Luke
The beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic was a difficult time for me and my wife
I was out of work from January 2020. Although I had interviews lined up, they were all postponed due to the pandemic. I wasn’t sure what I should do.
I had never sought any government benefits before, so I had no idea how to apply or how much I was entitled to. I was aware of the ICE Benevolent Fund but did not know how they could help.
*The image used in this case is a representation of our beneficiary to retain his privacy (photo by SewCream on Shutterstock)
The assistance that I received from the Ben Fund is something that I will remember for the rest of my life
Once I was in receipt of state benefits, I applied to the Ben Fund and received a very positive response – it was beyond my imagination; Lindsay (the Ben Fund’s Head of Casework and Services) helped me a lot.
I received monthly grant payments for six months. The Ben Fund also provided an award to help me pay off a credit card debt, helping me to tackle the financial difficulties caused by being unemployed. This gave me the space I needed to look after my family and seek new opportunities.
After six months, I received a job offer from a company in Yorkshire which required my family and I to relocate from Kent. The Ben Fund were able to support us throughout the relocation by awarding a grant to cover the moving costs.
Altogether, the process was a great experience and will be remembered. I am really grateful to the ICE Benevolent Fund.