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Potternewton bingo mum blows £50,000
A Potternewton mum has gone from bingo winner to life on the breadline after blowing her jackpot in just 12 months.
Cheryl McCann won the 50,000 top prize on a night out but now faces eviction from her Potternewton home because she can't pay the rent.
She says she is so broke so has to rely on her mum for handouts and some days can't afford to send her children to school.
But, despite her perilous financial state, she is being denied benefits because work and pensions bosses say she acted irresponsibly in squandering her winnings.
Cheryl, 33, said: "I don't have a penny left. I just don't know what to do, I'm so desperate.
"Some days I can't send the kids to school because I don't have the money for lunch and they can't get free school meals.
"It's a mess."
Cheryl won 49,998 at Mayfair Bingo in Leeds city centre in August 2007. She says she split the prize with family friend Linden Hudson who had lent her 20 to play.
She says she used her share of the money to live on - her previous benefits stopped when she won the cash - and spent the rest on driving lessons and a car, a new TV and sofa and other furniture and on holidays and weekends away. She also gave money to her family and friends.
Within 12 months the money was almost all gone. For the past year she has been applying for benefits but has repeatedly been told she doesn't qualify.
She said: "Most of the money went on living expenses. I've sold the car and other things but there is nothing left.
"They keep asking for evidence of where the money has gone and I have given them everything I have. My friend wrote a letter saying they had had the money. I just feel like they don't believe me."
Cheryl,has around 140 coming in each week from child benefit and child tax credits to support children Sinead, 16, Brandon, 7, and Anika, 3.
She has stopped paying the council rent and has had her phone cut off.
Much of her money is swallowed up by debts with power companies and she has had bailiffs at her home for non-payment of council tax.
She says she has around 30 to 40 a week left to spend on food for the family of four.
Cheryl added: "I've provided evidence and receipts four or five times but I don't get anywhere. I don't know what else I can do."
A Department of Work and Pensions spokesman said Cheryl had the right to appeal its decision.
He added: "While we accept reasonable spending of savings or similar resources when calculating entitlement to means-tested benefits, we have to be sure the taxpayer is not being asked to pay someone who has deliberately spent money or used up resources that could have provided an alternative income.
"However, anyone who believes we have not made the correct decision on their claim has the right to appeal to an independent tribunal."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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