JESSICA Wheeler was struggling to afford even basic essentials for her baby boy before finding an invaluable financial lifeline.
The 28-year-old mum from North Yorkshire suffered with post-natal depression and was out of work after her maternity leave finished in 2022.
1
The family were solely reliant on her partner’s income from work in the military to cover bills, day-to-day living and the costs associated with raising their son Joel, now 2-years-old.
But the cost of living crisis took its toll on her family budget.
She told The Sun: “The necessities were a struggle – I was relying on friends and family.
“We had to scale back on shopping and what was left wasn’t enough to get through the month.”
Read more on debt
At the same time, Jessica was being hit with steep price rises.
She added: “I was seeing things go up week by week.
“Nappies would be £2.50 and go up to £5 in a week – a 50% price increase. That was tricky.”
Jessica didn’t think there was any more support available and was struggling with her mental health.
Most read in Money
But when she opened her TSB banking app she saw a feature called Money Worries and filled in a short questionnaire.
She said: “It was really straightforward. When you’re struggling with money you don’t want to sit on the phone and explain your life story to someone – you want to do it in a non-personal way.”
I cleared £8k debt in a year & make money doing nothing – people say you need loads of cash to start but you don’t
TSB put Jessica through to Lightening Reach portal and subsequently found that she could get financial support through the Royal British Legion.
The non-profit organisation were able to give the family financial help due to her partner’s job in the military.
It meant they credited £70 to their energy account over five months.
Jessica said: “That got us through the winter – that was very necessary.”
The family were also given a £500 Argos voucher to buy a new cot bed for Joel, plus another £60 voucher to buy him a Christmas present which Jessica said was “great”.
There was also £250 in supermarket vouchers. Plus, she was given £80 for clothes – £40 for herself and £40 for Joel. In the end, all of it was spent on Joel as he was outgrowing his clothes so quickly.
She said: “I wouldn’t have got through those months without the help. It’s been amazing.”
In total the support so far has been worth at least £1,240, including:
- £250 in supermarket vouchers
- £500 voucher for new cot bed
- £70 per month credited to energy account for five months
- £60 gift voucher for a Christmas present for Joel
- £80 for clothing in vouchers
The money is given as a grant which means it’s not a loan and doesn’t need to ever be paid back.
TSB’s banking app connects customers to Lightening Reach which can quickly tell struggling households which grants or payments they may be entitled to.
The bank said more than £50,000 has been paid to customers since it started the scheme in April 2023.
Aruna Bhalla, head of partnerships, TSB, said: “Our partnership with Lightning Reach is proving invaluable to customers by connecting them to the financial support that’s available.
“If you’re struggling with finances talk to your bank – as there may be help readily available to you.”
If you are not a TSB customer you can access Lightening Reach directly at lightningreach.org/application-portal.
You can also search for grants at Turn2us grants-search.turn2us.org.uk.
What help can struggling families access?
There are many grants and cash payments you can get if you’re struggling. Some are very niche, and available to NHS workers or teachers, for example.
The Lightening Reach portal or Turn2us can help match you with grants you may not know about.
You can also get other help, we explain below…
HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT FUND
The Household Support Fund is a pot of cash shared between councils in England to help local residents struggling with the cost of living.
Each one distribute their share of the fund slightly differently, which means what you can get varies depending on where you live.
Support is usually offered to those on low incomes or benefits.
You will need to apply through your local council to find exactly what you are entitled to.
Some households have received vouchers to help pay for energy bills while other local authorities have transferred money directly into residents’ bank accounts.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
ENERGY GRANTS
Many of the big energy companies have linked funds that provide help to people who are in arrears with their energy bills.
For example, the British Gas Energy Support Fund opened on October 2 and is accepting applications from customers struggling to pay their bills.
Any British Gas customer is eligible to apply and could receive up to £1,500.
You have to meet the following criteria:
- live in England, Wales or Scotland
- have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust in the last 12 months
- can have a credit or prepayment meter with a previous outstanding debt
You will also have to hand over proof of income and your household outgoings which will be used to determine whether you are in or at risk of fuel poverty.
You can find information on the grant on the British Gas website.
Scottish Power, E.ON, EDF and Octopus Energy are among the other firms offering grants. Here’s the full list of grants being offered by energy firms.
CHILD WINTER HEATING PAYMENT
The child winter heating payment, formerly known as child winter heating assistance, is paid to thousands of families from November.
The cash, worth £235.70, is issued to households to cover the cost of higher energy bills during the colder months.
But the benefit is only available to households in Scotland, with around 26,000 payments made in 2022/23.
You also have to be 18 or under and in receipt of one the following benefits:
- the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment
- the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children
- the enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
- the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment
You need to have been claiming one of the four above benefits between September 18 and September 24, although you can backdate claims.
Anyone eligible can apply by filling in a paper form found on the Scottish Government’s website.
WARM HOME DISCOUNT
Millions of households in England, Wales and Scotland can get a one-off £150 off their energy bills through the warm home discount.
This winter the money is taken off your bill between October and March.
You’ll need to be in receipt of one or more of the following benefits to qualify:
Eligible households in England and Wales don’t have to apply for the discount, although some in Scotland do.
Scottish residents should check with their energy supplier directly to see if they qualify for the discount.
The scheme will reopen in October 2024.
What energy bill help is available?
THERE’S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £1,500.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
DEBT HELP
If you’re concerned about debt, get free help and guidance on your options.
Charities including Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline can help you manage your money owed, as well as negotiating with your creditors.
Working out a budget of all your incoming and outgoings is a good place to start.
Try to pay off more than the minimum on credit cards each month, and pay your most expensive credit card first.
If you’ve got several debts and can’t pay them all, it’s important to prioritise.
Your rent, mortgage, council tax and energy bills should be paid first because the consequences can be more serious if you don’t pay.
There’s also a specific government scheme to help manage debt called Breathing Space, which gives you the right to legal protection from creditors for up to 60 days.
TSB has also shared tips if you find yourself struggling with finances.
Contact your bank: Speaking to your bank does not affect your credit rating and can be the first step to finding a better solution and getting financial help.
Check for unclaimed grants: Lightning Reach and other benefit calculators can make sure you’re not missing out on money you’re entitled to.
Set your budget: Rising bills and prices mean it’s important to know how much money is coming in and going out, so you don’t overspend.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Look for where you can make savings: Use your banking app to cancel outgoings like Direct Debits and subscriptions you no longer need.
Don’t delay: If you are worried it’s best to take action as soon as you can, rather than allowing the situation to get worse. Organisations like StepChange, Money Helper, the National Debtline or Citizens Advice can all provide free advice if you are struggling with debts.
