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I Got A £1,500 Free Cash To Help Pay My Bills, It Was So Easy And Took Only A Few Minutes
SINGLE mum-of-two Annette struggled to pay her bills after a house move cost her more money than expected.
The 41-year-old lived in a two-bedroom flat in Newbury, West Berkshire, but when she was offered a three-bedroom house in the same area she jumped at the chance to give her family a better living situation.
Mum-of-two Annette was struggling to make ends meet after moving houseHer eldest son, who has ADHD, had been sleeping on a temporary bed in the living room, which gave him no personal space and made it hard for him to complete his schoolwork.
He had previously been sleeping in a large cupboard in the home, which her step father built a bed in, but following a growth spurt the space was no longer suitable for him.
Her younger son had his own bedroom, but sharing was not an option as the room was not big enough for both of them.
Despite saving up £1,000 for move the Navy veteran ended up using the cash to pay for the first month’s rent and moving costs.
Her new landlord asked for £595 in rent upfront and then she had to fork out £300 on a removal van and petrol, leaving her financially depleted.
At the same time she moved to Universal Credit and her child support payments stopped, leaving her without income for six weeks.
She received child support from her eldest sons father but after he turned 20 these payments stopped. The mum also never received any financial help from her youngest’s dad.
Annette is not currently working due to medical reasons, including mental health issues and a recent fibromyalgia diagnosis.
Reflecting on the move, Annette said: “We were trying to build a home from nothing. The house was empty, and so was my bank account.
“I had to use everything I had just to cover the first month’s rent and moving costs. There was nothing left for furniture or even food. It was heartbreaking.”
She was left feeling overwhelmed and worried about how she would manage to pay for food for the month or new furniture for her home.
As her financial pressures became overwhelming, a friend encouraged her to get in touch with military charities.
Annette contacted the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust, who introduced her to the Lightning Reach portal.
Lightning Reach connects users to personalised help, such as fuel vouchers, utility bills and energy advice.
Annette said: “I didn’t think there was anything out there for someone like me. I just thought, ‘There’s always someone worse off’.’
How does Lightning Reach work?
Lightning Reach is a financial support portal which allows users to access personalised support with their bills all in one place.
Users can get help with their energy and utility bills, debt write-offs, fuel vouchers, energy advice and home efficiency upgrades.
This year it has provided almost £1million worth of grants to struggling households through its Winter Warmth campaigning since September 2024.
The average successful applicant gets more than £1,000 worth of support through the portal.
The platform has more than 80 partners and connects people to over 2,500 financial support schemes.
Its partners include the Teaching Staff Trust, Royal British Legion and Southern Housing.
To access the help you must first sign up to create a free account and complete a profile.
Next you can check your support matches, which will give you a list of financial support that is tailored to your situation.
You can submit your applications through the secure portal by simply clicking a button.
Once your application is approved you will get the support in as little as two days.
The money can be paid in several ways, including food and fuel vouchers.
“I’d never applied for help from military charities before, but the portal made it so simple. It saved me so much time and stress.”
She filled out her profile and was connected with several organisations that were able to provide her with support.
Through the portal she was able to claim support worth £1,525 from three organisations:
- £900 from the Naval Children’s Charity
- £150 in food vouchers from the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust
- £475 from the Royal British Legion
Annette used the money to buy beds for her sons and desks for their schoolwork.
For her eldest son, having his own bed and desk made an immediate difference to his mental wellbeing.
She also bought carpets to make their home more welcoming.
Annette said the house “now feels like a home”.
She adds: “The whole process was really easy. You could do it all on your phone, which was brilliant.
“The whole process was so easy and reassuring. It made me feel valued, and that’s something money can’t buy.”
Annette now plans to complete a business administration qualification and return to work.
She has even mentioned the scheme to her friends who also used to work for the military.
She said: “I’ve told my friends and family, especially those who are ex-military, about the portal. It’s about making people realise they’re not asking for too much.
“The support is there for a reason.”
Where to find financial help
There are several grants and cash payments you could get if you are struggling.
Household Support Fund
If you are struggling to pay your bills, you may be able to apply for support via the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The funding is designed to help people who are vulnerable or cannot afford necessities including energy bills, water bills and food.
The help may be paid as cash, food or fuel vouchers.
What support is available and whether you are eligible varies by council.
Check your local authority’s website to see what is on offer and how to apply.
For example, St Helens Borough Council in Merseyside is offering support with essential bills.
Low-income families can apply for support with their food, fuel bills and other living expenses such as utility debts.
They can also get cash to help with the cost of purchasing furniture or white goods.
Households can apply for payments worth £200.
Those over 80 who are not eligible for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment can get £300.
They must be receiving Housing Benefit or another Council Tax reduction.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off £150 discount on your energy bill.
If you are eligible then your energy supplier will usually apply the discount to your bill.
You may instead be sent a voucher if you have a prepayment meter.
Applications for the scheme opened in October but there can be a delay before the payments are made.
To qualify for the cash, you usually need to be claiming one of a range of means-tested benefits during the qualifying week, which is typically in August.
But if you successfully claim backdated benefits, you may still be able to qualify after this date once your benefits are confirmed.
If you qualify for the Warm Home Discount, you should receive a letter to tell you.
These letters are usually sent between October and January.
You can use our guide to check which benefits qualify for the help.
Plus we explain how to get the cash if you think you are eligible but have not received a letter.
Free electricity and gadgets
Several energy suppliers are giving customers free gadgets to help them cut their energy bills.
Octopus Energy is handing out freebies including electric blankets to customers as part of its Octo Assist fund.
The bankets can save customers up to £150 across winter.
Octopus customers can also borrow a thermal imaging camera to help find spots in their homes where heat is escaping.
Once they have identified the draughts, customers can look into ways to get them fixed, which can help to reduce their energy usage.
Meanwhile, EDF customers can get their hands on free energy-saving gadgets such as air fryers, kettles and slow cookers.
EDF has also said it will replace broken or poorly-working appliances with energy-efficient ones.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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