Pammy W

My experience was I had to ask for an advance payment on my Universal Credit to pay for food when my partner first left. I also had to use foodbanks which the choice of food was sometimes food my family would not eat, like tins of fish and chicken soups etc. I did use the money I applied for to stock my cupboards and freezer with food.

Working with clients who live in poverty I often apply for grants etc for people who need furniture/ white goods. These will be offered directly from the furniture store has previously cash payments were given. This often resulted in the client spending the money on drugs or alcohol. The worker had no way of tracking where the money had gone. Gift cards for supermarkets will be used for food with restriction of alcohol and cigarettes so that the voucher just goes on food.

This is why the system was changed. Some people were applying for money/ furniture etc just so they could fund their drug/ alcohol habit.

This now makes the system harder for honest, genuine people who ask for help.