A grandmother on Universal Credit has told of how she has around £6 per day to survive after being diagnosed with cancer.
Jen Marsden, 43, has just £188 to live on after paying her rent, Hertfordshire Mercury reports.
She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in June and went on Universal Credit after being told she was unfit to work while undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.
The nan, from Hemel Hempstead, said she's worried about being able to buy Christmas presents for her grandsons as she struggles to get by.
Jen said: "I worked in a café in a council office making food, coffees and serving tables Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm, so it was full on.
"The doctor asked what job I did and said I would not be able to work.
"I would also be at the hospital which was a 40 minute drive to Mount Vernon Cancer Hospital in Middlesex.”
Jen's medical team said she wouldn't be able to work while receiving treatment and so she had to apply for benefits.
“I had to apply online to get Universal Credit and wait for an appointment to discuss my situation,” she said.
Jen said continually having to go to her GP to get notes saying she wasn't fit to work so she could claim benefits was extremely stressful.
She said: "It hasn't been easy, it's been a battle and constant worry.
"I've had to forget about my debts, as it's hard enough keeping food, electricity and gas on.
"I spoke to my debtors and they've been great and put it on hold due to my situation.
“I've had great family support so I've been lucky, but I don't burden them with it all.”
Jen is paid £688 a month but says £500 of this goes on her rent, leaving her just £188 to live on and pay her bills.
"I've had days where I don't eat and it's embarrassing, because you don't want to say ‘I've got no money, can you help?’,” she continued.
“It certainly can make you depressed and can make you cut yourself off from people because you can't afford to do anything.
"Before I got ill I worked 40 hours a week, I earned my money, it wasn't a great wage but I had a life enjoying a night out with the girls and doing things with the family."
The doting grandmother is also worried about not being able to buy Christmas presents for her grandsons Jacob, three months, two-year-old Barnaby.
She said: "I've got mixed emotions about Christmas this year.
“One feeling is it's going to be the best Christmas ever. The second is about how many Christmas days are left and how am I going to make it to Christmas?
What are 'advance payments'?
The most common form of support offered to claimants while moving onto Universal Credit is an 'advance Payment' – a loan valued at up to 100% of your first Universal Credit payment, paid back through deductions in your monthly payments as soon as they begin.
Claimants can choose the amount of Advance Payment they apply for, but they must be paid back within 12 months of the payment.
From October 2021, the Government plans to change the repayment period to 16 months, to improve affordability.
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"On December 2, I find out if the cancer has gone, so I may be back to hospital appointments or I might be on cloud nine, but let's hope the last one.”
The family has decided to do a secret Santa to make things easier for everyone.
"Financially it won't be great for me,” she said.
“The family are pulling together and we're just doing secret Santa, but obviously I will be getting my two Grandsons something.
"I don't know how much I get paid until the 18th of each month, so it will just go on food and heating, then a little something for my grandsons.
"I don't know how people cope. There will be some who are far worse off than me and that is so sad, especially in these times.
"Being on universal credit makes you feel weak, useless that you can't support yourself. You feel depressed and a failure because you can't buy the most basic things in life.
"Christmas is coming and the only thing I can think of is I've got my family and they have me, money doesn't get you that."
She said: "The hardest thing was telling my family I had cancer.
“I had to say it to my mum, sister, brother and my children and their partners and to see all of your family cry is the worst feeling.
"It's been hell and a very lonely feeling. Even though you have family and friends around you it's hard to talk to them.
"I've had my breakdowns in front of them but it hurts more when you do, as you see their faces, so you end up protecting them from it.
"The treatment itself has been tough. Side effects get worse and worse. Not having the energy to do the simple ask is frustrating, so you go through every bad emotion.
"The hospital staff are fantastic and the other cancer patients you meet laugh and talk about all sorts."
A DWP spokesperson said: "Under Universal Credit people can get paid urgently if they need it and 95% of payments are made in full and on time.
"We currently spend over £95 billion a year on welfare and also offer support with budgeting."