- Mother of 7 month old needs money for baby milk December 21, 2018 - A young mum rang a helpline yesterday worried that once she'd been paid her Universal Credit payment and she'd covered her rent she wouldn't have enough money to buy baby milk for her 7 month old, as she had been in receipt of statutory maternity pay which had thrown her over a threshold for Universal… Continue Reading
- Heavily pregnant mother at Christmas has benefits suspended December 21, 2018 - We had an urgent case to respond to. A pregnant mother, baby due the 23rd of this month has had her benefits suspended because she has been told she has failed the habitual residency test. She actually has leave to stay indefinitely in the UK, however there was a house fire and her documents confirming… Continue Reading
- Young mum and 4 year old facing Christmas without money December 20, 2018 - A young mum who is currently living in a refuge with her 4 year old daughter is waiting to receive her first Universal Credit payment. So far she has received two crisis loans and has been told that she cannot have anything more. It could be several weeks before she receives her first UC payment… Continue Reading
- Mother of two flees domestic violence December 20, 2018 - Help was requested for a mother of two children. She had fled a domestic violence situation and had had to move to a completely new area of the country to feel safe. Leaving everything behind them, bar what they could carry, the local council where she was moving to covered the cost of getting them… Continue Reading
- Dad leaves family home with children December 20, 2018 - A dad found himself as sole carer of his three children, after they were placed in his care, due to the alcohol dependence of their mother. The father left the home when the situation became impossible for him to continue with anymore. He is now trying to provide his three sons with a safe and… Continue Reading
- Universal Credit not working for people! December 20, 2018 - This case was a frustrating one. A young mother is trying to keep herself and her children afloat, working and being 'assisted' by Universal Credit. She has rent arrears, owes money to her family and to her childminder. She is paid minimum wage and has rent, etc to pay. She is supposed to be topped… Continue Reading
- Disabled Grandmother struggling to cope financially December 19, 2018 - We were asked to help a lady who lives alone but is struggling to manage financially. She is in receipt of Employment Support Allowance, but has a number of deductions made from her payments because of utilities debts and repaying a social fund payment. This has left her being unable to cope financially, and she… Continue Reading
- A little extra for the children December 19, 2018 - Following the article in The Guardian last week about The Biscuit Fund, we received an extra and completely unexpected donation with the express wish that it be used to make sure that families we work with had a little extra at Christmas. For most families it is an expensive time of the year, but for… Continue Reading
- Single Mum of five loses ESA December 17, 2018 - Our help was requested for a single mum of five children, who recently at an Employment Support Allowance, wasn't awarded any points and subsequently her ESA was withdrawn. This meant her housing benefits was also stopped so she is trying to survive on her tax credits alone, which so far is not going very well. … Continue Reading
- Lady in education loses ESA December 17, 2018 - We were contacted about a young woman, here in the UK on a refugee status. She was previously in receipt of Employment Support Allowance, but her payments stopped being paid. Our contacts attempted to help her apply for Universal Credit but were told as she is in full-time education now, UC would not be an… Continue Reading