It’s not unusual for a 23-year-old grandmother to go to bed hungry. In fact, she may go without for days.
This is not something she does of her own volition. The cupboards are bare, she has no money for food and debt collectors could come to her house at any moment. It’s a never-ending struggle that has left the 51-year-old woman spiraling into a pit of despair.
“I try to live each day as it comes, but I find myself unable to get out of bed because I can’t see anything but the situation I’m in,” said the woman, who has 23 grandchildren. Manchester Evening News.
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“I can’t do this because I have a grandson to take care of. I try to face every challenge that comes my way. When I think about it, I just break down because I don’t know what else to do.”
The grandmother, who lives in the Leigh area of Wigan and wishes to remain anonymous, says she started to struggle financially last year. Despite cutting back on everything she could, from walking everywhere to only buying essentials, she soon found herself unable to afford her bills.
“We were really struggling,” said a mother looking after one of her grandchildren. “Everything was getting really difficult. Prices were going up all the time.
“I always said you could buy a tub of margarine in the supermarket for £1 and the next day it would be £2. Suddenly everything had doubled.
“Last year I noticed that prices were reaching unreal levels and shopping was becoming a struggle. I would walk instead of taking the bus, saving £2 there and £2 back. It wasn’t much, only £4 at the end of the day, but it could go towards something. That’s how it started.”
Last year, when her dire financial situation spiralled out of control, she decided to turn to her local Household Support Fund. The Household Support Fund is a pool of cash provided to local councils, and the money is distributed to people struggling with bills or on low incomes.
Uncertainty over the future of the fund has frightened many Britons recently, with the life-saver saying he doesn’t know where he would be without it, and it is due to end on September 30.
The major cost-of-living adjustment has been extended five times since 2021. And there’s a chance it could be extended once more — meaning millions of households could qualify for one-time payments or checks this winter.
The grandmother, who previously owned a cafe, said the thought of losing her vital source of income terrified her. “I’ve only accessed it a few times,” she said.
“They send out food vouchers for food banks, it’s about £10, it doesn’t seem like a big deal but the amount of food you can get is huge. It’s a huge help. You can also get gas and electricity for £20 a week. When you need that and you’ve got nothing, it’s an essential lifeline.”
While he knows that some people may abuse the system, he makes sure to access the service only when he has no other option.
“I heard he might be leaving and I’m not going to lie, it worried me,” he added. “Not having something to fall back on when you need it.
“It can be a struggle, it really can be. It’s not our fault the cost of living is going up. I don’t work; I’m on benefits. I’d be devastated to see it go, to be honest.
“We don’t want to have to use these services. I’ve worked my whole life, since I was 15. I’ve had my own businesses. This is a situation I never thought I’d be in.
“I try not to use too much; we do the best we can. I understand there is limited funding. I know a lot of people who abuse the system, but I don’t want to be that person. There are going to be people who need it more than I do that week.”
The most typical form of assistance from the Household Support Fund is usually one-off payments or energy and supermarket vouchers.
The service was due to end on September 30 – but reports from The Financial Times and the BBC suggest the Treasury could extend it once more. The Household Support Fund was introduced at the height of the cost of living crisis in October 2021, with initial funding of £500m.
She also has access to not-for-profit online lending company Fair for You. The organisation was set up to provide finance to families who don’t have access to mainstream credit so they can buy goods for their homes directly from manufacturers. The grandmother used the service to shop for groceries and buy white goods.
Despite much-needed help, he says he is struggling to pay off his £5,000 debt to the gas and electricity company and expects to be visited by debt collectors in the coming days.
“I’m still struggling with debt and I need a visit at the door,” he added. “I’m just getting into a bit of a mess.”
The grandmother says this sad situation leaves her hungry for days, but she also adds that she hates having empty cupboards when her grandchildren come to visit.
“I can go without food for several days. I don’t know hunger. This is what I do when there’s not enough.
“One of my sons came and opened the fridge and said, ‘It’s empty, your cupboards are empty’, I had basics like milk and margarine. I might have had a few boxes in my cupboards.
“I don’t have any treats for my grandchild or grandchildren. When Fair For You came on board, I was able to go and give them treats. A hug in your bag; that sense of comfort knowing you have that support.
“You used to have to rummage through my closets to find things. Now, I see that’s not the case anymore.”
A government spokesman said: “This government will heal the wound of poverty by making work pay and improving support to help people get into good jobs. More details about the Household Support Fund will be announced in due course.”