Residents of the UK's benefits capitals might have been expected to welcome John Healey's Budget this week, the first under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
uncertain
Residents → expect → Burnham
James Turner Street in Birmingham was made famous by the 2014 Channel 4 documentary Benefits Street.
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Street → make → documentary
Elsewhere, the Essex town of Jaywick is one of the country's most deprived – with two-thirds of its working-age residents classed as 'economically inactive'.
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thirds → work → residents
But the Daily Mail found locals in both were unimpressed by Mr Healey, who was also criticised after a U-turn over the Government's welfare plans.
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who → find → plans
The Chancellor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday morning that there would be 'a reduction in the benefits bill'.
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Chancellor → tell → bill
Yet by that evening he was telling Channel 4 News: 'It's not correct to say that we're going to bring this welfare bill down in this Parliament because we've not set a timetable for that.'
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we → tell → that
His Budget did include the promise of £100 handouts to reduce energy bills.
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Budget → include → bills
But that has not gone down well with benefits claimants, including one who said the cost-of-living crisis had reduced her to having to buy the cheapest cigarettes.
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crisis → go → cigarettes
The Government's welfare bill was £353billion this year, up from £314.9billion in 2024-2025 - and official forecasts suggest it will rise to an annual £431billion in 2032.
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it → suggest → 2032
Julie Carter told the Daily Mail she was now having to resort to cheap cigarettes
The Budget has not impressed many people spoken to by the Mail in the Essex town of Jaywick
Valentine Nicole, 46, is among those living in Birmingham's so-called Benefits Street
Living on Birmingham's 'Benefits Street', cleaner Heidi Jason, 27, borrows money to cover everyday expenses despite working.
She said: 'Everyone needs to work.
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Everyone → tell → expenses
That's how the country will be built.'
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country → build → ?
Julie Carter, 51, who said she was disabled and received £700 a month in Universal Credit, argued that support was already inadequate.
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support → say → Credit
She said she no longer switched on her heating and had to cut back elsewhere.
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she → say → heating
She told the Mail: 'I've had to buy the cheap cigarettes because I can't afford any others now.'
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I → tell → others
Mr Healey announced on Wednesday that up to 20million eligible households in England would receive a £100 household energy payment from January.
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households → announce → January
The scheme covers council tax bands A to D and qualifying working households as well as benefit claimants.
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scheme → cover → D
For Ms Jason, whose electricity costs £160 a month at her small two-bedroom home, the payment would cover less than a month's bill.
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payment → cost → bill
The Essex town of Jaywick is one of the country's most deprived
James Turner Street in Birmingham has been known as Benefits Street since a 2014 TV series
Tommy Cunningham is among the residents in Jaywick, Essex, unhappy about the Budget
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Cunningham → know → Budget
She said: 'We're struggling to get by.
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We → say → ?
We work hard, but it's difficult to manage and I have to borrow money and repay it.'
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I → work → it
Asked about the £100 payment, she laughed: '£100?
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she → ask → 100
Who is that going to help, really?'
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that → go → Who
She said some people were better off claiming benefits than working and argued that ministers should do more to help people find suitable employment.
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people → say → employment
Ms Jason said: 'Some people don't deserve it [benefits], and they need to go and work.
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they → say → it
It is unfair how many benefits some people are getting when I am going out and working.'
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I → get → benefits
For Karen Smith, 59, however, the difficulty was securing enough paid hours – with fewer shifts available and no guarantee that her earnings would cover her monthly expenses.
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earnings → secure → expenses
She said: 'I work as a healthcare assistant, and I have to earn everything I have - I do not receive financial support.
'
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I → say → support
Of course I believe the Government could do more to help people find work.
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people → believe → work
But whatever they are doing is not working - there are so many people on benefits, especially around here.'
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doing → do → benefits
Ms Smith said she kept her heating between 16C and 18C all year round and would simply wear extra layers to keep off the cold, while preparing meals at home to take to work so she did not have to skip meals.
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she → say → meals
She added: 'I think everyone is worried about rising energy bills, and £100 would definitely not be enough to cover the cost.'
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100 → add → cost
Among those calling for greater financial support is Madge Kedroe, 61, who said she relied entirely on benefits and had applied for an additional £220 in assistance.
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she → call → assistance
She said: 'I have already signed up for the extra money for my gas and electricity.
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I → say → gas
'I am on full benefits at the moment, but I feel much worse off this year than last year financially.
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I → feel → year
Right now, I don't receive enough government support to cover my living expenses.'
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I → receive → expenses
Ms Carter, meanwhile, said the pressure on her finances had left her choosing between essentials and that she intended to spend the extra £100 payment not on energy bills but on food instead.
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she → say → food
She said: 'I'm disabled, so it's a choice between heating and eating.
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it → say → heating
They are giving people £100 that is not going to do anything.'
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that → give → anything
Another local resident, 46-year-old Valentine Nicole, said: 'The Government does nothing to support me.
'
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Government → say → me
I used to work in construction and renovating homes, but I lost my job and I have struggled to find any more work.
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I → use → work
…and 86 more, not listed.
The Aporia
