Universal Credit not enough for out-of-work photographer

Alexander is an award-winning photographer who worked with big brands, shooting their products.

But the 53-year-old has not had any work for two years. While his rent is paid, his Universal Credit is just under £400 per month.

This Saturday he visited Hackney Foodbank for the first time, having been referred by Ingeus (the team supporting him in his search for work).

He’s careful with money, batch cooks and freezes meals and shops in the market, where he can get better value.

He said: “Things were hard and coming to the food bank seemed a good idea. I’m a big guy – I eat a lot of food!

“Life is hard – it isn’t always going to be positive but I try not to focus on the negatives. I focus on the good stuff; friends, sunny days! My grandmother, God rest her soul, said ‘find happy in the small things; the smile of a pretty girl, a scoop of ice cream! Don’t make it about cars and yachts!’ she was right!

“Ingeus have been really helpful – I have a job coach who is trying to get me back into employment and they’re offering training too.  I’d like to do something in IT and am putting in an application for a course.”

Alexander’s work in photography centred around events, PR and product photos but the work gradually began to dry up as image libraries and improvements to technology enabled agencies to cut costs.

He added: “My dissertation for my degree was entitled ‘Photography is dead – long live photography’ – I predicted this.

“When the work stopped, I moved into a Guardianship flat to save money. I started economising. On reflection maybe I should have considered a career change sooner but here we are.

“Universal Credit is meant to be an emergency system – that’s what it was designed for. You would be out of work for a couple of months and it would offer the bare minimum for a person to live with. Its inception came when the world was a different place and no-one has bothered to update it.”

Demand for Hackney Foodbank has increased by 53% in the past year. The charity is currently providing emergency food for around 630 people per week and recently launched a Friday night food bank to support the rising numbers of working poor.

They’ve been part of the Trussell Trust’s Guarantee Our Essentials campaign, calling on politicians to ensure Universal Credit provides people with enough for life’s essentials.

To support the food bank, visit: www.hackney.foodbank.org.uk/donate