The thing is..
The social security net in this country is being steadily dismantled. What are these people (especially low earning single mothers) supposed to DO??
The government was recently defeated in the high court over issues which frequently occur when a single mother tries to enter the workforce. Lord Justice Singh and Mr Justice Lewis stated that universal credit's interpretation of the rules had caused -
"severe cash flow problems"
"nonsensical situations"
"odd in the extreme"
Child Poverty Action Group who with a lawyers firm, brought the cases to court, said -
"Our clients have been doing everything they can to support themselves and their young children through work but the rigid assessment system in universal credit has caused them UNTOLD HARDSHIP, STRESS, AND MISERY WITH THEM BEING FORCED REPEATEDLY TO MANAGE ON HALF OF THEIR TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME DESPITE THEIR FIXED OUTGOINGS REMAINING THE SAME.."
The full article can be found here -
www.cpag.org.uk/content/high-court-finds-dwp-unlawful-universal-credit-assessments
and also on bbc news as well.
I think what well-meaning people commenting about taking in ironing, or going to CAB, are not realising, is that there are major flaws in our welfare system which many people fall through. The above is only one issue of many with the UC system.
OP if you are still around, I want to say I completely understand why you are looking at going down this route to try lift you and your children out of poverty. It's soul-destroying struggling all the time, choosing between heating and food etc, I have been there when in absolutely desperate dire straits, working but still unable to even pay the basic bills some months.
The reality of the sex industry is somewhere in the middle of what people think it is. I would say that overall despite the decent money earned it is unpleasant, potentially dangerous and demoralising. It has left scars on me. But then so is living in poverty.. and I think this is the real issue. When you have women who are struggling so much financially that prostitution is the only thing standing between them and eviction or their children getting a winter coat etc.
For me it was a hobson's choice indeed. Pushed into a corner by the so called 'welfare state' , even whilst working nearly full time on minimum wage. The CPAG said that the system is "leaving them falling into debt and, for some, having to choose between paying their rent or paying their childcare costs".
It is not glamourous. Not at all. It's booking the hotel, weeding through loads of timewasters and horrible calls, spending time trying to screen, the awful nervousness in the pit of your stomach each and every time you are about to open the door to a client (main feelings he could be violent or someone i know), stashing the money, hoping he is ok and decent and not out to disrespect or push you, massaging the ego, and then when it's over the relief after he's gone you shut the door and you safely have the money. Then rinse and repeat. The worst part isn't even the sex as most people would think it is - for me it was the fear about safety each and every time. Most aren't difficult, but the one's who are cause ptsd, and constantly being 'scrutinized' physically is demoralising.
The fact is that I as a rational adult woman, thought about it and deemed this sex work to be less demoralising than the equal nervousness of having to call my landlord and explain that because universal credit top up had not been paid properly yet again and also over £200 had been taken at source without my consent for old debts , I'd be short on this month's rent, and spiralling into more and more debt, as the OP has related.
I don't think the OP would even be considering persuing this avenue of work if she had a basic level of financial security, if work paid for the low earning with high cost of living in this country, and I think that is what we need to be looking at.