I AM a single parent with three children and am finding it very hard financially.

I heard that single parents are better off working. I was claiming Income Support with incapacity benefit and thought about what I would be able to give my children if I was working - holidays, clothes and a good Christmas.

So I gave up my benefit and got a part-time job while my kids were at school so I didn't have to pay a child minder.

I was getting £133 on Income Support and incapacity and child benefit was £30.05.

My job, child benefit and family credit gave me an income of £199.94.

I thought that was great - until I got my wage and other money and had to pay £33 rent, £89 council tax and for school dinners costing £20.05 and bus fare to school. I ended up working for nothing.

So I gave up my job after two months. I couldn't go back on benefit and still had to pay rent. About five months later, I received a letter saying I owed £1,191.47 and am now facing eviction on July 8. Housing benefit was not being paid even though I did get a housing rebate.

I just want other single parents to know what I'm going through and that it isn't worth going to work as they could also lose their home like me and my kids, ending up with nothing and nowhere to go.

A VEEVERS, Ermine Close, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.