Many Nova Scotians who rely on income assistance say they are unable to cover basic expenses with the amount they receive from the province. Now, one woman is speaking out.

Phyllis McKay has turned to panhandling as a way to make ends meet.

“After you pay your rent and your phone, you don’t even have enough to get what you need for groceries for the month,” McKay said.

That's the dilemma facing the 43-year-old every month, and that's why she panhandles.

“It’s not my choice to (panhandle),” McKay said. “If I could I wouldn’t.”

She comes to a busy intersection in Dartmouth about once a week. She says she makes about $40 in donations, which she needs to pay for things like transportation and her phone.

“Grocery shopping, how do you go grocery shopping without transportation?” McKay said.

On disability, McKay receives around $530 for rent, and $250 to cover the cost of food, bus rides and her pay per use phone.  Rent at her apartment costs $610 a month.

“They’re not really the best apartments, but we have to take what we can get,” she said.

There has not been an increase to income assistance in the province in three years. In a statement, the Nova Scotia Community Services Department said, “Clients are eligible for help with transportation for medical or employment needs, and the cost of a telephone is covered for health or safety reasons.”

Clients need to talk with their case worker about getting those expenses covered.

Advocate Mel Boutilier is all too familiar with stories like McKay’s, but he says he's waiting for others to take notice.

“I'm thinking about the politicians who are campaigning now, and I hear them talking about the middle class, but I don’t hear anyone talking about another class,” Boutilier said.

McKay is talking about it. She just hopes someone is listening.