Karen Gribben, from Lanarkshire, received the payment after Loretto helped her claim Severe Disabled Premium she didn’t know she was entitled to.

Karen – who said the cash boost meant her grandkids enjoyed Christmas – urged other tenants to get in touch to help them get the benefits they’re due.

Like all the partners in Wheatley Group, Loretto said it can help tenants claim all the benefits and tax credits they’re’ entitled to, as well as providing a range of other support services.

Karen, 54, who has two daughters and seven grandkids, suffers from various health problems which mean she’s unable to work.

She contacted Loretto for help filling in an assessment for work from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Loretto’s benefits advisor spotted Karen wasn’t receiving Severe Disability Premium, contacted the DWP on her behalf – and got ten years’ of backdated payments sent to Karen.

Karen said: “Loretto’s benefits advisor Mairi was brilliant. She visited me at home and was really fighting my corner.

“I was due it, but the DWP hadn’t been paying me. She made sure the money was backdated.

“I woke up to a text message from my bank that my account had been credited with £21, 717.

“It was a total shock. I’m excited, but nervous. I’ve never had money before.

“A few weeks ago I was worried, struggling to make ends meet and I was depressed.

“Now I know the grandkids had a nice Christmas – and I can look forward to the New Year.

“The help I’ve had from Loretto means so much to me.”

Loretto’s head of housing Dan Blake said: “This is fantastic news for Karen – and a brilliant example of the support we can offer all our tenants.

“The benefits system can be complex, and people aren’t always told what they can claim.

“We can help tenants claim all the benefits and tax credits they’re entitled to and help them cope with Universal Credit too.

“Loretto is here to help all our tenants at any time.”

Karen added: “The support from Loretto has been brilliant.

“There are a lot of benefits people don’t know about. If tenants are unsure, they should get in touch with Loretto.”