As the Government prepares to reveal tens of billions of pounds in spending cuts Channel 4 News speaks to a single mum and a disabled pensioner about their fears for the future.
The planned spending cuts are causing controversy across the country. Charities say the vulnerable will be hardest hit; unions are refusing to rule out strike action.
More than £80bn will be slashed from public spending later in a bid to reduce Britain’s record debt.
Everyone will be affected in one way or another.
The coalition says the most vulnerable will be protected from the worst of the spending cuts but not everyone is convinced.
I’m already struggling so it’s going to be very, very hard. Fatma Omar, Single mum
Single mum
Fatma Omar is a single mum from North London. She has fallen into debt and is now facing eviction from her privately-rented accommodation.
The 20-year old relies on benefits to look after her 11 month old son and already knows her income will be reduced: “I’m worried about housing benefit and I’ve already got a letter from tax credit telling me by April next year my money is going to be cut.
“I’m going to get less than I’m getting now. I’m already struggling so it’s going to be very, very hard.”
Childcare
Fatma told Channel 4 News she would work if she could afford the cost of childcare: “For me as a single mum I need someone to babysit my child. I can go to work it’s not a problem but childcare is so much.
“I would like David Cameron to think about mothers who have got kids. If I look at my budgets right now it’s so tight. It is a stressful time because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow…I’m worried. I’m always worried.”
Zacchaeus 2000 Trust is a charity which helps those on low incomes deal with debt and claims from statutory authorities.
Its Chief Executive Joanna Kennedy told Channel 4 News people on low incomes face tough times ahead: “The rhetoric coming from the Government about living on benefit being a lifestyle choice and attacks on benefit fraud suggest we are being softened up for even more cuts to welfare payments in the spending review.
“Anecdotes of fraud and scrounging present a completely unfair picture of the overwhelming majority of benefit claimants working hard but who are either living on wholly inadequate low wages or are desperately poor and debt ridden living on the deep poverty benefit of £65.45 per week.”
Many members of this country are in a similar condition to myself..we need to put out the lifeline and if that lifeline is not there it’s going to be a tragedy. David Gower, disabled pensioner
Disabled pensioner
David Gower is a disabled pensioner from Luton. The 75-year old suffers from a serious neurological condition which doctors have been unable to diagnose.
He is wheelchair bound and relies on carers visiting him four times a day to help with basic tasks like washing, dressing and cooking.
David, who worked for British Railways for more than 30 years, currently receives the Attendance Allowance from the Government. It is a tax-free benefit for people over 65 who need help because they are physically or mentally disabled.
Benefit fears
David is worried the benefit may be reduced or taxed: “I use that money to pay for extra care. For instance I can’t do my own washing or my own cleaning so I rely on that sum to help with my disabled facilities.”
He is also concerned about cuts in other areas: “If the coalition does away with funding to local councils the voluntary organisations will just fold. You can’t expect a voluntary organisation to be trained up to care standards to help me. This to me is a serious concern.
“Many members of this country are in a similar medical condition to myself and many are far worse. But boy, we need to put out the lifeline and if that lifeline is not there it’s going to be a tragedy.”
Social care
Charity Age UK fears social care is vulnerable to cuts. Director Michelle Mitchell has told Channel 4 News the implications of a reduction in funding would be very serious: “There is already a crisis in social care funding with a predicted spending gap of £6bn by 2026 between predicted budget increases and the rising needs of an ageing population.
“It goes without saying that any cuts in social care spending would be utterly disastrous, for example 25 per cent cuts would mean half a million older people losing their social care.”