I am £4.2k a year better off now that I realize I can claim Universal Credit

THE pandemic has taken its toll on us all, with many Britons struggling with isolation or financial worries during this once-in-a-lifetime event.

But one woman has admitted she found herself in a particularly difficult situation after being unable to work due to Covid.

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Lisa Salloway, who had always prided herself on being a hard worker and a smart saver, ended up falling into debt before discovering she qualified for benefits.

Despite having a secure job as an HR administrator, the 50-year-old from East Anglia struggled to keep up as the pandemic pushed up costs and she started racking up credit card debt.

After her rent more than doubled and her bills rose to £1,400 a month, she was forced to move back in with her parents in Hertfordshire.

She used this time to put aside £3,000 to pay off her debts and buy a house, and because she was lucky enough to still have her job, she was about to make ends meet again.

But even after getting back on her feet, Lisa found her struggles were far from over.

In 2022, she caught Covid and was laid off for three months.

“I was grateful to receive full pay during that time, but my Covid symptoms did not go away and I knew I would not be able to do my job in my current state of health,” she said.

So she made the difficult choice to leave her demanding job and find another job as a food bank manager, where she could work fewer hours and reduce her commute.

“This had a huge impact on my salary and I began desperately trying to cut costs where I could so I could keep up with my bills,” she said.

Lisa learned to shop smart and lived on beans on toast and discounted items from budget retailers such as Lidl.

“Pretty much everything went up in price, and suddenly I found myself with barely $100 left after paying my rent, bills and travel expenses,” she said.

“But that didn’t even cover my food and health care costs, like prescriptions or going to the dentist.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t even afford to go out for coffee with a friend.”

Lisa found herself relying on her credit card to make ends meet and when she couldn’t pay it off, she started taking out loans to cover her repayments.

“It became an endless cycle and I didn’t know how to get out.”

But one morning, Lisa had a stroke of luck when she saw a post on social media with a link to a benefits calculator.

Like many others, she had always assumed that she would not be entitled to anything.

“I looked past it and thought this wasn’t for me, but then I went back and thought I’d give it a try because it didn’t ask for any personal information,” she said.

“It came back that I was entitled to around £250 a month. I could not believe it. I even tried three times because I thought I had done something wrong!”

Lisa admitted the process of getting her Universal Credit application accepted was long and stressful, but she now receives an extra £4,200 a year, which she says has made a “big difference” to her life.

“I work in administration and even I found it complicated, you have to provide a lot of details. In addition, you should keep them informed of any major changes in your circumstances,” she said.

“But it has made a huge difference. I can now afford my prescriptions, and I’m good at budgeting, so I can afford to have a cup of coffee with a friend and buy birthday and Christmas presents.”

Charity data Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has found that around 15,000 people could be around £7,000 a year better off after checking their benefit entitlement.

A total of £109 million has been found by people using the calculator in 2023, and nationally an estimated £19 billion in annual income remains unclaimed.

Lisa still shops in the restricted section of supermarkets and buys in bulk and meal prep where she can.

She has also received other help, including £300 living expenses which she used towards her energy bills.

“I now only have a small loan to pay off and I hope my expenses will continue, but I can’t wait for the day when I can turn off the heating in the summer,” she said.

While Lisa is now coping, she sees many families who are still in desperate need of help coming to the food bank where she works every day.

“These people are in severe fuel poverty because they are on prepayment meters and paying a higher rate, which is so unfair,” she said.

“So much more can be done for people who are struggling.”

To check how to claim Universal Credit, visit gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim.

Anyone suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition can get extra help through Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

The most you can receive from the government benefit is £172.75 per week, so it’s definitely worth making a claim if you can.

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