SINGLE mum Mary Roberts claims she has so little money she can barely scrape together enough funds to feed her family.

The 44-year-old, of Whaddon, said once she had paid her utility bills and other basic expenses she had just £33 a week left to pay for food for her and her 14-year-old son.

Although she receives a considerable weekly sum in benefits, she says she is behind on payments to utility companies, resulting in excess charges which have piled on the misery.

"I don't know where to turn to for help," she said. "It is very tough at the moment and I have so many bills to pay.

"Once you get behind on payments they charge you even more and you get into a downward spiral. There is no way out of it at the moment.

"I wish the companies would allow you some slack because I am trying my hardest to get by.

"But with just £33 left to pay for basics things like food it is difficult to make it stretch far enough.

"That is all we are left with to pay for meals for the entire week."

Mary, who lives in a council home, used to work as a full-time chef until she became a mother for the first time in her mid-20s.

Since her son was born 14 years ago she has been unable to get back into full-time employment because he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and requires constant supervision.

Now she is on disability living allowance, entitling her to £65 per week as well as carer's allowance, which brings in an extra £55 per week.

Other allowances include child benefit, income support and tax credits, and in total her income amounts to £331 per week.

She added: "On paper it looks like enough money, but it doesn't stretch very far once all the bills are paid.

"Life is tough and it doesn't show any sign of getting easier at the moment.

"It annoys me because a lot of people have false ideas about people who rely on benefits.

"They think we live this pizza and beer lifestyle with lots of nice belongings.

"It's just not the case though and not a fair reflection on our situation at all.

"More than 70 per cent of my benefit money goes towards just keeping afloat."

Mary said the only hope of getting out of the downward spiral of debt was to wait until her son was older, so she could go out and resume her career. She added: "I can't remember the last time I had a holiday – it was more than 20 years ago.

"And I haven't bought any new clothes for more than two years.

"I hope one day things will be better but I don't expect it to be anytime soon.

"I will probably be a 'baked bean granny', living on the bare minimum into my old age.

"It is a bit of a depressing thought but that is the future facing me and probably many others like me."