Becky is a single parent working 28 hours a week, over four days. Her three-year old daughter goes to childcare while she’s at work, which costs almost £600 per month. Becky receives the maximum 80 per cent support to pay for childcare, but cuts to Tax Credits mean that she will lose over £1,300 per year in support. Becky says, “This will be very, very hard for me. I was going to try and set up a pension, but I won’t be able to afford those payments every month now. I’ve already cut down on all our non-essential spending, so the only way to get around these costs is to try and negotiate working a shorter day, so I don’t have to use childcare at all – although this will mean I will earn less. I am a manager, I’m well qualified, I have 11 years’ experience. I contribute to my local economy through my skills and experience. But I feel that I’m being forced to consider giving this up.”