Jan 2022
Test case Study
Our client moved into temporary accommodation in Harlow two years ago by a London council. She lives with three children of school age and is in receipt of Universal Credit and Child Benefit. She also works part-time and has childcare costs of £2400 monthly.
Our client explained she is struggling to keep up with childcare costs, energy costs and also has a water debt.
Citizens Advice Harlow identified that client may be able to claim up to 85% of childcare cost as she claims Universal Credit and meets the eligibility. Client could receive a maximum of £646.35 per month for one child or a maximum of £1108.04 per month for 2 or more children. The adviser also identified that if the client switched her energy provider using the Citizens Advice comparison website, she could potentially save £140 a year as well as claiming for the warm home discount scheme. As the client was living on her own with the children, she could apply for the 25% single person discount on her Council Tax bill.
Citizens Advice Harlow empowered the client to file the invoice for her childcare costs and arrange a meeting to discuss this with her Universal Credit work coach. This was successful and the client was awarded £1108.04 monthly childcare cost for three children. Our client applied for 25% single person discount online the same day and was awarded a discount of £365 every year. We also identified that our client could be eligible for a lower tariff on water. We assisted our client to make an online application, if approved the client will only pay a fixed rate for water going forward and this will help the client make affordable repayments towards the existing debt.
Outcome:
• Yearly saving cost of £13,296.48 for childcare costs
• Yearly saving cost of £365 for Council Tax
• Yearly saving cost of £140 for switching energy provider
Total annual income gained for our client: £13,801.48