Francine married late in life and became pregnant in her early 40s. She was made redundant and did not qualify for Maternity Allowance. Her husband became disabled and couldn’t work. Complications in labour left Francine with long-term health problems. She manages money carefully but is used to a good income, and the benefits system has come as a shock. When she claimed Maternity Allowance, and her husband concurrently claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance, they discovered this was not permitted. Rather than resolve their eligibility, the job centre stopped all their benefits. Francine is too proud to ask for charity or use the food bank. Instead, she and her son stay with her mother for several weeks at a time to keep the bills down.