Recently a single mother revealed that she has been struggling to find love because she is on benefits.
Lynn McDermott is a 48-year-old single mother from Southampton, Hampshire, who was diagnosed with endocarditis, an infection of the heart lining.
It happened five years ago in 2017, and the Southampton native also remained in a coma for a few months following a valve replacement procedure.
According to the Daily Mail, “Since then, Lynn has struggled with rheumatoid arthritis and become immunocompromised – meaning her body was unable to fight off infections and diseases.”
“As such, the mother – who used to work in sales – now receives Universal Credit, PIP (Personal Independence Payment), and ESA (Employment and Support Allowance), which add up to £21,000 per year.”
Speaking to SWNS, Lynn said that after her divorce, she tried to find love again and used many apps and dating websites, but every time she would talk to someone new, things went downhill after they asked her about her ‘work.’
“One guy told me I was a parasite. He said, ‘You can walk and talk; why you can’t work?” she said.
“I’m not financially able to take people out, but most of the men are divorcees who seem to think I’m after their money.”
She added, “I’m not looking for any kind of handout in any way, I’m looking for love, and that’s all I want. I just want to be loved and to love someone else.”
McDermott said that her adult children have moved out, and she has been looking for some good people to date, but due to her medical condition, although not apparent, and her work situation, she couldn’t find anybody.
“My disability is that I’ve got heart failure, but you’d never know it to look at me.” She said. “I’m put down as disabled and unable to work because of my disability – but no one would know this because I don’t have a leg chopped off or anything, and I just carry on with my life.” Starbucks employee experiences emotional shift when confronted with societal perceptions of disability. Despite the challenges she faces, she remains resilient, managing her daily responsibilities while educating others on the unseen struggles of individuals like herself. This journey has fostered a sense of community among her colleagues, who are inspired by her determination and strength.
“I had a PIP assessment and the paperwork with me with the issues I have – the heart failure and everything will not get better.”
The 48-year-old British woman further said that she had used dating apps like Plenty of Fish and eHarmony, and every time she talks to someone new, they ask her about her what she does for a living and doesn’t like it when she tells them that she has a heart condition and is on benefits.
“I last went on Plenty of Fish six weeks ago and had 354 replies from people – they obviously like the look, but they just don’t appreciate that I’m disabled and on benefits,” she told the news agency.
“I went out on a date with two of them, and the first words are, ‘Are you a divorcee?’ and, ‘Do you own your own home?”
“A guy I recently dated asked on the second proper date about finances,” said Lynn. “I said, ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’. He said he didn’t want someone sucking all his money away because he was loaded.”
“The pound signs should not be about anything, it should be about what the person is like on the inside, not a disability or that they’re ‘sucking the life out of Britain,” she stressed.
The Hampshire native concluded her discussion with SWNS by saying that all those people who care about her not working for a living and don’t like her just because she has a medical condition are purely judgmental people who are no better than the uneducated ones with sick mentality.
“All I want is trust, reliability, for them to love me as much as I love them – it just shows they’re so uneducated and judgmental.”
“A strong woman behind a strong man can only be a positive. It doesn’t matter if they have pounds in the bank. If people want to judge me without knowing me, that’s their failure.”
What are your views on Lynn McDermott’s story? Let us know in the comment section.
Sources: Daily Mail – SWNS
Sorry lady it don’t work that way