How a man rebuilt his life after crippling diagnosis

48 year old *Cheng was making great strides in his career when he had his first seizure in 2019. He received a crippling diagnosis: epilepsy. It crushed his self-confidence, especially at work, where he was afraid he might have a seizure in front of his workmates.

Cheng’s self-esteem took a further downturn when he was passed over for a promotion due to his poor work performance. Frustrated and humiliated, he quit his job and remained unemployed for two years.

During this time, Cheng successfully applied for income protection. A few months before his income protection was due to end, Cheng decided to return to the workforce. Then he had another massive seizure that resulted in brain surgery. His doctors advised him to put off working for a year.

With no source of income, Cheng began looking for cheaper accommodation and applied to Job Seeker on the basis of a medical exemption. When the banks began calling for debt repayments, a frightened and desperate Cheng turned to the National Debt Helpline (NDH) for support. He was then referred to Better Place Australia for free financial counselling because he resided in one of the many funded areas.

Cheng explained his financial situation to the financial counsellor and said that a further three months of financial hardship allowance would be a huge relief. This timeline coincided with his next medical review. An assessment confirmed Cheng was facing financial hardship.

The financial counsellor took action:

• He contacted Cheng’s bank to explain his current situation and advocate for a partial or full debt waiver on his behalf.
• Cheng was connected with an employment agency to help him find a job that suited his circumstances. The financial counsellor also helped him create a money plan that would increase his disposable income.
• Cheng was given resources to seek affordable accommodation in his preferred suburb.
• The financial counsellor helped Cheng work out an affordable payment plan with his utility providers.
• And an internal referral was made to a psychologist to address Cheng’s high stress and anxiety levels.

The bank granted Cheng a full debt waiver totalling $42,500. With this load off his shoulders, he was able to focus on finding new accommodation and a job. Through the resources provided, Cheng found an affordable rental in an ideal location.

Through the employment agency, Cheng secured a part-time job with a supportive employer.

The counselling sessions helped rebuild his confidence and set new goals for his future. Conversations with the financial counsellor also equipped Cheng with a better understanding of handling his finances and any further financial challenges.

Cheng shared, “I was at my wit’s end and thought my future was ruined for sure. I’m deeply grateful to the financial counsellor for helping turn things around for me.”

 

Better Place Australia free financial counselling

The mission of Better Place Australia is to empower people to become more resilient, enjoy healthier relationships and support them through challenging times. When it comes to finance troubles, Better Place Australia free financial counselling is accessible if you live in one of the many funded areas across Victoria. For help, contact us today.

For more real stories about people with financial troubles and how our financial counsellors mediated for them, go to the Financial First Aid website and scroll down to Real Stories.