The owner of a cleaning business, who is now claiming Universal Credit, is concerned the pandemic will widen the rich-poor divide.

Karen Wilson, from West Malling, became a sole trader in November 2018, as she was having staffing problems and the overheads of a limited company were too high.

But this means she does not qualify for neither the Government’s scheme for limited companies nor the self-employed.

The only state help Ms Wilson has been able to get is Universal Credit - £409 a month - not even half of her usual basic outgoings.

It comes as the number of people claiming Universal Credit in Kent soared from 80,325 in March to 117,072 in April; and the number of people claiming unemployment benefits jumped by 75% in one month.

Ms Wilson, who lives alone, has got a three-month mortgage break and a reduction in council tax but it is still finding it difficult to live on such a small amount each month.

The 52-year-old said: "I've never been on any kind of benefits in my life - how people live on this I don't know. But I suppose people who are on them long term might get help with other things like reduced rent, but for me, my council tax is £180 a month which is half of it."

Ms Wilson could apply for the business interruption load scheme, but is reluctant to do so as she doesn't want to end up in debt.

"Anything you borrow has got to be paid back. Family members have also helped me - I'm fortunate enough to be in that position, but some people don't have that," she said.

"This is costing the treasury millions if not billions and we will all have to pay it back in taxes which is annoying if you haven't massively benefited from it.

"Every day that ticks by, it's more people that are suffering and we could be on a really downward spiral."

The former accountant thinks the rich-poor divide will have grown during the pandemic.

"Do I risk my health and go back to work?"

She said: "You have people on high salaries who have been furloughed and so are still getting 80%, but can't spend any money or go on holiday, so will be saving and come out of this better off.

"But then you have a shop assistant who could be out of a job and hasn't got any money and might have to borrow and be in debt by the end of this."

Ms Wilson worries there will come a point people might have to risk their health to survive financially.

She said: "I think soon people will be faced with a decision - my health is really important but does there come a point that I'm not going to be able to cope financially - do I risk my health and go back to work?"

However, Ms Wilson has received guidance from her local MP Tom Tugendhat who she says is "fantastic".

The MP for Tonbridge and Malling directed Ms Wilson to all support available and assured her he is pushing for more help to be given to those who have slipped through the net.

She said: "I expect he must be very busy but he always replies quickly and the response is always very thought out.

"And for this matter, I actually saw him on TV speaking about it in parliament."

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