas that Debbie and her kids have had to go without due to Universal Credit.
“Last Christmas I was ready to top myself, if it wasn’t for the children, I would have given up,” says Debbie, who spoke to The Sun Online as part of our Make Universal Credit Work Campaign.
“I felt like I was drowning, I’ve never been in so much financial hardship in my whole life, I’ve never experienced anything like it,” she says.
Debbie had to reduce her hours due to ill health earlier this year, and is now desperate to get back to full-time work – but is worried how she’ll afford to pay her childcare upfront.
Under Universal Credit parents get 85 per cent of their child costs back – but they have to have the cash upfront to pay for it.
“I want to go back to work full time, more than anything,” says Debbie.
“But I know what will happen – they will say that I have to find a job just in school hours, an after school club, and they will want the money all up front. That will be a huge issue for me now.
“When I first started claiming UC they said they would pay my childcare, but they didn’t pay me back for six months.”
‘I need food banks to feed the kids’
It took Debbie six weeks to get her first Universal Credit payment – one week longer than the average.
In April she had to take out a debt relief order to pay back £14,000 of debt, but money is still very tight and she’s spiralling into debt once more.
She has been forced to sell a special necklace her mum gave her for just £30.
“Last week one of my friend’s parents turned up with a lovely hamper for us – tea bags, sugar, rice, gravy and other bits and bobs.
“I burst into tears, it was so lovely. I can’t afford to live now.”
Debbie’s children keep her going.
“My daughter is so lovely, she said ‘mummy it doesn’t matter as long as we have you’,” Debbie says.
“She’s such a beautiful child, she’s so considerate of what’s happening now.
“They are my life and I can’t provide for them.”
Are you on Universal Credit. Tell us your story! Email us: universalcredit@thesun.co.uk
The Sun wants to Make Universal Credit Work
Universal Credit replaces six benefits with a single monthly payment.
One million people are already receiving it and by the time the system is fully rolled out in 2023, nearly 7 million will be on it.
But there are big problems with the flagship new system – it takes 5 weeks to get the first payment and it could leave some families worse off by thousands of pounds a year.
And while working families can claim back up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, they must find the money to pay for childcare upfront – we’ve heard of families waiting up to 6 months for the money.
Working parents across the country told us they’ve been unable to take on more hours – or have even turned down better paid jobs or more hours because of the amount they get their benefits cut.
It’s time to Make Universal Credit work. We want the government to:
- Get paid faster: The government must slash the time Brits wait for their first Universal Credit payments from five to two weeks, helping stop 7 million from being pushed into debt.
- Keep more of what you earn: The work allowance should be increased and the taper rate should be slashed from from 63p to 50p, helping at least 4 million families.
- Don’t get punished for having a family: Parents should get the 85 per cent of the money they can claim for childcare upfront instead of being paid in arrears.
Together, these changes will help Make Universal Credit Work.
Join our Universal Credit Facebook group or email UniversalCredit@the-sun.co.uk to share your story.
She had been studying to be a paramedic before she got ill earlier this year but now she just can’t afford it.
Debbie used to get £670 a month on tax credits but now the amount she gets on Universal Credit varies every month due to how much she earns.
Anything she earns over her work allowance is taxed by the UC taper rate at 63p in every pound – and the extra income is then taken off her benefits payment.
And it was the first UC payment back in 2017 that caused her to get into debt.
Universal Credit claimants must wait five weeks for their first payment. During this time they can apply for an advance from the DWP, but this cash then comes
out of their subsequent payments.
MORE ON MAKE UNIVERSAL CREDIT WORK
What to do if you have problems claiming Universal Credit
IF you’re experiencing trouble applying for your Universal Credit, or the payments just don’t cover costs, here are your options:
Apply for an advance – Claimants are able to get some cash within five days rather than waiting weeks for their first payment. But it’s a loan which means the repayments will be automatically deducted from your future Universal Credit pay out.
Alternative Payment Arrangements – If you’re falling behind on rent, you or your landlord may be able to apply for an APA which will get your payment sent directly to your landlord. You might also be able to change your payments to get them more frequently, or you can split the payments if you’re part of a couple.
Budgeting Advance – You may be able to get help from the government to help with emergency household costs of up to £348 if you’re single, £464 if you’re part of a couple or £812 if you have children. These are only in cases like your cooker breaking down or for help getting a job. You’ll have to repay the advance through your regular Universal Credit payments. You’ll still have to repay the loan, even if you stop claiming for Universal Credit.
Cut your Council Tax – You might be able to get a discount on your Council Tax or be entitled to Discretionary Housing Payments if your payments aren’t enough to cover your rent.
Foodbanks – If you’re really hard up and struggling to buy food and toiletries, you can find your local foodbank who will provide you with help for free. You can find your nearest one on the Trussell Trust website.
A DWP spokesperson said: “Universal Credit is a force for good for the majority and jobcentre staff are committed to ensuring people get the right support this Christmas.
“It’s important that claimants apply for benefits when eligible, rather than retrospectively.”
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Link
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/i-feel-like-such-a-failure-after-charity-gave-my-kids-xmas-presents-and-i-cant-even-buy-food-says-mum-on-universal-credit/
News Pictures ‘I feel like such a failure after charity gave my kids Xmas presents – and I can’t even buy food’ says mum on Universal Credit
You don’t have to pack away your bikini just because you’re the wrong side of 20. These body-beautiful stars reveal their secrets to staying in shape and prove you can smoulder in a two-piece, whatever your age. Read on and be bikini inspired!
TEENS
Hayden Panettiere
Size: 8
Age: 18
Height: 5ft 1in
Weight: 8st
To achieve her kick-ass figure, Hayden – who plays cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes – follows the ‘quartering’ rule. She eats only a quarter of the food on her plate, then waits 20 minutes before deciding whether she needs to eat again.
Hayden says: “I don’t have a model’s body, but I’m not one of those crazy girls who thinks that they’re fat. I’m OK with what I have.”
Nicollette says: “I don’t like diets – I see it, I eat it! I believe in eating healthily with lots of protein, vegetables and carbs to give you energy.”
kim cattrall
Size: 10-12
Age: 52
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 9st 4lb
SATC star Kim swears by gym sessions with Russian kettle bells (traditional cast-iron weights) and the South Beach Diet to give her the body she wants. To avoid overeating, Kim has a radical diet trick – squirting lemon juice on her leftovers – so she won’t carry on picking.
Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
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