"Who Benefits" Campaign

Hi all, I added my story and found it really interesting writing it down.

When I started claiming benefits I was homeless and 7 months pregnant, I didn't know much about the benefits system before that. I was supported by housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support during my daughters childhood and I honestly don't know how life would have been without it. I knew that I was lucky to be given a roof over my head and enough money to pay the bills and feed us. It wasn't loads of money, but it was enough. Its not very often you get something for nothing in this life.

I thought I would always be tied into the benefits system and it was great to answer the two questions of the Who Benefits campaign and recognise, how much my life has moved on and how with the support of the benefits system I wouldn't be where I am today.

Thanks for listening! Please share story below as I think everyone has a story to tell. 

Hello All

I have worked for over 10 years as a single parent, I was pregnant when I started my job in August 2001.  Prior to having my child I was not aware of what my benefit entitlements were, as I had never claimed benefits before.  It was my Manager who advised my of my rights.  After the birth of my Child in March 2002, I get some housing benefit, after the Single Occupancy Benefit I pay all of Council Tax (not cheap), I claim Child Tax Credit, Child Benefit and WFT Credits.

Even though I get the above benefits and my monthly salary, I still struggle to pay the bills, eat healthy, pay for School Meals and have a "good life".

I think School meals for children should ALWAYS be free!

My Daughter is at Secondary School and in order to decide the best for her future, she attends to School which is a Bus journey away, again very costly.  So more finacial help is needed for Single Parents, it is almost as though Single Parents Children's can not have the best education either?  This is not fair on the Child.

When I hear how the Government claims that Benefits is a "life style choice", it angers me, because as a Single Mum, I have worked all through my Daughters life, I struggled and still do to make sure she gets the best in life.  And the Government is NOT making it easy us when they cut our Benefit Allowance.  

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, I hope you have found it to be of some help.

Benefits used to be called social security and named like this gave the feeling to everyone in need of assistance that they were entitled to it as citizens of a wealthy country. How sad is it that camaigns such as this are nessisary? Single parents are doing a great job they shouldn't have to justify their existance or their chidrens needs. Especially not on an individual basis. It feeds right into the trap that some who are in need are more deserving than others. And in the case of single parent famililies some children are more deserving than others. Something that I consider wrong.

I have had benefits twice - when my first (abusive) husband left us with nothing - no mortgage payments, no gas/electric/water/food money and 4 children aged 12 to 2- I received emergency income support for a couple of months till I found myself a job and then got tax credits.

When my second husband died and work became very unsympathetic I took a year out and then studied for three years. During that time I received housing benefit.

For the last two months I've only been getting a little bit of Child Tax Credits, so I am almost back to independence!  

I am so grateful that I've been able to rebuild my life and be trained in my dream job!

Jean our CSA expert once reminded me that Tax Credits are not Benefits, they are credit to top up our income! That always rather pleased me :)