A man struggling to cope with the rising cost of living cannot always afford to turn the heating on in his home. Mohammed Ali, 41, a former takeaway worker, finds it difficult to budget for food and other bills while claiming Universal Credit.
Desperate to get back into work, Mr Ali claims he had more money when he worked full-time. The father-of-four believes that everyone in the UK is facing the same problem when it comes to rising prices, particularly gas, electricity and food.
He said his family was 'managing' while he searches for a job. Having previously been employed as a forklift driver and pizza takeaway worker, Mr Ali has spent the last two years on benefits.
Mr Ali is a British citizen having moved to Huddersfield from Iraq 17 years ago. Despite the issues he says he loves living there, reports Yorkshire Live.
"Shopping is very hard now," he says. "Sometimes we can't turn the heating on. Everything (bills) is high." Mr Ali has noticed the rising price of supermarket cooking oil and of taxi fares.
"I have lived in Huddersfield for 17 years. Wages were very good. Now we can't manage. It's okay but the money I get is for my kids and my wife and for rent. We have no holidays. The last time was 2015 when we went to Sweden and Holland as a family."
Mr Ali says that, after the rent has been paid, the family does not have a lot of money left over to pay for other things. One of the main problems of being unemployed is finding something to do, he says.
"It's not horrible (being on Universal Credit). People need something to do. I keep looking (for work) and asking friends for work. I have been looking for a job for two or three months."
Friends have told him they are looking out for a job for him and he says he's keen to start earning a wage again. "If you work, you get more money than Universal Credit. I got £300 a week after tax when I was working."
Mr Ali says he still enjoys smoking, but even that has taken a hit of late. "I am smoking, " he says. "It used to be 18 cigarettes a day. Now it is seven or 10 maximum."
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
