The former council worker broke out in tears at the bank trying to explain her situation as her family struggled to make ends meet while she faced a daunting health battle
When Sue was told she had cancer in her femur back in 2023, finances weren’t the first thing on her mind. But with the average disabled household paying an extra £1,095 per month for the cost of living, the bills soon mounted up.
The 61-year-old from Cleveland said: “My daughter was just about to do her exams, and my son was at university, so it was a difficult time for us as a family. I remember feeling a mix of shock and sadness, but I didn’t feel like I could dwell on it because I didn’t want my sickness to further affect my kids’ future.”
At the time, Sue was working as a council worker. She was signed off sick when she started her chemotherapy treatment and her sick payments managed to keep her family afloat for a bit.
However, when this income stream dried up, Sue was forced to go to her bank directly. She recalled: “I had to go to my bank, explain everything and hope they could help.
“I went to Santander, tears flowing down my face, scared and beaten down. Thankfully, they froze my £300-a-month mortgage for over a year, which took a huge weight off.”
She quickly applied for Personal Independence Payments too, the leading DWP benefit for disabled people that offers varying rates depending on how a person’s health conditions affect them. At the time, Sue was first put on the lower rate which barely covered food and heating bills.
However, Sue wasn’t just facing her usual household bills as the hidden cost of cancer was now creeping in too. Particularly the costs of getting to and from her treatment appointments.
She said: “Hospital transport was technically available, but I’d be picked up at 7:30 am for an 11:30 appointment just 12 minutes away, then left waiting until teatime to get home. That’s not sustainable when you’re undergoing exhausting treatments like daily chemotherapy or radiotherapy.”
Determined to make ends meet, Sue started looking for other ways to cut down on bills and came across Purpl, a platform offering discounts specifically for disabled people. Doing her usual shopping through the platform has her on track to save £700 this year.
She said: “I do a food shop twice a week and save £48 a month using the Morrisons code. In February, I needed a new freezer and saved £45 on it. I’ve also used the Domino’s Pizza code when I’m treating myself.”
Sue is now retired and living mortgage-free, with a set gas and electric bill through Octopus to keep her bills consistent. But she is paying for grocery delivery passes from her savings
With Labour’s controversial PIP changes currently on hold, Sue shared her fears that the restricted eligibility criteria would take away the benefit payments from some disabled people. She said: “What really scares me about the government’s current cuts to PIP is the thought that people may become isolated because they rely on it for taxis to the hospital or GP appointments.
“If they stop going, especially in winter, will people get ill or even die from hypothermia because they can’t afford to keep warm? And food! Prices are rising by tens of pence, not just pennies. Will people have to skip meals?”
Georgina Colman, founder of Purpl, said: “Hearing about experiences like Sue’s makes me proud, but also sad. I’m glad we’ve been able to support her, but the fact disabled people have to fight just to stay afloat is heartbreaking. And now, the government is making things harder with proposed PIP changes.
“As a disabled woman myself, I know firsthand how expensive life can be. That’s part of why I started Purpl. We’ve just celebrated our first year, and I hope we can keep making life a bit easier for people like Sue.”