A single mother has voiced her frustration and exhaustion with the Universal Credit system after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stopped a vital payment towards her child's nursery fees.
'So Tired of This Cycle': A Mother's Struggle
Katie-Mae, a first-time mum to a daughter named Ava, shared her story online. She explained that she must pay £541.89 every month for her daughter's nursery place. Until recently, Universal Credit was reimbursing her £189 of that substantial cost.
However, that crucial support has now been withdrawn. The DWP halted the payment because Katie-Mae is currently unemployed. "I’m so fed up with Universal Credit," she said. "They’ve now stopped it because I’m unemployed."
The Financial Strain of Single Parenthood
Katie-Mae detailed the immense pressure of trying to provide on a single income. As a sole parent without financial support from her child's father, her Universal Credit payment is her only source of money.
"How am I supposed to live off a small amount of money every single month with a child to provide for and a car to run?" she asked. The mother has been actively seeking employment but says her efforts have been met with repeated rejection. "I’m searching for jobs for so long... nobody is accepting me," she explained.
She expressed a strong desire to work, stating: "I want to be active, I want to work, I want to provide for my child, I don’t want to sit at home." She labelled the rule stopping her nursery support as "stupid" and reached out to others who might be in a similar situation.
Mixed Reactions: Support and Criticism Online
Her post attracted a wave of responses from followers. Many offered sympathy and solidarity, with comments like "I feel you girl" and "Sorry you are in this situation."
However, others were less supportive, leading to what Katie-Mae described as "nasty trolls" targeting her. Critical remarks included suggestions that she should not have had a child without being financially secure, and that running a car is a "luxury not a necessity."
Some commenters offered practical, if blunt, advice. One suggested: "Just get a basic job that requires no skills so that you’re employed and got the nursery, then start looking for something you want to do."
The case highlights the complex challenges faced by parents navigating the benefits system while seeking work, and the difficult trade-offs between childcare costs and the need to secure employment.
