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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Kirsty McCormack

Stacey Solomon says benefits 'saved my life' as she talks past financial struggles

Stacey Solomon opened up about her past financial struggles as she discussed the cost of living crisis on Friday's Loose Women.

The mother-of-four joined Kaye Adams, Judi Love and Nadia Sawalha on the panel as they spoke about the possibility of households receiving £400 to help with their energy bills.

"I just think it's another example of how out of touch the government are," Stacey, 32, said as Kaye raised the topic.

However, 59-year-old Kaye argued back: "A lot of this Covid, then you have the situation in Ukraine. I hate to use the word unprecedented, but these are unprecedented times."

Stacey Solomon opened up about her past financial struggles as she discussed the cost of living crisis on Friday's Loose Women (ITV)

Stacey was having none of it though and decided to open up about her own personal experience of relying on benefits.

"When I had Zachary at 17, 18, I got a Sure Start Grant, it was called at the time, and I can't tell you how much that saved my life," she said.

"My working tax credits saved our life, we could not have got by without those. The milk tokens that we used to get to help us buy SMA and milk and stuff from the shops that we couldn't afford.

Stacey made a passionate speech after her co-star Loose Women said these are 'unprecedented times' (ITV)

"All of that got abolished. Like some of my friends who are in similar circumstances now don't even have those opportunities, they're completely taken away from people and then they turn around and go, 'oh look, we're in a cost of living crisis, let's roll out £400'. It's too little too late," she continued.

"I don't think they realise for most people who need that £400, that money was spent six months ago," she added as Kaye admitted she will be giving her £400 back if she is granted it.

Stacey said the government's plan is 'too little too late' (ITV)

Loose Women viewers were quick to praise Stacey for her comments, with one person writing on Twitter: "Go Stacey! #LooseWomen."

Another person said: "Every single time I catch @StaceySolomon on #LooseWomen she impresses me so much. So many people who comment on current affairs have only ever known huge riches. Imo we need to hear from many more like Stacey who has actually lived through tougher financial times in her life."

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