How we helped Bryan get back on his feet

Bryan (name has been changed for anonymity) initially came to us for help with making a subject access request - asking to see some records held about him. Both his reading and writing were not great and he could not afford access to the internet. Through this contact, we realised that Bryan would benefit from some advice in other parts of his life and although he was initially unsure, he opened up about his current situation.

Bryan was currently living in a hostel and his rent was covered by housing benefit. He struggled to get both food and money for other essentials, and so was being fed one meal a day through the People's Kitchen. He did not think that he would be entitled to  Universal Credit and was unsure whether it would be even worthwhile filling out an application.

Bryan had also broken the key to his room as his hostel and could not afford the £5 for a replacement key. He was struggling for clothes and was unable to visit his family.

Immediately we were able to provide Bryan with the funds to replace his key and get a few essentials. We also helped him make a Universal Credit claim and advised him of the process to claim the Limited Capability for Work portion of Universal Credit, or even claim Employment Support Allowance.

Bryan's life was chaotic and disjointed, and he was misinformed about his ability to claim Universal Credit. By talking with him and gaining his trust, we were able to not only help him with the subject access request that he came to us with initially but also sort him with a new key, some food and travel money and then a more sustainable package of benefits that he is entitled to. 

This is a real solution to some of his issues, giving him a stable financial base to work from, and providing him access to things like simple peace of mind when he sleeps in the hostel, and the ability to rejoin his family by visiting his mother. We continue to work with Bryan, as he decides his next moves.

If you need advice on your benefit entitlement, or just want a benefit check for peace of mind, contact us here