making a fresh start with energy debt
Grants to Individuals
Case Studies
Example One
A 35 year old mother of three, lives in London and is an EDF Energy customer. She relies solely on income support and child benefit to look after her family, giving her a weekly income of around �215. Once she's taken all costs into account - food, clothing, bills etc. - she spends around �200 each week, leaving her very little disposable income.
Her quarterly electricity bills were based on estimated readings for some time and, when a bill arrived that was based on the actual meter reading, the amount due was far higher than she had expected. She realised that she was in no position to pay the amount due of �414. Responding to information supplied by her energy company about the EDF Energy Trust, she contacted her local money advice centre, the East London Financial Inclusion Unit (ELFI) for support.
Advisers at ELFI identified that the woman would be eligible to apply for financial help from the EDF Energy Trust. They completed an application with her after first checking that, if a one-off grant were made to her, that she would be able to keep up payments in future.
The Trust awarded her a grant of �431 to clear her debts and to allow her to make a fresh start. ELFI said that the award 'helped relieve the stress their client was under due to the fact that the amount which had to be repaid was so high'.
Example Two
A 61 year old man lives with his wife and their adult child in Devon. Chronic health problems, probably caused by exposure to asbestos, meant that the gentleman was unable to work and he relied instead on benefits of around �186 a week to support him and his family.
Unfortunately, he had built up significant debts to credit companies and substantial debts on his mortgage. On top of this he owed around �370 to SWEB Energy in gas and electricity debts. He eventually sought help from his local advice centre - the East Devon Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) - who offered him debt advice and advice on disability benefits.
In addition to the advice and support given to him by the CAB, which has resulted in his receiving a higher rate Disability Living Allowance, the EDF Energy Trust awarded him �370 to clear his debts to Seeboard Energy.
Example Three
A single mum aged 35 lives in Hastings with two children and is a Seeboard Energy customer. She had debts of almost �13,000, largely due to a working tax credit overpayment over a prolonged period. Working part-time hours, her weekly income was �247, made up of �218 salary and the remainder in child/lone parent benefit.
Feeling 'desperate', she sought help from the Hastings and Rother CAB, who discussed with her the various options that were open to her. Eventually the CAB helped her with an application to the EDF Energy Trust for a bankruptcy deposit.
The Trust awarded her the bankruptcy deposit fee of �310, as this would significantly help her quality of life. She believed that, without help from the Trust, she was likely to have had a breakdown. The CAB reported too that, without the stress and worry of the debt, their client 'is now more able to cope with her job and her children and feels stress free'.