Lee Healey heads up IncomeMax, a community interest company in Essex which provides independent personal money advice for the real world that helps people take control of their finances. Following a live appearance on ITV’s The Martin Lewis Money Show as a guest benefits expert in January, Lee has been hailed a “hero” by host, Martin Lewis, after his role in helping Ayrshire resident and benefits claimant, Christopher, turn his life around.
Chris suffers with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a chronic condition which affects internal connective tissue and has left him unable to work. Dialling into the original show on January 20, 2022, Chris told of how he had been waiting nine months without reply after applying to the Department for Work & Pensions [DWP] for Personal Independence Payment [PIP] and had been living solely on statutory sick pay. He had called into the programme for advice on what alternative temporary sources of income he could have access to until his application was processed.
As well as his PIP application, Chris had also applied to Universal Credit through its work capability function for a top-up to his personal income and had been without a response since October 2021. He had even gone as far as approaching a charitable income source in the shape of the Scottish Welfare Fund and had still been left waiting.
While his applications were pending, Chris explained that he was ineligible to receive his benefit entitlements and therefore unable to apply for a bus pass to aid his mobility in the local area. This, coupled with the minimal income he had been receiving through statutory sick pay and the rising costs of living, had left him feeling like a prisoner within his own home.
Speaking on the latest episode of the programme which aired on March 8, 2022, Chris recalled his January dial-in and spoke of how he had contacted Martin Lewis “as a last resort” amid the “sheer blind panic and terror” of being unable to afford to live.
At the time of the first show in January, both Lee and Martin Lewis promised to keep in touch with Chris to help him with his case. Incredibly, after they followed up with DWP to clarify the technicalities, Chris was given a PIP assessment within three days, which took place a fortnight later.
Within days of the assessment being completed, Chris was awarded a backdated PIP payment of £5,700 and was informed that he would receive £608 going forward on a monthly basis.
Chris said following the conclusion of his case: “It’s incredible that after ten months of waiting it was all done within days. I am so mightily relieved. It has given me the validation that something is wrong with me, and I do need the help, and it has brought an immense amount of mental relief. I can finally go on a bus to get a coffee. Martin, you’re my hero!”
While accepting Chris’ praises, Martin Lewis took a moment to pay tribute to Lee Healey for his role in processing the case.
“My hero is Lee Healey, who did a lot more work on this case than I did”, Martin told the public.
“It is important for me to say to anyone whose household income is under £30,000, it is definitely worth spending ten minutes on a benefits calculator to see what you are entitled to. It should not take the media weight that I have to get a case like Christopher’s sorted. It took too long and I can’t intervene for everyone. The system needs improving.”
Speaking after the show aired, Lee Healey also emphasised the need for changes to be made to the benefits system for the good of those who need it most.
“The system really does need improving, no-one should have to go through this, but I’m pleased that IncomeMax can be there for people in situations like this”, Lee said.
“We’re all so pleased for him [Chris], it’s really changed his life. I’m humbled, speechless but also very proud that Martin called me a hero on national TV in front of millions, but of course the absolute heroes are our adviser, Louise, who put in the hard hours with DWP to get a successful outcome, and also Christopher himself, who never gave up hope.”
Photo by Sarah Agnew on Unsplash
