FOLLOWING this week's row over the Government's welfare reforms, Northern Echo reporter Chris Pleasance is taking up the challenge of living on so-called breadline benefits. 

COULD you live on £53 a week? That was the question posed to Iain Duncan Smith by market trader David Bennett on Monday.

Since then a petition calling for the work and pensions secretary to do exactly that has attracted more than 400,000 signatures, becoming the fastest growing petition ever on campaigning website change.org.

But so far Mr Duncan Smith has decided to keep everyone guessing by refusing to take up the challenge, claiming he already did it twice in the past whilst unemployed.

But that was a long time ago, and with a vastly different benefits system, given that the latest set of cuts came in only this week.

So, starting on Monday, I will be taking up the challenge to live on breadline benefits for five days, to see if it’s possible to make ends meet.

I am 24-years-old, so assuming I am unemployed and in receipt of 16-25 year old Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), I would get £56.80 per week, similar to the amount Mr Bennett says he gets from his stall.

Working on estimates given by Darlington Borough Council’s benefits experts, that money would be expected to cover £5 a week in council tax, £7 a week in water rates, and £3 a week for a TV licence.

Assuming I was living in a one person bedsit gas and electric bills would set me back another £12 a week.

After all that is deducted, I am left with £29.80 to spend on everything else, including food, transport and phone bills, equivalent to just £4.25 per day.

I will be starting the week with no food, a few toiletries and a basic, pay-as-you-go mobile phone handset with no credit.

I will be writing about my experience online next week. Follow my progress at northernecho.co.uk