Single mum says ‘cruel’ Universal Credit cut is matter of survival for her family

Gemma Widdowfield says the £20 Unviersal Credit cut ‘is a matter of survival’ for her family and says she cannot understand how the Government is ‘intentionally going to put six million families into spiralling debt’

A hard-working single mum has described the decision to end the Universal Credit uplift as “cruel and immoral”.

Gemma Widdowfield, 36, spent 11 years as a police officer before changing jobs after the birth of daughter Poppy, three.

Now a senior investigations officer at her local council, she said the extra £20-a-week made her feel “comfortable and assured”.

But she fears sacrifices will have to be made once the welfare cut kicks in – and could force her to use credit cards again.

Gemma, from near Luton, Beds., said: “Having that £86 extra a month – it just felt normal. I was able to pay all my bills and not live a life of poverty.

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“My little girl would never know about any financial struggles, with the extra £86 a month.

“It helped pay for her clothes – children grow very fast, and especially grow out of shoes. It helped pay for her food as well.

“I couldn’t tell you, ‘this one pound paid for that, this one pound paid for that’.

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“But, at the beginning of the month when I did my budget, I just felt comfortable and assured that I could pay all my bills.

“It’s not a matter of greed, or living a life of luxury – this is a matter of survival.”

Gemma, a campaigner for Save the Children, went on to criticise those in power over their failures.

“In this day and age in Great Britain, I can’t understand how the government is intentionally going to put approximately six million families into spiralling debt,” she said.

“It’s really not acceptable.”