After her rent is paid, Berkeley single mother Brianna Muir is left with about $160 per week to cover all other life expenses.
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Ms Muir spoke amid growing calls ahead of the federal election for benefits such as Newstart and Rent Assistance to be increased.
According to the Country Women's Association of Australia, Newstart has not been increased in real terms in 25 years.
"They haven't put it up since Kurt Cobain died, and the price of everything has gone up," Ms Muir said.
"Politicians have no idea what it's like. And the government just keeps looking at it going, 'I could live on that much money per day'.
"People who have a job, who have that continual income, they don't know what it's like for their bank account to get down to $22 - and you haven't got anything else coming into your account for three days."
Ms Muir, 29, has lived in a private rental in Berkeley for six years with eight-year-old daughter Elanor.
While grateful for receiving Newstart, the Family Tax Benefit and Rent Assistance, the sad reality is, the bulk of that is spent on rent.
In total, with child support, her income is about $1000 per fortnight.
She pays $340 a week rent for a three-bedroom house.
"Something as simple as my daughter getting invited to a birthday party causes panic for me," she said.
"You've got to come up with $10-$20 to buy a kid a present... For me, that's quite a lot of money.
"That stress, it makes you want to hide from the world. There's so much shame attached to it."
Ms Muir is long-term unemployed, and said after-school care would be too expensive.
"It's really hard to find a job that is within school hours, that's the main issue," she said.
"I've done a few TAFE courses as my daughter's been growing up, and now I'm looking for work during school hours."
The Australian Council of Social Service's 'Raise the Rate' campaign is calling on the federal government to lift the single rate of Newstart, Youth Allowance and other related payments by at least $75 per week, and index allowances to wages.
Ms Muir said they were "lucky that we have a really nice landlord".
"We've been really lucky that our rent hasn't gone up," she said.
"If you go on the internet, you can't even get a unit for under $400 these days that's more than two bedrooms. It's just impossible.
"I think the rental market is really horrible for anyone who's struggling, even just a little bit."
Anglicare's food and financial assistance program manager Debbie Magyar said it was "very difficult" for many to live on Newstart and Rent Assistance.
"We're seeing a lot of that in our work. There are different types of assistance available... But unfortunately with the high rental price and high cost of living, it's just not working out for them."
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
