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Honestly Podcast with Clemmie Telford

UNIVERSAL CREDIT: An honest conversation with Erin Smithers

Honestly Podcast with Clemmie Telford

Clemmie Telford + Mags Creative

Death, Parenting, Cancer, Gender, Relationships, Faith, Honest, Prison, Kids & Family, Personal Journals, Race, Sobriety, Marriage, Honesty, Body Image, Honestly, Money, Society & Culture

4.7811 Ratings

🗓️ 25 September 2019

⏱️ 30 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Erin Smithers has been receiving benefits since the birth of her son at 16, but when her tax credits were stopped in January 2019, she was transferred on to Universal Credit - the benefits system that has left many with next to no income. Talking about how her life has changed after her income was cut to just £180 a month, the mother of two shares how her story is actually one of privilege, whilst so many others have been left with far less. To vote for Honestly to win the Listener’s Choice Awards, please visit: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, I'm Clemy Telford and it's time to get open and get honest.

0:09.0

Each week, I interview a guest about a topic that we as a society often shy away from.

0:14.8

From sex lives to salaries, life and death, religion and real bodies, no subject is off the table. Welcome to Honestly,

0:22.6

the podcast. M&S hardly need any introduction, but I am thrilled to have them on board as the

0:32.5

sponsors of series two. I don't know about you, but whenever I buy something from M&S, I feel like a proper grown-up.

0:38.5

From a classic trench coat to a great cut suit, I always feel assured I'm investing in something

0:43.3

that will stand the test of time and will remain a staple of my wardrobe for years to come.

0:51.6

Today, I am joined by student children's nurse, mother of two, and general hero because she got up at what time did you get up?

0:59.7

I got up at four, Clemmy.

1:01.3

I mean, what a woman. She's got up at four to come here and she's on her third coffee as a result.

1:06.8

She is Erin or Rin, as you preferred to be known, which one?

1:10.0

Yeah, it kind of just started because, I don't know, I mean, Erin really doesn't need shortening in any shape or form, but for some reason, secondary school, it just got picked up to Rin.

1:18.1

And then once I made it my name on Uber, it just kind of became a thing. Yeah.

1:23.3

From a girl who's called Clementine, Erin, it already feels like an amazingly short name, and you've gone down to rim.

1:30.0

So, to get ourselves comfortable and hopefully settle down with these strong coffees that we've got, I like to start with a quick fire round where the name of the game is to be honest, of course.

1:41.4

So, on a scale of 1 to 10, how cool are you? Oh, I don't know.

1:49.2

Well, I used to think I was really cool, but my teenage sister and my kids say I'm not cool all

1:53.4

the time. So I'm going to say I started off, maybe I was 14 at like a 10, I reckon I've

1:57.6

dropped to a 7. I mean, good for you for ever being a 10.

2:03.2

How nice are you on a scale of 1 to 10?

2:05.5

I think 8.

2:07.8

I can be quite brash, which I think knocks me down.

...

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