A disabled man said he has been forced to sell his dead wife’s possessions in order to cover the cost of living in recent years. Jason Alcock, 51, from Stoke-on-Trent, has autism, ADHD and bipolar disorder.
Mr Alcock’s wife Paola died in 2018 after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and his disabilities mean he finds it difficult to leave the house and interact with others. Instead, he uses technology, including virtual reality, to communicate from his home – however, with the cost of running his home increasing, and his income coming from Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and a severe disability premium, that has proved challenging.
Mr Alcock said he should qualify for the £800 worth of support Rishi Sunak announced in May, saying: “it’s a band-aid on a gaping chest wound, but it’s at least something that’s going to help this year.”
