I’m really grateful for the help I’ve received from you previously but I just found out I’m going to need your help for a bit longer. I’m making this post on Hexbear’s Mutual Aid too, but sometimes my posts there don’t get responses, or sometimes I have to make a request two or three times before getting a response, so I’m posting it here too.
As you may know by now, I’m going through a disability benefit appeal. (I’m a thyroid cancer patient and had a stroke due to the cancer treatment). The DWP originally estimated that it should be sorted out by the end of February. However I’ve just received a letter from them saying that it’s going to take longer than expected. This is probably because they re-assess disabled people for their benefits so ridiculously frequently that they have a huge backlog to get through. I will probably need help for a few more months (I have no money at all, actually a negative amount due to debts accrued while trying to get through the appeal.) I’ve also had to use the supermarket vouchers previously given by people on here to buy some other necessary things that I have no way of paying for, like soap, toilet paper, etc. So they are almost used up now.
I don’t like to ask for actual money unless it’s strictly necessary, as the DWP love to make claimants’ lives a misery and I would probably get in trouble if they see money going into my account. I had to ask for money recently though to pay for the bandages for my upcoming surgery. Thankfully, you came through and I’m having my next surgery this Thursday. I wouldn’t have been able to have this surgery, nor feed myself this long, without your help, and I’m so grateful.
But now I need to get through the next few months until my situation is resolved. If anyone is willing to help me out with some supermarket gift cards (to avoid getting in trouble with the DWP for receiving money) I’d be so grateful. The easiest option is probably Sainsburys supermarket, you don’t have to be in the UK to buy these gift cards, they take debit card, credit card and google pay. You can do it anonymously if you want, and it gets emailed to my email address.
https://www.sainsburysgiftcard.co.uk/
If this is not a suitable option for you, I will gladly accept any kind of vouchers or gift cards that can be used to buy food in the UK - justeat, amazon, etc.
I also really need some dental supplies - toothpaste, dental floss, toothbrush heads. I’m down to my last toothbrush head, I’ve been using it for a while, it’s not very clean and has been used longer than it should be. My toothpaste tube is almost empty. I tried getting free toothpaste samples from the local dentist but they said they don’t give those out any more. Would anyone be willing to order these things and send them to me? They can be bought from amazon, or from Boots.com and to order from Boots you don’t need to be in the UK, I believe they take paypal.
I just need to get through the next few months.
Hey comrade. Hope this message finds you well, as well can be.
I was thinking about your situation the other day and I’m sure you’ve thought about all the possibilities over the months and years, but I figured I might still bring this one up just in case.
It’s going to sound like I’m recruiting you on Substack 😬 but I was thinking maybe over there is a space where you could build up some regular revenue, which could hopefully help alleviate your situation on the regular. I was thinking about this possibility for you because I’m reminded of publications like Erin in the Morning, who writes about trans legislation news in the US and makes her living with this writing (on Substack), and I have the impression there’s a lot you could talk about there that would be interesting – speaking not just to socialists but a broad audience.
Since you have issues with pure money income it’s totally possible to drop links for gift cards and such at the end of the posts, but it is also kind of a game of luck whether people will support or not and success doesn’t come overnight of course, but is built over time. Otherwise I don’t know if it’s possible for you to get a second bank account that the DWP isn’t aware of? This is technically fraud but… who’s looking :P
I don’t know if this is otherwise something you’d be interested in or that’s even feasible for you, but feel free to message me if you have questions, I’m happy to help you with this. I’ve also had health issues, and on some days writing on the computer was pretty much the only thing I was able to do.
Thanks for the suggestions. However I cannot publicly advertise that I’m accepting money, even gift cards, as I would get in trouble with the DWP. Same thing with earning money online. This is why I ask for gift cards instead, but to publicly broadcast that I’m accepting them, the DWP would find out and I’d be in deep shit. I also don’t think getting a second bank account is feasible. I also don’t want to have a public persona, as it would be too embarrassing to be seen in public the way I look now. My hair is falling out, I’m puffy and swollen from my treatment, my face droops on one side after the stroke and I can’t walk properly. Thanks, but I just need to hang on for a few more months with whatever secret anonymous gift cards I can get and hopefully then this will be sorted out.
I understand the problem. Substack doesn’t need any identification to get started but of course this could always come up to the DWP and get them to investigate. If I somehow think of a solution I’ll be sure to share.
