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.  

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.​

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.

 

If you don't want to hear from us by email again about our campaigns and fundraising activities, you can unsubscribe here. Please note that if you are a member, have bought books from us, been on our training courses, or expressed an interest in our goods and services, you may still receive information about these. You can change your preferences at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. Please see our full privacy notice here.  

Child Poverty Action Group is a charity registered in England and Wales (registration number 294841) and in Scotland (registration number SC039339). Company limited by guarantee registered in England (registration number 1993854). Registered office: 30 Micawber Street, London, N1 7TB. VAT no. 690 8081 17