John's Story

John's life was changed overnight by a work accident. John had been a skilled tradesman, when a colleague made a minor error with terrible consequences and exposed his lungs to a huge amount of toxic chemicals. Within seconds, John was fighting for his life, and ever since he has been unable to breathe properly due to COPD. His life was devastated in that moment.

We met him when he needed a food parcel, and discovered his dire situation. He told us, between pauses for gasps of air, how low he had become, unable to breathe enough to even walk down his road. He became isolated and obviously his mental health hit rock bottom. 

He spoke about what a difference Ann, our Benefits Advisor made when she helped him with an application for disability benefits: "I couldn't cope when my application just kept being denied over and over, all my hair started falling out and I honestly felt like no-one in the world cared what happened to me. Except Ann. She helped me just keep fighting through all the appeals, until I finally got this huge back-payment. It's completely changed my life, now I can pay for a taxi so I can actually leave the house, I can afford to eat, put my heating on, everything. It will keep me independent, and I can get out to get me own little bits of shopping."

But more than this, it’s about John being listened to, believed and getting justice. He didn't have any success in gaining statutory services for a long time, so finally securing PIP has given him a sense of vindication, which will really help with his mental health and wellbeing.