A disabled benefits claimant has condemned Conservative proposals to cut Universal Credit for long-term claimants and block spending on cigarettes, alcohol and gambling, saying the plans would punish people like her who already live frugally.
Erica Crompton, who cares for her fiancé Paul and lives with schizoaffective disorder, said the party's plan would cut Universal Credit by 30% for anyone unemployed for more than six months and put them on a 'Back to Work' card that blocks cash withdrawals and spending on those items. The Conservatives estimate this would save around £538m a year.
'Living proof' that benefits are not a choice
Crompton said the announcement insinuates that being on benefits is a choice, but she is 'living proof that’s far from the truth'. She cares 35 hours a week for Paul, who uses a wheelchair full-time, and manages her own condition, which can include symptoms of psychosis.
She described experiencing delusions, such as believing the police are spying on her and that the world wants her dead, which have led to suicide attempts. After a decade of full-time work and repeated relapses, she now works part-time – roughly 16 hours per week – and has seen a marked improvement in relapses, though she remains tired.
Living within means on £16K a year
Crompton receives Universal Credit and PIP totalling £1,100 a month, including £338 for rent. She said she lives within her means on about £16K a year, shopping at Aldi, buying secondhand clothes, and saving on TV licences by not owning a television. She also spends £20 for a WWOOF subscription to work on farms in exchange for food and accommodation.
She said the small luxuries she affords – designer perfumes, weekend breaks, nice clothes – help promote her wellbeing. She pays VAT on everything she buys and noted that her benefits lifestyle has cost her friendships, with ex-boyfriends calling her a 'loser'.
Plans won't cure psychosis or make Paul walk
Crompton argued the Tory plans would not cure her psychosis or make Paul walk again, and that branding claimants as criminals creates divisions and spreads misinformation about disabled people. She said disabled people who receive benefits are 'no less deserving of nice things than anyone else'.
A version of this article was originally published on October 28, 2023.
