Francesca's experience of Universal Credit

I'm a 22 year old single mother who has been on Universal Credit since February 2019. I had to go onto this benefit when I got a new house. I was told there would be a five week wait for my first payment. So my local social security office advised me to take out a loan and an advance payment. I'm young and needed money to provide for my son and my house so I took it.

Of course, who wouldn’t? its money to help you out!!! Well, I was so so wrong and foolish for thinking that as I waited nine weeks without being paid any Universal Credit. .... My loan that I took out was to get my necessities for my son and home. When my first Universal Credit payment went in, I couldn’t wait to have money. So I went onto my Universal Credit journal and saw that I only got £127 to do me for two weeks. I didn’t realise that they were taking £42.34 out of my payments to pay back my loans. Ever since I have been on this horrendous "benefit", all I've done is cry and borrow money off my family. It makes me feel awful taking money of my own family but I need to think of my son, he needs me. It has affected my mental health as all I do is worry about my bills and getting by day by day on so little money. I've been on this benefit nearly a year and my money situation still hasn’t been sorted.

Please anyone who is going onto this benefit please save up as much money as you can. It doesn't matter what age you are you'll still struggle on Universal Credit. My message for anyone who reads this blog is that this benefit is not a good idea and something needs to be done about this. From my experience, I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone or any family.

Through the project I’ve been involved with, I have met the most amazing people that are going through the same thing. It's good to talk to them and listen to everybody's stories because now I don’t feel alone. This project is the best thing I have participated in, I hope to walk away from this project with friends for life who do care about your feelings, and your opinions. I now feel like I can express how I’m feeling without feeling silly or upset #UCUSNOW!!