A mum-of-four says she has been homeless for a year due to a benefits mix-up.
Zoe Whiting currently lives in her friend's home in Stoke with her two youngest children after her eldest were forced to move in with their nana.
The 35-year-old has been on benefits since 2015 after juggling a full-time job and four children as a single parent became too difficult, reports Stoke-on-Trent Live.
But on December 17 last year her family became homeless after losing their home in Middleport following a mix-up with her housing benefit.
Zoe is required to visit her case worker every two weeks at the Jobcentre Plus to help her find work.
Have you been left homeless from a benefits mix up? Email [email protected]
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But Zoe says it is very difficult to find employment without a secure home.
She said: "I've been on benefits for quite a few years. I was pregnant at the age of 16 and benefits helped me because I was a single parent.
"I got a job as a security guard in 2013 and I did that for two years, but I had to give it up because I was on my own juggling a job and four children.
"It all became too much for me, I tried to work as many hours that I could and ended up making myself poorly.
"I now receive £225 in child tax credits every Friday, £95 Job Seekers Allowance every two weeks and £61 child benefit.
"In December last year there was a mix up with my housing benefit and it no longer covered my rent and I lost my home in Middleport.
"I've been sofa surfing for a year now, at first me and my kids were living with a friend in Abbey Hulton but we had to move out of there.
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"At the moment I'm living with my friend in Stoke with my two youngest, who are 14 and 10, and my friend's three children.
"We're all living in a three-bedroom house, it's a squeeze, it really is. I share a room with my children but we manage.
"My two eldest are 18 and 16 but they live with my mum as there isn't enough space, so I've been split from my kids."
Zoe says she was 'embarrassed' going to the Jobcentre after becoming homeless.
She said: "I have to go to the Jobcentre once every two weeks. I go there and they ask me how I've been and how my personal situation is, then I go to the next appointment.
"My case worker is really good, they know about my depression and they know I'm homeless and going from place to place, so they aren't really forcing me to go for a job at the moment. As soon as I get a property I can work straight away.
"I think people have the wrong perception of the Jobcentre, I did feel embarrassed the first time I had to got there and telling them that I was homeless was embarrassing, but it was fine, my case worker listened and helped me."
Zoe says it is hard for herself and her children living on benefits.
She added: "It's hard living on benefits and it's worse for my kids.
"My children go to school in Abbey Hulton so a lot of my benefits go on travel from Stoke to Abbey Hulton and back four times a day to take them and bring them home from school on the bus.
"I travel for more than five hours a day and the rest of my money goes on food and putting money towards the bills. It's impossible for me to get a job while I'm homeless because I don't have a permanent home.
"We have asked Santa for a home this year."
A DWP spokesman said: "Our dedicated Jobcentre staff provide personalised, tailored support to help people into work and break down barriers to employment.
"For people who are out of work or on low wages, Universal Credit provides a vital safety net."
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