Samantha’s story: getting support when bills can’t go any lower

Wokingham, UK

Samantha found Lightning Reach through Wokingham Council and received £1050 to help with living expenses.

“My bills are the lowest they can be, but everything’s still so expensive”

Samantha, who lives in Wokingham, recently spoke to us about her experience of finding support whilst managing her own health problems and caring for a son who has a disability. Samantha had already reduced her expenses as much as possible. However, rising living costs and her son's special dietary requirements was causing significant strain. 

Samantha’s situation worsened, and she was classed as ‘medically unfit to work’. Losing her job meant she was left without an income while caring full-time for her son, making it difficult to afford essentials like food, bills, and day-to-day living costs.

Finding support with bills after being unable to work

Unsure where to turn, Samantha accessed Lightning Reach after being signposted by Wokingham Council. After completing her profile on the portal, she was quickly matched with relevant support, including a grant from a national teaching charity. She was shocked to receive a grant in just 10 days, providing immediate help towards her essentials.

“The application was just one form. It was really quick and painless!” 

A grant that bought time and security

Samantha received £1050 towards her bills. With her essential costs covered, this gave her the crucial time and space to tend to her own health, while finding a new role that could give her stability long term.

“The grant was a real cushion - it gave me the time to be able to look for a job that will work with my health conditions.”

Samantha’s experience highlights the difficulties that people with ongoing health problems go through, alongside a career and family responsibilities. The support she accessed provided not just financial relief from her bills, but also the time and space needed to regain stability. To others in a similar position, Samantha’s advice was:

“Definitely see what help is out there and apply for it. The process can seem daunting at first, but it was actually really quick and straightforward”

Get help today

Could you or someone you know use a helping hand building up your financial resilience? Create your account today at www.lightningreach.org/application-portal to see what you're eligible for.