Until three months ago, Serena had been studying beauty therapy at college with the hope of owning a salon one day, but had to give it up when she couldn't afford to carry on. Then she was getting by on £40 a week below the poverty line.
"I am really upset about it - it was my dream job," she said. "I work full-time now in a call centre, although I'm not that much better off and I hardly see my children. But at least I'm working and not being labelled a non-working, lazy parent who sponges off the dole. It's good to know I earn my own money and pay my taxes, but very hard being the sole provider - and fear of losing my job is the worst feeling ever."
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