I AM a working mum who has for some years had to claim Family Credit to make up my "over generous" wage of £3.80 per hour for caring throughout the night for a disabled lady (a job I enjoy despite the pay and conditions).

I have to work like this in order to be able to bring up my children.

Until April this year, I was able to collect my Family Credit (Working Families Tax Credit) at my local post office along with my Child Benefit.

We have survived well. I do not owe any money except regular debts -- gas, electricity, etc. I do not smoke or drink by the way.

When my benefit was due for renewal in May, I received a shock. In fact, I'm worried sick and I feel sure there are lots more like me out there -- mums, dads and families.

The problem is this: on June 6, I received a girocheque as I am not allowed to get my benefit through a payment book any more. This was for the period May 30 to June 12. I have a further two giros to come -- on June 20 and July 4 -- each with two weeks' money to take me through to July 10.

The problem is what happens next you see, I am paid every four weeks and my employer, after July 10 is obliged to pay my benefit in with my wage.

My pay date is July 20 and, so, on that date I will receive four weeks' wages plus nine days' benefit. I will then have to wait until August 17 to get my next wage and four weeks' benefit paid in arrears.

As I use my wage to pay my bills by direct debit and my benefit for food and transport costs, etc., I just don't know how I will manage.

I have not got enough money to hold on to four weeks' benefit to see us through and I cannot miss paying my bills, so what do I have to manage on?

I rang the Tax Credits Helpline and was told that many, many more are now in my situation and soon others will discover that they are too.

I'm at my wits end. The bank will not allow me to overdraw by that amount and if they would, I could not pay it back. I don't want to borrow money.

What can I do? Far from helping working families, this Labour government has put us in an awful situation.

We are not lazy we are hard working, underpaid and barely coping, in a country where, a recent report says, one in five children live in poverty in this country.

Shame on you, Labour government. We work just as hard in our own way as all you ministers with your high wages and perks.

Try living (and understanding) the needs of your fellow countrymen -- all of us from babies through mums and dads to pensioners and suffering at your hands!

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