Case Studies

Case Study 1 : Ms Jane

Jane is severely disabled and had to move into new accommodation, as landlord was selling property. She had made a claim for a community care grant, but this was refused.

Nucleus helped Anna with a review of the decision. Client was able to move to new address and furnish accommodation otherwise would have had to go into care as would not have been able to live in new accommodation.

Case Study 2 : Mr Mahmoud

Mahmoud was in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance. He was living in hostel accommodation after a period of living rough on the streets.

Mahmoud had been offered an unfurnished council tenancy but had no furniture. He had applied for, but been refused, a community care grant. At the time he approached Nucleus he was sleeping on bare floorboards in a completely empty flat and had no ability to store, prepare, cook or eat food.

Nucleus appealed against the refusal and as a result Mr Mahmoud was awarded a grant of £970 and got started with basic furnishing to start to make his flat into a home.

Case Study 3 : Mr John

John is a pensioner, living alone in rented accommodation and in receipt of state retirement pension and Pension Credit.

He approached Nucleus with a problem with his BT bill. He paid money regularly on his BT card however he received a letter from Moorcroft Debt Collectors that he owes £532.21. Client has been very nervous about whole matter because he lost all contact with his family abroad.
We investigated the matter – it appeared that the card, client has been paying money on has not been registered by BT. We issued a complaint, which resolving took over 4 months! BT found John’s payments and they refunded him £352.42 plus contract cancellation fees.

John paid the balance £44.56, and was able to connect a new BT line with no charge and finally get back in touch with family members abroad

Case Study 3 : Ms Zena

Zena is single and in receipt on income-based JSA. After Zena lost her job her £12k became un-manageable . Zena first turned to a CCCS plan. But failed to keep to this, as it was unrealistic.

Unable to afford monthly amounts, she needed help negotiating payments to her creditors as tried several times. She has a mortgage property and enough equity thus not insolvent.

How we helped: We checked to see if she was eligible for any further benefits. We conducted a financial statement and worked out pro-rata payments (as client was getting sums from family and friends). We wrote to her creditors with the offers. They all accepted apart from one as they believe the offer was too low. We advised them due to the client’s age and circumstances it is unlikely client will be able to offer higher sums.

In the end the creditor agreed to write of the £8k debt outstanding. They may not have been aware that the client had a mortgage property.