Anne's story

"Client has just moved in with partner and took a while for ESA to be paid. Borrowed £400.00 from a loan shark last month. he wants £900.00 back. Phones continually. Partner got 1st payment of DLA yesterday & loan shark took all of it. I told her not to tell him she's getting food vouchers or he'll take food too. Gave her illegal money lending team card and strongly suggested she phones them - they can protect her as well as stop the harrassment. Her partner does not seem keen to do this as he's afraid of the threats."

Thank you to Anne for sharing her story, and thank you to the volunteer who listened and recorded it on her behalf.

Hannah's story

"Client and disabled husband on ESA. Client works 10 hours per week. Someone reported husband as working so ESA and tax credits stopped on 9 Feb (housing benefit wasn't). Social worker found out & spoke to DWP who said there was no case to answer but benefits couldn't be restarted until 16/2. Client will also talk to housing benefit in case they get told of the stoppage."

Thank you to Hannah for sharing her story, and thank you to the volunteer who listened and wrote it down on her behalf.

Alison's story

"Client has lived at Riverside property for 20 years. 4 Children now left home and is a single person in 3 bed house. Has rent arrears of £1K, lives on ESA. Happy to move to 1 bed property but not allowed to go on the transfer list because she has arrears. Refused DHP in Nov 15 as she had 53p per week more than allowed. New form submitted by P3."

Thank you to Alison for sharing her experience, and thank you to the volunteer who listened and recorded it on her behalf.

Linda's story

"Claim for Universal Credit - 31/12/15 - 1st payment due 17/2. One-off  payment of £70.00 in January. Not aware that council tax not part of  UC. £300+ arrears - bailiffs arrived. Housing officer fro Plus Dane is trying to get arrears wiped off. Rent officer from Plus Dane helping with housing benefit (rent being taken direct). Arrears on tax credit £250.00 because of UC - will be seeing P3 for help. Rent arrears due to gap between JSA and UC benefit. Single parent of 4 children, ages 16, 12, 11 and 9."

Thank you to Linda for sharing her experience, and thank you to the volunteer who listened and wrote it down on her behalf.

Kate's story

"Was on ESA. Became fitter & was put on Universal Credit. Didn't realise tax credits, housing benefit & council tax benefit would stop. Last payment New Year's Eve apart from £70.00 advanced payment last week. Has 4 children aged from 9 - 16. Not due to get full payment until February & can't have further advance payment. School meals have been stopped along with other benefits."

Thank you to Kate for sharing her experience, and to the volunteer who listened and recorded it on her behalf.

Sandra's story

"Client has been refused ESA. Is sending in sick notes for JSA. Had 4 weeks over Christmas and New Year before 1st payment of JSA came. Appeal was sent in by Dial House. Client had Tribunal letter dated 21st December but DWP still haven't received it.
Client has phoned DWP at least 5 times & has been passed around so each call takes 30 minutes and situation still not resolved. Calls are 0300 & client has to phone from her mobile, so quite costly."

Thank you to Sandra for sharing her experience, and thank you to the volunteer who listened and wrote it down on her behalf.

Mike's story

"Mr Hughes has had a long history of difficulties - in the past he has slept rough. Recently he has developed severe back pain and has been referred for X-ray.
His present address only offers 2 years occupancy but hopes to be rehoused by Housing Dept to a longer tenancy."

Thank you to Mike for sharing his story with us, and to the volunteer who listened and recorded it on his behalf.

Sue's story

Update of Sue's story:
"Since last sharing my story, I am now accessing food bank through the Extended Voucher Scheme. I am now awaiting appointment for operation & unable to work at all. I have been issued with a further sick note for 2 months & will need a further 2 months to recover after the operation. I am not receiving benefits, just statutory sick pay until 15th November- benefits due to start on 18th November - still won't be amount I was receiving whilst in work. Getting food from food bank makes a big difference. I would not be able to eat properly without food bank as I would want my Mum and daughter to eat before me."

Thank you to Sue for sharing her experiences with us.

Lisa's story

"I lived out of the country with my husband and 2 children. He was working. He started being violent so I and the children left him and came home on 31st August. I have had to rely on my father who is a full time carer for my brother who has learning disabilities. I could claim nothing for 3 months. My husband is not the father of the children who have no claim on him. I have now applied for benefits & have provisionally been offered a house. My local church have also been very helpful.
I need food but I also need money for the deposit on the house so I cannot buy food."

Thank you to Lisa for sharing her experience with us.

Barry's story

"Hardship caused by inefficient workers who cannot read and have no grip on reality at the City Road Job Centre, thus proving the song wrong! ie God gave rock'n'roll to you."

Thank you to Barry for sharing his experiences with us.

Stacey's story

"Client suffered originally from post natal depression and has been on ESA benefit 3 times. However failed assessment as handbag and gloves matched. (Client had taken 3 hours to get ready). Missed bus. Got taxi on tic. Was told she must be in centre as smart. Becoming more stressed with circumstances and debts. (£450 per fortnight on ESA became £140 on JSA). Borrowed money from father because bailiffs came - now problems with family because of this. When going to have ESA assessment worried about losing children which must colour answers."

Thank you to Stacey for sharing her experience, and thank you to the volunteer who listened and wrote it down on her behalf.

Robert's story

"First stages of ESA benefits - £112.00 per week between two.

• £68 - service charge, rent
• bedroom tax
• £6.00 per week TV licence
• £5.00 Club per week, paying off
• paying back overpayment of housing benefit
• electric

don't drink don't smoke"

Thank you to Robert for sharing his situation with us.

Darren's story

"I failed to attend a job centre appointment, rang through on the Wednesday to inform them that I had been at the hospital as my Nan was taken in with a burst appendix.
I called into Chester job centre on Thursday 7th, to be informed that the claim had been closed, and I needed to make an online claim. I completed this on Friday 8th, and they sent me a text yesterday 11th with an appointment to attend on Tuesday 12th."

Thank you to Darren for sharing his experience with us.

Victoria's story

"Victoria's partner was previously on Income Support but has now been placed on Job Seekers' Allowance. Benefit Agency says he is fit for work but his doctor disagrees - has epilepsy."

Thank you to Victoria for sharing her experience, and thank you to the volunteer who listened and wrote it down on her behalf.

Lee's story

"Lost apprenticeship as could not cope. His godmother with whom he lodged told him to go. He came to Chester from Liverpool as his family is here. Hoping to go to College. Has a job centre interview this afternoon."

Thank you to Lee for sharing his experience, and to the volunteer who listened and recorded it on his behalf.

Dom's story

" Dom lost his job in Scotland and moved down here. No work. Promised income of £71.00 per week but has had no money for the last 3 weeks. 
Had money but left it in the hands of his son - who blew it!!"

Thank you to Dom for sharing his experience, and to the volunteer who listened and wrote it down on his behalf.

Clare's story

"I find myself and Family in the position to give Christmas to my 3 kids or pay off my landlady. This is not a good position. Homeless/Christmas. I am not proud of this. My husband tried helping our family by working for 4 weeks. He was then given the push. This we thought the rent was getting paid for these 4 weeks. But previously I have been sanctioned by DHSS. No rent was paid. We now owe £1000.00 which we pay £50.00 out of our money of £96.00. This is not out of choice. Thanks for your help."

Thank you to Clare for sharing her experiences with us.

Liam's story

"I am writing this because when the Social stop or serspend you money they Don't realise of what they are Doing to families. I never new about the Food Bank it is such a Great thing they do. When I Got mine I was surprized about what I got I could not get half the thing I received when I get my money so thank to you all, you Do a very Good thing you Do. You helped me when I was at rock bottom. Many thanks."

Thank you to Liam for sharing his Foodbank experiences with us.

Chris's story

"I am a self employed archaeologist and recently completed a project for a client in Liverpool. We had a 30 day invoice period and now it's coming up for double that period with no payment. It has been promised for Friday. Late payment has caused me to go into debt, unable to pay bills, and unable to eat. I have had to sell bits and pieces to pawn shops to survive.
Also, I am bipolar, & recently had a breakdown. I now have a support consultant psychologist who are helping me apply for benefits."  

Thank you to Chris for sharing this experience with us.

Matthew's story

"I am writing in complaint of the way The British Gas electric service has for the second time debited a much larger sum than agreed/used on a plan, causing again worry, despair and shock. The first time they sent a very sorry, pitiful apology and credited our account with them, no refund! This time they have done the same, the bill has the wrong meter no. on it and they have taken nearly 5 times the monthly amount. This has wiped out my spare money for food and living. I am currently in the process of fighting it yet again, hard to with no cash. Disgusting and shameless way of running a business."

Thank you to Matthew for sharing his experience.