Blog - a carer shares her story

How did I find myself in the unenviable position of having to apply for Housing Benefit? What regrettable choices have I made in my life? What did I do wrong? Why, with my education and intelligence, am I not in a financially and personally rewarding job, securing my future as I enter my Autumn years? Read more.

SAVE MONEY ON MEDICAL costs

There are many hidden costs to being ill, furthermore a ill health is often the catalyst to debt problem’s occurring, especially when associated with long-term sickness, however, a sudden period of ill health whether short-term or not can act as a tipping point for financial hardship. First presented at the Richmond Carer's Conference, Grace Advocacy's Jo Lumb lists some savings that can be made here.

benefit change timetable

TURN2US have produced a timetable of forthcoming benefit changes. To see the list of benefit changes for 2018 click here. 

Universal credit

Universal Credit Road Map
Policy in Practice have produced a PDF timeline that illustrates recent and future changes to Universal Credit. To download it click here. 
It's not only the users who are suffering
​To read about the challenges facing Universal Credit staff click here
Users are struggling to use the online verify functionality
Our advocates have told us that the process is time consuming, complicated and often leads to failure.  Their experience has been backed up by Government Digital Service (GDS), research which stated, "“Further research at a job centre showed that out of 91 users, 48 needed help with the process." To read more click here

the money squeeze

According to the Office for National Statistics UK households have seen their outgoings surpass their income for the first time in nearly 30 years, our data have shown. On average, each UK household spent or invested around £900 more than they received in income in 2017; amounting to almost £25 billion (or about one-fifth of the annual NHS budget in England).

Households’ outgoings last outstripped their income for a whole year in 1988, although the shortfall was much smaller at just £0.3 billion.

Even in the run-up to the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 – when 100% (and more) mortgages were offered to home buyers without a deposit – the country did not reach a point where the average household was a net borrower. To read more: https://buff.ly/2EiBDLi

​“Please accept my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all your sincere and kind help with a very stressful situation...”
Liz - East Sheen

The challenge of caring

The role of caring for another brings with it tremendous changes to the life of a carer. Not only do they find their time consumed with caring for that individual, but they also have to engage with a multitude of organisations and paperwork, each with their complex forms and rules and time constraints, it can be a full-time job in itself.
It is often the case that carers have given a job up, or the person they are now caring for has lost their income, and this can lead to a change in the household budget, hardship and in some cases homelessness.
At Grace Advocacy, many of our volunteers are or have been carers and so understand first-hand the challenges many carers face. To find out more about our services click here.
"The stress of trying to pay the bills and look after my ill partner caused me to have a  breakdown. I'm now on medication for anxiety depression and to help me sleep"

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