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The reality facing families struggling with poverty at Christmas has been highlighted by one mother's heartbreaking account.

The struggling mum, who does not want to be identified says she has been resorted to putting free sugar sachets in her little girl's stocking.

She says the switch to Universal Credit has left her barely able to cope.

According to the Mirror the woman has also been forced to recycle rubbish to make Christmas decorations.

She told iNews how her family cannot afford ice-skating or pantomimes like others.

She hopes she will be able to get hold of a branch to use as a Christmas tree.

The woman said: "I sometimes feel like stealing food from my friends' cupboards and this hurts my heart.

"I look out of the window and envy people with cars who are going out, going to the cinema, affording hair cuts and new clothes while I struggle to get food every day.

"Thank you Universal Credit for the extra sadness and pain and hurt."

(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Eager to stop such sadness affecting her daughter, the mum started collecting sugar packets from a cafe along with shampoo and pens from charity shops to put in her stocking.

In another bid to spread some festive cheer she has plans to make Christmas crackers using free cosmetic samples and toilet rolls donated by her landlady.

The family's problems began in proper when they moved town so the disabled daughter could get more support.

Not being able to afford a removal van meant they were only able to bring a suitcase of clothes and school items.

The family's "lovely cats" - who had provided emotional comfort to the daughter - had to be left behind.

For Christmas dinner the family will tuck in to a small joint of gammon that the mum bought from the reduced section of a supermarket and has stored in a friend's freezer.

Not having access to an oven, she plans on using a clothes iron to heat up saucepans and some candles to boil water for coffee.

Although the mum does admit that she could have saved up each week in the months running up to Christmas, she was forced into debt earlier this year by emergency accommodation that cost nearly £1,000 a month.

The family's dire financial circumstances mean the daughter goes to school each day without having had breakfast and unlikely to get any lunch, with only a selection of reduced sandwiches to look forward to when she comes home.

The situation has left the woman feeling "broken, undermined, useless and destroyed."

When asked about the case a spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said: "The majority of people are comfortable managing their money but for those who struggle our Jobcentre staff are able to offer budgeting support.

"We have also recently agreed a partnership with Citizens Advice to help vulnerable people make their benefit claims."

What is Universal Credit?

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