After 33 years caring, it's just 'sign on and get a job'

WELCOME TO UNMISSABLE, OUR WEEKLY DIGEST OF STORIES WE THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED. 19:56, 02 Jun 2025 Tracy was just a teenager when she gave birth to her little girl, Stacey. Just months

into her life Stacey was admitted to hospital with croup. During treatment she suffered a devastating cardiac arrest and brain damage. Tracy would spend the next 33 years caring for her

daughter’s every need. When Stacey died Tracy's carer's allowance was stopped and she says she has been told by the DWP to 'sign on and get a job'. Welcome to

_UNMISSABLE,_ our weekly digest of the stories we think you might have missed. In recent weeks Helena Vesty has been covering a number of stories about the Department for Work and Pensions

and their handling of vulnerable people’s benefits. A couple of weeks ago we covered the tragic stories of two women who took their own lives - in part contributed to through stress related

to battling the sometimes unfathomable benefits system. Article continues below This week we reported Stacy’s story of how she has been left high and dry after years looking after her

severely disabled daughter. "It’s a slap in the face," the 54-year-old told the Manchester Evening News. "I’m grieving for my child, but the DWP said there’s 'nothing

they can do, you just have to sign straight on and start looking for a job’. "I’ve been a full-time carer for more than 33 years with my daughter, I haven’t got any work history and

it's made me feel like I’m going a bit crazy. It’s a heart-breaking and thought-provoking story well worth your time. Other highlights this week were Ethan Davies’ brilliant story about

the ordinary south Manchester house where teenage girls finally celebrate their birthdays, John Shammas’ first person account of him exploring non-league football and Beth Abbit’s wonderful

read on life in Greater Manchester’s most deprived neighbourhood. That latter piece is a bit special, highlighting a community misrepresented by national journalists who neither understand

the area or respect the inhabitants. Despite the challenges Coldhurst faces, Beth found a community that is proud, defiant and finding a compassionate way forward. Now _that _is a story

worth telling. 'I'M GRIEVING FOR MY CHILD, BUT THE DWP HAVE JUST TOLD ME TO SIGN ON AND GET A JOB' Tracy Hailwood is reckoning with the death of her child, nursing a broken

body from decades of caring, and trying to enter a workforce that doesn’t want her – the DWP is telling her to 'just get a job'. READ IT HERE. LIFE IN GREATER MANCHESTER’S MOST

DEPRIVED NEIGHBOURHOOD Coldhurst is often cited as a regional and national hotspot for some unflattering statistics - most recently regarding child poverty. But peel back the layers and

you’ll find a community working to replace lost public services so desperately needed. READ IT HERE. THE ORDINARY SOUTH MANCHESTER HOUSE WHERE TEENAGE GIRLS FINALLY CELEBRATE THEIR BIRTHDAYS

It does vital work - but it needs Manchester's help. READ THE FULL STORY HERE. ANGRY STEWARDS, 40P FREDDOS AND KYLIE MINOGUE: I TOOK A BREAK FROM MANCHESTER UNITED AND DISCOVERED A

WHOLE NEW WORLD I don't remember a time when I wasn't in love with Manchester United. But it's hard to _like_ them at the moment. READ IT HERE. 'IT'S REALLY CREEPY

AND SO SCARY': HOW VILE TICKET SCAMMERS ARE HIJACKING FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS TO DUPE OASIS FANS MEN INVESTIGATION: Victims were inundated with calls from friends and acquaintances when ‘very

convincing’ posts in their names appeared on their Facebook walls offering Oasis tickets. Beth Abbit reports. READ IT HERE. THIS GREATER MANCHESTER TOWN IS UNDERGOING A HUGE FACELIFT, BUT

WILL IT CHANGE THE PRICE OF A PINT? The town centre is set to undergo a massive transformation over the course of the next decade. READ IT HERE. Article continues below DOES MANCHESTER USE

THE BEE TOO MUCH? A symbol of the city for 150 years, Manchester rallied around the bee in the wake of the 2017 Arena attack - but new research suggests bombing survivors are

'uncomfortable' with how widespread the bee is. Ethan Davies reports. READ IT HERE.