After a 50 per cent cut to their universal credit payments, Trudy Pas and her son William found themselves in urgent need of financial help.
Trudy and William, who has Asperger’s syndrome, rely on Government benefits to get by. William is an adult and Trudy is his full-time carer, and is not able to go out to work.
When changes to the benefits system were piloted in 2018 in their home area of Plymouth, Trudy quickly realised their household income was going to be severely reduced. To make matters worse, their washing machine broke down soon after the changes, and Trudy couldn’t afford to repair it.
“I was really desperate,” recalls Trudy . “We relied on that washing machine every single day. William’s Asperger’s syndrome meant that going to a launderette wasn’t an option.”
William’s father, Martin, served in the RAF, and though he had died more than a year before, William and Trudy were eligible for help from the RAF Association, which supports the RAF community.
Trudy got in touch with Pauline Burrows, a local volunteer Welfare Officer for the RAF Association, and explained her situation. Within three days the charity provided Trudy with a grant of £800: £300 for a new washing machine and a £500 General Purpose Award to help her with other immediate financial needs.
Pauline said:
“Trudy had no debts prior to the changes to universal credit and was very careful with money. She and William had been living on just £10 a day.
“However, this budget was reduced to £4.50 after the benefit changes. You can imagine what a dreadful situation she found herself in, and so we stepped in to provide emergency support.”
Trudy said:
“We’d have been lost without the speedy support from the RAF Association. Martin told me years ago that if we ever needed help when he’d gone, the Association would be there.
“As well as getting a new washing machine, I’ve been using the rest of the money as an emergency fund. Knowing it’s there has been a huge help.”
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