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A working mum fears she may have to resort to using a food bank over Christmas after strict Universal Credit rules left her with just £64 to pay her bills.

Single mum Gayle Paterson said she was reduced to tears after being told her £650 benefits would be cut due to rules around wage payment dates.

The 46-year-old works part-time as a home shopper at Asda in Southbank,Middlesbrough, and gets paid every four weeks.

The Department of Work and Pensions claim that the wages she received from her employer on November 8 and December 6 fall into the same assessment period - which is from November 8 to December 7.

They basically say Gayle has been paid twice - despite her payments being received in different months.

Gayle said that if she had been paid from Asda just one day later she would have been entitled to her normal Universal Credit payment of £650.

Instead she's got £64.

(Image: Teesside Live/Katie Lunn)

Gayle, from Teesville, said: "I'm just absolutely devastated.

"I have always worked to top up my wage. Before I worked in Asda I worked part-time in Superdrug for 10 years.

"I work so hard only for this to happen. It makes me question what I am working for!

"It's the worst time of year. I've got no money to pay for anything. I won't even be able to buy little things like Christmas cards for people.

"People come into work to get Christmas bits and they ask if I have done all my Christmas shopping.

"I lie to them because I feel like I can't say no.

"How are you expected to manage? I feel like there is no support out there."

Gayle said that she uses her ASDA wage to pay half of her rent and bills for her car, which she uses to get to work at 5am.

She relies on her Universal Credit payment to pay for the second half of her rent and the rest of her bills.

Gayle said that she contacted the Department of Work and Pensions and they said they couldn't do anything about her situation.

(Image: Teesside Live/Katie Lunn)

She said: "When they put the phone down I was left there sitting on my bed crying. I was thinking what now?

"They won't give me a Universal Credit loan, they said that I earn too much.

"I'm going to end up in arrears because I can't afford to pay my rent, my water rates and my gas and electricity.

"I had to go to the food bank when I changed over to Universal Credit in January as I had no payment for six weeks.

"I worry that I will have to go to the food bank this month.

"I'm sure there will be other people in my situation."

Gayle, who is separated from her ex-husband, lives with her son Thomas, 20, and her daughter Charlotte, 18.

She said that her children, who work part-time while studying, struggle to help her out with the bills.

Gayle said: "We go to bed early on a night so it's warm because we can't afford to put the heating on.

"We shouldn't have to live like this."

A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: " Due to the amount of income Ms Paterson has had in the past six months she is unable to receive an advance at this time, but her work coach can provide advice on budgeting support and further help that may be available.

"Assessment periods are fixed at the point of when a person makes a claim, and if two months’ wages are paid in the same period then either the previous Universal Credit payment or the next one will be higher to reflect this."