48 - Offering financial support as benefits issues are resolved - June 2021

We are pleased to be able to share news of our  48th donation, which comes from a member who is involved with Sheffield Association of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.  She told us about Helen, who has been with the association for some years.


In order to remain eligible for her Employment and Support Allowance, Helen is currently permitted to work a few hours a week.  She generally works 5 hours per week (term time) supporting university students with their mental health.  During the pandemic she found that she was supporting incredibly vulnerable students and feeling unable to withdraw this support, she inadvertently exceeded her permitted hours of work.  She has tried to resolve this mistake but has discovered that her ESA has been taken away with immediate effect, leaving her with a dramatic change in her income, meaning she can no longer afford to buy essentials including food.  She is currently relying on food parcels from her local church.


She now has to apply again for a New ESA and universal credit which as a new claimant can take 8-9 weeks from day claimed.  She is working with a disability benefits advisor  from Citizens’ Advice to look at the best way forward.


Having spoken directly with Helen, we know that £500 from us will be such help, enabling her to buy essentials for the next few weeks and go some way to alleviating a bit of the stress and anxiety she is experiencing as she tries to find a way to rectify the situation with her benefits.


Helen wrote to say 'I can not express how much I appreciate this donation and how it has helped me to pay monthly bills. Thank you so much for what you have done.'

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