Unfortunately some of us are not on means-tested benefits purely because we worked when we were able to and paid enough National Insurance contributions. (I’m on contribution-based ESA, not income-based)
We also lost working tax credits at beginning of the year as my wife had her hours cut (not her choice).
Since January our household income has gone down which means we need benefits more than ever, but the opposite has happened with losing working tax credits.
We have around £10k in savings, but with a roof needing replacing and some of the windows needing replacing, we can’t spend the money and hold on to it until either the windows or roof fail completely.
We have a Motability car on order , but think we’ll have to cancel it especially as it has a £3,299 AP.
We aren’t entitled to all the extras that are available with means tested benefits which adds up to MANY thousands and every company (gas, electric, help with replacement boilers, warm home discount, insulation, PDSA, Motability, etc, etc) don’t look at the full picture, just use means tested benefits as their eligibility criteria.
Sorry for rant, it’s just things look very bleak financially at the moment.