A heartbroken mum says her her family has been denied crucial benefits payments following her husband’s tragic death.
Sarah Louise Hales, 29, is struggling to pay the bills and get food on the table after her beloved Daniel recently passed away.
Bricklayer Daniel was just 28 years old when he died from glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer .
But mum-of-three Sarah says she has been unable to grieve his loss due to the dire financial situation she is currently in.
She says she has been cruelly denied a crucial support payment from social services normally afforded to families who have suffered a breavement.
Daniel was unable to pay enough national insurance to qualify before he fell ill over four years ago at the age of 25.
Sarah, from Leighton Buzzard, mistakenly believed she would be entitled to an initial £3,500 Bereavement Support Payment – but was told in a Department of Work and Pensions letter that this was not the case.
According to changes made on April 2017, claimants need to have paid national insurance for at least six months to be eligible.
The DWP said she is eligible for “further support” but Sarah says the housing benefit, child tax credits and income support leaves her with around £190 per week.
She told the Independent: "It’s heartbreaking enough having to ask for help in the first place – I’d much rather still have Dan here and struggle with his illness.
"But it’s almost like I have to beg for it now. It’s degrading".
“We’re £1,000 down a month without his benefits. And that’s got to cover food, bills, and everything else,”
A crowdfunding appeal has been launched to help Sarah and her kids Charlie, 11, Scarlett, 3 and Albie, 1.
So far generous donors have smashed their target by raising £11,400 for the struggling family.
Her friend Charlotte Hodges, who set up the appeal, said: "It gave Dan comfort knowing he was able to at least leave that for them.
"However, due to government changes, Sarah and her family are being cruelly denied that after he was unable to pay enough national insurance to qualify before falling ill four years ago.
"That means that young families like theirs who face sudden loss like Sarah, Charlie, Scarlett and Albie are now left without the financial help they so desperately need in an already awful situation.
"Sarah has barely had the time to grieve after spending all of her efforts in trying to appeal the decision and care for her three children.
"It would mean so much to their little family if you could help them get through this incredibly tough time in any way you can, enabling them to grieve and live without the stress and worry of money during this horrible period in their lives."
You can contribute to the crowdfunding campaign for Sarah’s family here .
The Department of Work and Pensions has been contacted for comment.
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