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Around 22million people in the UK claim benefits and the system has long been criticised for its complexity. Alicia Cartwright has had to rely on the benefits system for 17 years and still struggles with it - even though she says she could consider herself an expert. The mum-of-two said the main issue she faces each month is how the DWP work out how much you can get which has put her a major strain on her finances as well as her mental health.

Nearly 20 years ago, Alicia was working 40 to 50-hour weeks as a carer, but when she became pregnant with her first child, she started to face medical complications. These complications meant she couldn't work, and being unable to cover her bills, Alicia found herself having to claim benefits for the first time. She told The Mirror : "I didn't think I would be entitled to benefit for some reason, but I was and it was a massive relief because while it wasn't a lot, it let me pay my bills, it allowed me to not become homeless.



So it was a safety net." Since then, Alicia's health has caused her to fall in and out of work. She currently works four part-time admin jobs and claims a Universal Credit top-up alongside Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Child benefit.

Overall, Alicia says the benefits system has been "complex" and at points "incredibly confusing" to manage, adding: "I feel like it's not set up by people who've ever claimed benefits." "When I first started claiming, it was daunting, it was very intimidating and confusing and.

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