SICK Maxine Feneck has not even the money to buy a pint of milk – and blames the country's new crisis loans system.
Mrs Feneck, 46, from Stroud, said she is desperate for help and turned to the town's Citizens' Advice Bureau when she found she had no money for food on Thursday.
Asthma sufferer Mrs Feneck, who moved to the county from London four years ago, said she ran out of funds when her employment support allowance failed to arrive in her bank.
That £80-a-week payment is from the Department of Work and Pensions and is all Mrs Feneck, who is too unwell to work, has to spend on food, utility bills and other essentials.
Former cleaner Mrs Feneck, of Acre Street, said: "Through no fault of my own, I can't go shopping.
"I haven't even got a pint of milk in the house. It is stressing me out."
Stroud Citizens' Advice Bureau found out there had been an administrative muddle and that her money would now be in her bank account on Monday.
However, the national crisis loan scheme to aid vulnerable people in financial trouble ended on March 31. Instead, councils are being given funding to provide alternatives for people in need – but people need to meet criteria such as being pregnant, homeless or having left care.
Because Mrs Feneck had no means to buy food, the bureau referred her to Stroud and District Foodbank.
The bureau's deputy manager Sandi Sorell blamed the situation on new crisis help criteria, which is operated by contractors for the council.
Ms Sorell added: "The main issue for us is this new system.
"Although we appreciate it is a small pot of money, there is nothing left to help people when the other system fails them."
