£0 remaining for a cooker
P is a lady in her fifties who is living alone. She has recently left work, due to worsening epileptic seizures and mental health struggles. P has been without a cooker for a year and is unable to self fund, due to a delay in her benefits being assessed. She has been surviving on microwave meals, but is worried her unhealthy diet will effect her pre-existing medial conditions. The cost of these ready meals has meant that P has been choosing between eating and heating her home.
K would appreciate help towards the cost of a new freezer, following her current one breaking down, so she can store food for her family of five. K has a disability that affects her mobility, making standing for too long difficult, so storing food in the freezer is more accessible then cooking from fresh every day. K relies on benefits which makes it very hard to save for large appliances and she needs some support to acquire such items.
This family, who have three children, and came to the UK as asylum seekers after fleeing violence in Nigeria, have now been granted leave to remain. They are moving into a council house tomorrow, but will have no white goods and not much furniture. The council has stated that they are not eligible for a resettlement grant because dad was given a work permit and has been working part-time for about a year. They are trying to buy what they can, but a cooker is beyond their means at present.
This man, who is forty eight and is cared for by his partner (who works uncertain hours), is being treated for liver failure and has a long-term auto-immune syndrome which prevent him from working. After a recent hospitalisation, our client's Personal Independence Payment reduced when his condition was reassessed, which is being appealed. The council recently upgraded this man's kitchen and removed the cooker as it was unsafe. Therefore, he can only use a microwave, which is not helping his condition. Foodbank assistance continues and he is dependent on home deliveries.