DWP pregnant mum-of-four says profit increase means household can have ‘magical Christmas’
Families across Britain have shared how scrapping the two-child benefit cap and other Budget changes will help them make ends meet this winter
Brits nationwide had been hoping this week’s Budget would help them make ends meet. Families surviving on benefits with three or more children will definitely be better off after the two-child cap was scrapped.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves faced a daunting £20 billion financial deficit following 14 years of devastating Tory austerity. Despite expectations of tax hikes, there is some positive news for families, especially those less affluent.
Unemployed pregnant mum-of-four Claire-Marie Bray will benefit from the changes brought in by the Labour Government. The Nuneaton 27-year-old and her partner Kieran, who receive Universal Credit, have struggled to stretch £200 a month to cover their family of six.
Labour’s decision to scrap the child benefit cap from April next year means “absolutely the world” to Claire-Marie’s family, who supplement their food shopping with visits to the food bank.
With Christmas just around the corner, this financial boost could also mean a more festive celebration for the family. “It will help massively,” Claire-Marie, told the Mirror.
“I’ve had to shop in charity shops for the bare basics for Christmas and we can now get something a bit nicer as well as a nice quality Christmas dinner. It would mean the world to me to see their little faces…it will be a magical Christmas.”
She added: “Even an extra £50 a month would help. With the kids getting older they need more stuff and bigger clothes.
“My 6-year-old, she’s nearly 7, is having a growth spurt here and there, so it [the benefit cap being scrapped] would mean absolutely the world really.”
The removal of the cap also signifies that the family could start paying off debts that have been siphoning between £100 and £150 from their monthly budget. “It’s the constant worry of bailiffs coming to the door, they’ve come into the house and seen what goods we’ve got,” she continued.
“Luckily we’ve been able to sort out a payment plan but it’s that dread of ‘are they going to come to the house or not?’
“We are in debt with the gas and electric so that would definitely help. With having kids in the house, we’ve tried to keep the house as warm as possible.”
Claire-Marie and Kieran have established a GoFundMe to aid their family, which you can visit here.
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