Jane’s story: financial help when a pension wasn’t enough

Leeds, UK

Jane was signposted to Lightning Reach by E.ON Next and received a £600 grant from Friends of the Elderly

"It's a joy that there are people out there who really care."

When a steady income suddenly stops

Jane had been working full-time for a charity when her circumstances changed overnight.

After suffering a heart attack, she was unable to continue working in the same way. At the same time, her husband lost his driving licence, meaning he could no longer work as an HGV driver.

With both incomes gone, the couple quickly found themselves under financial pressure. Jane also experienced significant mental health challenges following her illness, making it even harder to return to work.

“You still have bills whether you're working or not working. We don’t live an extravagant life, but we didn’t have anything at all in the bank.”

They began relying on Jane’s pension (around £900 per month) but were unable to access additional benefits for her husband. With no other income, their savings were rapidly drained, and they were forced to cut back wherever possible and even sell belongings to cover essentials.

Finding financial help beyond the pension

After struggling to find help elsewhere, Jane reached out to her energy provider, E.ON Next.

“I phoned E.ON for help. The young man I spoke to was absolutely amazing and put us on to Lightning Reach.”

This introduction gave Jane a new route to access support at a time when she had been facing repeated setbacks and uncertainty.

Through Lightning Reach, Jane was matched with Friends of the Elderly and applied for support to help cover the cost of getting her car through its MOT and help to cover the basics.

She received a £600 grant, which immediately eased some of the financial pressure and allowed her to prioritise essential spending.

After hearing repeated “no’s” when reaching out for help, receiving this support came as a genuine surprise and provided much-needed relief.

The support “helped massively”, giving Jane and her family some breathing space during a particularly difficult time.

Looking ahead

While the financial help made a meaningful difference, Jane knows that with her pension as her only source of income, it is only a short-term solution. Her focus now is on rebuilding stability and finding ways to improve her financial situation longer term.

She is exploring part-time work and continuing to look through other support options available to her, taking steps towards getting back on her feet.

Get help today

Could you or someone you know use help with their essential costs? Create your account today at www.lightningreach.org/application-portal to see what you're eligible for.