Tobi, a single man in his mid‑thirties is actively seeking paid work, but while unemployed he relies on Universal Credit (UC) and his income did not cover his essential living costs.
Tobi also lives with epilepsy and had been hospitalised after a double seizure the previous year. Medical staff advised him to reduce stress — but rising financial pressures were making this difficult. When Tobi contacted us, he was facing:
Tobi reached out because he was struggling to cope and needed clear, practical guidance.
Our advisers worked with Tobi to understand the full picture of his finances and explore every option available.
We contacted his housing provider and successfully arranged for £462 of last year’s rent arrears to be written off, significantly reducing the pressure on him and enabling a more manageable repayment plan.
We helped Tobi understand his benefit entitlements and advised him on how to request lower deductions from DWP, giving him more money available each month for essentials.
During our discussions, we identified that Tobi also had £890 in electricity arrears. We supported him in completing an Energy Trust grant application to help cover these costs.
We continued working with Tobi to monitor his situation, reduce stress triggers, and ensure he had the right support in place while seeking employment.
Thanks to the support he received:
Tobi told us he felt relieved and hopeful for the first time in months — and that he finally had a clear way forward.
All stories have been given different names and certain details have been omitted or changed to preserve their anonymity.