Dear John,,

During this very challenging and uncertain time for us all, I wanted to share
with you what so many are facing.

As more families look for much-needed help, they will face the same challenges
as so many already have since the introduction of Universal Credit in 2013.

Do you remember this? I do. It was meant to be a simple safety net for all of us
at those times in our lives when we need more support, perhaps because we’ve
lost a job, a partner or are on low pay. Or, as is now clear, in these
unprecedented times due to the Coronavirus.

As CPAG’s expert on Universal Credit, my inbox is fuller than ever of queries
from caseworkers who, try as they might, are unable to navigate these uncharted
waters. As a result, vulnerable families are being left out in the cold. In the
past five months, I’ve personally helped frontline advisers in 113 cases. The
numbers needing help are growing steadily.

Please donate now. Your gift of £3.90 a month for a year could fund our advice
service for an hour.
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One such case is that of Jennifer and her 12-year-old daughter, Grace. Grace
lives with severe sickle-cell anaemia and epilepsy. She needs life-saving blood
transfusions every four weeks. Until early 2017, Jennifer received Carer’s
Allowance, Child Tax Credits and Income Support, and Grace received Disability
Living Allowance.

When Grace’s Disability Living Allowance had to be renewed, Jennifer was
instructed to claim Universal Credit - but this was worth less than the Income
Support she received.

It was then that Jennifer’s caseworker got in touch with CPAG.



We were able to support the adviser to get the decision to end Jennifer’s Income
Support overturned, on the grounds that she was a carer of a child who claimed
Disability Living Allowance and the renewal was still pending. Though the
government accepted its error and paid Jennifer and Grace some arrears, they
were still left £140 worse off each month while her claim was reconsidered.

£47 could fund our advice service for an hour. Please donate today. ​
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Thanks to CPAG’s advice service, Grace’s Disability Living Allowance was moved
to a higher rate. Now both of them can go back to living life as they should –
safe, secure and with the assurance that they are not alone: they have the
support they need.

Please donate so that we can support families like Grace and Jennifer, and
others like them. Thank you.

Best wishes,

Owen Stevens

Universal Credit Welfare Rights Worker

PS Our advice service continues to see a surge of cases as more people claim
Universal Credit at this time of need. You can help make a difference. Please
donate today. Thank you.
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