Between 2018 and 2019 Citizens Advice Swindon helped people claim an additional £2,125,451 in previously unclaimed benefits.

This included one gentleman who was struggling to cope financially after his Personal Independence Payment benefit was cut.

‘He has a disability but when he was reassessed he was told that he was now entitled only to a lower rate of payment, which would mean he would have to give back his motability car.

‘He wanted help to appeal this decision as he felt it was not right.

‘The gentleman wanted support to find out if the correct decision had been made.

‘We assessed his case and agreed to help him challenge the decision.

‘As part of this process, we also carried out a benefits check and discovered that because of his circumstances he should also have severe disability premium added to his Employment Support Allowance payment.

‘We advised him how to go about requesting this, and he received a backdated payment of around £8,000 as well as an increase of £65.85 in his regular weekly payment.

‘When the time came to attend his tribunal to appeal his Personal Independence Payment decision, one of our caseworkers attended with him to support him through the process.

‘With our help his Personal Independence Payment was reinstated at the higher level, meaning he retained his motability car which was crucial to his independence.’