Going the extra mile to support a family’s wellbeing

A regular referral for help with Universal Credit led to life-changing support for one of our tenant’s and their family.

The background

Mr M* was referred to our Money Advice team for support with a Universal Credit application. During this time, he spoke with Ruth, one of our money advisors, about the challenges he was facing at home. His young daughter was showing signs of ADHD, and managing her behaviour was becoming difficult.

How we helped

Ruth took the time to understand Mr M’s situation. When she asked whether the family was receiving any disability-related benefits, Mr M confirmed they weren’t.

Realising the family could get more financial help, Ruth explained that they may be eligible to apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) if they could provide medical evidence and show how their daughter’s needs differed from those of a child of the same age.

Ruth supported Mr M through the application process, and the claim was successful. This led to significant boost to the family’s income, including:

• £76.70 per week in Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• £158.76 per month through the disabled child element in their Universal Credit

With DLA in place, Ruth explained to Mr M that he met the criteria for Carer’s Allowance. With Ruth’s support, he made a successful claim, which led to an additional £88.30 per week in financial support for the family.

The outcome

The extra income each month helped to ease financial pressures the family were facing, and better support their daughter’s needs.

This case shows the real impact of looking at the bigger picture and asking the right questions. By looking beyond the initial referral, Ruth was able to help the family get over £200 in additional financial support, which has made a meaningful difference to Mr M and his family’s stability and wellbeing.

Struggling with your finances and need support?

If you’re worried about your finances and would like to talk to someone, you can reach out to our Money Advice Team by filling out this form, or by calling our Hub team on 0345 60 20 540. Our friendly money advisors are here to offer you free and confidential advice.

^{*Names have been changed for anonymity}