WHEN mother-of-two Becci James stopped using her car because she couldn’t afford gas, she knew she was struggling.
The 42-year-old pupil support manager worked four days a week at a local state school and was training the other day to become a young people’s counsellor.
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Becci James, a mother of two, stopped using her car because she couldn’t afford gas. Credit: Becci James
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Becci (42) lives in Lymington, Hampshire with her two daughters Effie (16) and Poppy (13)
Money hadn’t been a problem for her in the past, but as the cost of living skyrocketed, things got tighter.
“My food bills have almost tripled, my gas and electricity bills have doubled and little things like insurance have had to be scrapped to meet the increasing cost of essentials for myself and the children,” she told The Sun.
“I panicked when the car needed a MOT and was constantly watching fuel prices to try and save where I could.”
Becci, who lives in Lymington, Hampshire with her two daughters, Effie, 16, and Poppy, 13, had already resorted to loans and credit cards to pay for the basics, but even that was no longer an option.
She even considered dropping out of her three-year counseling degree so she could pick up another day job.
“Thoughts about my financial obligations were overwhelming,” she said.
“I had one day a month when the weight went on, but the day after I got paid my bills would leave me with just child benefit and tax credits to survive on.”
Becci said she felt “very trapped” and worried because the union’s ongoing negotiations with the government meant there were “always huge delays in pay rises in state education”.
She began to give up on financial obligations that were not urgent for her.
“I cut back on important things like boiler service coverage and pet insurance,” she said.
“I was gambling with potentially large payouts, without any savings behind me.”
She stopped giving the girls pocket money, canceled trips together and kept turning off the lights and using throw lights instead of turning on the heat.
“It’s something I never thought about,” she said.
Then, while browsing her TSB banking app to find ways to cut her spending even further, she noticed a new section called Money Worries.
“I was intrigued, but I thought it was going to be an advice area and nothing more,” she said.
“When I scrolled down and came across “additional support”, I have to be honest, I wasn’t expecting much.”
But after she followed a link to Lightening Reach and filled out a short form about where she worked and the ages of her children, a full list of scholarships appeared for which she was eligible.
Becci clicked on The Teaching Staff Trust and it only took her a few moments to sign up.
Within a week she received £1,000 in vouchers to spend at Amazon and major supermarkets.
“They came almost immediately via email,” she said.
“Receiving the news that I received the scholarship, I felt really appreciated for the work I do.
“It was as if there was finally an awareness that working in education makes a big difference, but that, like the NHS, staff are generally constrained by restrictive pay caps.
“I was also finally de-stressed and able to concentrate on my studies to become a qualified counsellor.”
By having access to vouchers, Becci was able to set aside part of her salary for bills instead of trips to the supermarket.
“I had no idea this opportunity existed until I came across it on the TSB application and since then I have been successfully awarded two more scholarships, both to support my studies.
“It’s an understatement to say that they made a big difference in our lives, because they gave me a financial break just when I needed it.
“Anyone who thinks they have exhausted all options, please complete this short online form, there are grants for many different careers and needs.
“There are charities just waiting to help you.
“Don’t be ashamed or think you’re not meant to be because in this time of financial crisis there are more of us than ever before working hard and still relying on vital help like this.”
Where to find financial aid
There are several other grants and cash payments you can get if you are struggling.
Payment of children’s winter heating
Child Winter Heating Benefit, formerly known as Child Winter Heating Benefit, will be paid to thousands of families from November.
Cash worth £235.70 is issued to households to cover the cost of higher energy bills during the colder months.
But the benefit is only available to households in Scotland, with around 26,000 payments in 2022/23.
You must also be 18 years of age or younger and receive one of the following benefits:
- the highest rate of the care component for the child’s disability allowance
- the highest rate of the care component of disability allowance for children
- an enhanced daily life component of paying for personal independence
- increased rate of daily component of disability allowance for adults
You must have applied for one of the four benefits above between September 18 and September 24, although you can apply retroactively.
Anyone who meets the requirements can apply by completing a paper form available on the Scottish Government website.
Warm home discount
Millions of households in England, Wales and Scotland can get £150 taken off their energy bills through the Warm Home Discount.
This winter, money will be taken from your account between October 16 and March 2024.
To qualify, you will need to receive one or more of the following benefits:
Eligible households in England and Wales do not need to apply for the discount, although some in Scotland do.
Residents of Scotland should check directly with their energy supplier to see if they qualify for a discount.
British Gas energy support
The UK Gas Support Fund opened on 2 October and is accepting applications from customers struggling to pay their bills.
Any British Gas customer is eligible to enter and can win up to £1,500.
However, you must meet the following criteria:
- live in England, Wales or Scotland
- have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust in the last 12 months
- may have a credit or subscription meter with previous outstanding debt
You will also need to provide proof of income and your household expenses will be used to determine whether you are in poverty or at risk of fuel shortages.
Information about grants can be found on the British Gas website.
Plus, here’s a full list of grants offered by energy companies this winter.
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund is worth £842 million and is shared between councils in England.
They then decide how to distribute your share of the fund, meaning what you get depends on where you live.
In most cases, support is offered to people on low incomes or benefits.
In any case, you will need to apply through your local council, which you can find using the Government’s council finder tool.
Some households received vouchers to pay their energy bills, while other local authorities transferred money directly to residents’ bank accounts.
The last group of funds must be allocated by the councils by March 31, 2024.
Help for debt
If you’re worried about debt, don’t bury your head in the sand.
Citizens Advice says it’s important to budget and keep an eye on your bank balance.
Try to pay more than the minimum on your credit cards each month and pay off your most expensive credit card first.
If you have several debts and cannot pay them all, it is important to prioritize.
You need to pay your rent, mortgage, council tax and energy bills first as the consequences can be more serious if you don’t pay them.
Groups such as Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline can help you manage your debt and negotiate with creditors.
You should always look at what free debt management options are available before contacting a private support company.
There is also a special government debt management help scheme called Breathing Space, which entitles you to legal protection from creditors for up to 60 days.
The FCA said consumers can get free and impartial advice on the MoneyHelper website or by phone on 0800 138 7777.
How to get support
Becci found help through her TSB banking app, which put her in touch with Lightning Reach, an organization that helps people in financial difficulty get support.
Nicola Bannister, director of financial support at TSB, shared her advice if you’re struggling with your finances.
Contact your bank: Talking to your bank does not affect your credit score and can be the first step in finding a better solution and getting financial help.
Check Unclaimed Grants: Lightning Reach and other benefit calculators can make sure you don’t miss out on money you’re entitled to.
Set a budget: Rising bills and prices mean it’s important to know how much money is coming in and going out, so you don’t go overboard.
Find where you can save: Use your banking app to cancel expenses like direct debits and subscriptions you no longer need.
Don’t delay: If you’re worried, it’s best to act as soon as possible, rather than letting the situation get worse. Organizations such as StepChange, Money Helper, National Debtline or Citizens Advice can provide free advice if you are struggling with debt.
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and collaborate with the consumer team and other group members.
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