Disabled mum says Universal Credit is driving her to food banks ‘after losing hundreds of pounds a month’
A DISABLED Mum says she “can’t survive” after going on to Universal Credit and has been forced to food banks after losing hundreds of pounds.
Debbie Clark, 42, from Pontypool, who struggles with fibromyalgia, depression and PTSD says she’s struggled since she went onto the new flagship benefits system earlier this year.
She’s in arrears of around £800 on her house alone, with debts into the thousands, and has had a battle to keep her disabilities payments too.
Debbie, who lives in Pontypool with her three kids, told The Sun Online: “Since I went on to Universal Credit in February it’s been so hard.
“I’ve wished I wasn’t here anymore because I can’t give my kids a lovely warm house with food.
“I’ve been through so much already. That should have been our happily ever after.”
The DWP has now offered Debbie a more manageable package so she can pay back her debts over a longer period - after being approached by The Sun Online. That will save her around £80 a month.
She’s just one of hundreds who claim they have struggled on the new benefits system, Universal Credit, which rolls six payments into one.
It’s being put in place across the country now, but is set to transfer existing benefits claimants starting from next year.
In last week's Budget the Chancellor announced that working people on Universal Credit would be able to earn £630 more - but help isn't set to come in for months, and other changes for years.
Debbie was forced to make a claim for Universal Credit when her PIP disabilities payments were stopped - even though she appealed the decision and won.
Since she first made a claim under the new system earlier this year, Debbie’s had to go to food banks several times because “we can’t survive”.
And she’s been forced to apply for discretionary payments to get money to pay her bills.
“It’s crazy, it’s making me even more ill,” she added.
“I hate it, there should be another way. If you’re in trouble you have to go begging to food banks and friends for money.
“My neighbour and I, who is also on her own with kids, are sharing milk and sugar for tea.
“All my money goes on the house, food, gas and electric, with not enough to pay the rest. It’s not right.”
She now gets around £750 a month, for a basic Universal Credit entitlement, support for her children. Her carer’s allowance and her £350 PIP disabilities money are paid on top, but some get deducted from her benefits.
Universal Credit was forced to pay her back extra in two instalments as well - because of errors they got wrong in the system.
But she was forced to take out £1,200 in advance loans to keep her going and pay bills while waiting for her first payment - which took weeks to arrive.
Her repayments were £116 every month but will now be around £30 after help from The Sun.
And Debbie's also had another bit of good news - she's been able to be paid fortnightly now rather than monthly so she can better manage her budget.
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Debbie says she was getting at least £1,600 a month under the old benefits system, and now has to cope with far less.
But the DWP said the reason for the change was she was getting paid some benefits before that she was no longer entitled to.
“I haven’t got a clue what I’ll do about Christmas,” she added.
“I just want to have a happy day for us all.
“And of course it’s getting colder too, I’m dreading it but there’s nothing we can do about it.
“It’s just not getting any better - all I want in life is to be happy.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “All payments owed to Ms Clark have now been made, and she is now receiving more on Universal Credit than on the old system.”
This week it was reported that a nine-year-old girl asked for a job to help feed her family after Universal Credit left her Dad skint.
But then officials said it was too late to scrap the new programme entirely - despite all the problems that it's had.
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