'It's cost upon cost for working families - they get no help'

South Yorkshire political reporterReporting fromRawmarsh, Rotherham

Families who earn just above the threshold to miss out on benefits are struggling with the cost of living and need more help from the government, a charity in the chancellor of the exchequer's constituency has said.

Chancellor John Healey's Rawmarsh and Conisbrough constituency straddles Rotherham and Doncaster and within it, according to Rotherham Council, the wards of Rawmarsh East and Rawmarsh West have deprivation levels well above the borough and national averages.

Meanwhile, parts of Rawmarsh are among the top 20% of deprived areas in England.

While Healey recently spoke about the need to support businesses, families will have to wait until the budget at the end of next month to see if there will be any help for them.

"I went to a supermarket and it cost nearly £7 for a box of cereal. I nearly put it back, it's ridiculous," says Leomi White, project coordinator at Activate Rawmarsh.

"Everyone always comments on food prices."

The charity where White works is based at the High Street Centre in Rawmarsh and it supports families and organises activities for children and young people in Rotherham.

According to White, working families on low incomes not only struggle to pay their bills, but miss out on schemes such as free school meals and subsidised holiday clubs.

"When I talk to families, the cost of living keeps cropping up," she says.

"As the years have gone on, everything's become more expensive.

"But we are not earning enough. Families just can't keep up."

White says that while the charity deals with families who are on benefits, staff also support families who are "just above the threshold to claim".

"They are being hit hard," she says.

"They are working and getting no help from anywhere.

"One parent said she puts her child in breakfast club, which costs £6 a day, so she can go to work.

"It's cost upon cost for working families."

One of those affected is Zoe Hatt, 36, a single mum who works part-time and who says she is looking into claiming Universal Credit.

Even if she is successful with that benefit, she says things will still be difficult financially.

"I enjoy my job, but I may need to look for another one because the money I earn isn't covering the bills," she explains.

"I don't get support with any of my bills apart from council tax. Even on a low income I'm not entitled to free school meals.

"My anxiety is hitting the roof with finances and trying to bring up a child.

"It's a big struggle."

White says she wants the government to do more to help families who are working but are living on a financial cliff-edge.

She points to the government's holiday activities and food programme which supports children on free school meals.

"It's absolutely fantastic for those children, but working families have to pay for childcare or clubs over summer while they work," she says.

"I don't want to take anything away from children on free school meals, but all children deserve to come to these summer programmes.

"It's actually the children from working families who are missing out on these nice summer clubs."

The BBC has approached the Department for Work and Pensions for comment.