Single mum on Universal Credit claims getting better job has landed her in debt
A single mum on Universal Credit claims she's financially worse off and in debt after getting a better job.
Hollie Wilson recently quit her eight hours a week job at Tesco to take up a communication and community officer role.
But she believes she would be better off back working at the supermarket, rather than trying to put her degree in Italian to good use because of child costs she's now having to pay.
Hollie, 34, from Yeovil, claims that the benefits system 'lacks common sense' and she's 'being punished' for trying to get back in to work.
She says she faces having to pay more than £800 for her youngest daughter's nursery fees, reports Somerset Live.
"A single parent on Universal Credit is unlikely to have a huge income, but one trying to better themselves by getting a new, better job, is now £70 a month in debt," she said of her situation.
“The government wants to get women back into work after having children, yet they have been the opposite of helpful with me."
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The Department for Work and Pensions said Hollie received £2,300 in Universal Credit in January.
But the mum claims she received £1,007 in January while her bills without food or petrol come to £1,056 a month.
Hollie applied for help with February’s £820 nursery fee on January 17.
"I’ve been offered £300 and I can apparently visit a food bank if I come back in and apply for a hardship scheme," she said.
"The way my assessment period works I’ve been deducted £300 from my Universal Credit payment today.
"If they did it from the beginning of the month to the end then I could have kept £250 of December’s wage and £250 of January.
"Instead, they say I’ve been paid twice in one month so they’ve deducted £300.
"I’m also in debt to them by nearly £70 a month to pay back the loan I took out to cover January’s nursery bill.
"I genuinely would have been better off financially not bothering to even get the Tesco job because now she’s (her daughter) in nursery already they won’t pay for anything to help me.
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"I honestly wish I didn’t apply for it but it’s too good an opportunity to pass up.
"It’s just so disheartening that I’m now in debt and will be struggling with money for the next month or two to the point that I might have to use a food bank in order to have a better job/life for my family.
"I’m feeling really stressed about it and can’t believe there isn’t a better option for women with children who get stung by huge nursery bills when they start a new job."
Hollie was a lecturer at Yeovil College when she became pregnant with her second daughter in 2018.
Needing help with housing for herself and two daughters, she was advised to enrol on the Universal Credit scheme.
As a single parent trying to start a career, Hollie says it's not enough to cover nursery fees.
In December 2019, she was offered a job as Communication and Community Officer.
Though happy with the thought of a new job, the increase in her working hours means that her youngest daughter will need to spend more time at nursery meaning a significant increase in nursery fees of around £600.
She said: “The job would be an excellent move, my degree is in Italian, and the job sounded really interesting with lots of opportunities. It would be silly to say no basically.
“The government wants to get women back into work after having children, yet they have been the opposite of helpful with me.
"It isn't that I expect £600 just given to me. I know that compared to many countries our benefits system is very helpful and could be called generous in some areas.
"However, a single parent having gone through a relationship break-up and change of work circumstances is NOT going to have money like this spare.
"I have actually felt like saying; 'Okay, I won't bother with the new job, I will stay at Tesco and you give me £1,356 a month for the next two or three years, thanks.'
"I've been worried and upset about it, I was even e-mailing them on Christmas day as it was on my mind.
"By trying to better myself, accepting a great job offer, I end up in this situation."
In response to Hollie's claims a DWP spokesperson said: “This month Ms Wilson has been paid around £2,300 in Universal Credit, including an advance and other funding. She will also receive 85% of her childcare costs back through Universal Credit.
“Ms Wilson is free to look for other work that utilises her degree, and Jobcentre staff will look for job opportunities for her.
"Universal Credit is a force for good, providing a vital safety net for people who are out of work or on low wages.
"It replaces an out-of-date, complex system, and latest statistics show more 2.8 million people across the UK are now supported by the benefit."
But Hollie said Universal Credit is not fit for purpose.
She said: "What else can they do for single working parents? Free childcare is an obvious answer but a Tory government won't entertain it."
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