A man fears he could lose his home after he said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) left him with £10 of Universal Credit to live off for a month. Neil Ford from Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said he has turned to food banks for the first time in his life as well as staying with friends and family to keep warm.
The 49-year old said he lost his security job on September 25 while he was signed off sick. He said he contacted the DWP as soon as he found out, while his final pay packet came through in early October. Although Neil was granted financial aid, on October 25 he was only eligible for £10.78 to last him until November 25 when the next payment is due to come through.
This is because Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit. As Neil was paid early in the month, the amount he could claim was dramatically reduced despite him having to wait a considerable amount of time for his next instalment.
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He said: "The DWP gave me £10.78 to last me to the end of November and said there's nothing they could do about it. It's very, very stressful and I'm not sleeping properly at night."
Neil said alongside his security job, he has been claiming Universal Credit for around a year-and-a-half. He said he usually gets around £71 which goes directly to his landlord to help him pay rent. Now jobless and with only £10 to last him the month, he said he doesn't know how he will afford his rent which costs more than £300 a month.
He said although the national £400 cost of living payment helps with his electricity usage each month, it is still too expensive for him to turn his heating on with the tiny amount of money he has to live on. Although Neil may have been eligible for the £324 cost of living payment, he said he was told by the DWP he missed the deadline to apply for the support by one day.
Neil is now in a position where he is relying on the support of friends and family as well as foodbanks to get through the month. Although he should still be out of work due to an excruciating knee condition, Neil had been forced off the sick and into a new job while he awaits a medical procedure.
He said: "How am I supposed to survive with my rent and gas? It's really stressful, I've been forced off the sick because I can't afford not to. If I get evicted the council will class it as my fault for not paying the rent so it's one big nasty circle.
"I'm living off friends and family which I don't like doing - my mate let me stay at his for a few days as it's warm. I'm also using foodbanks. I've always bought my own food so it's degrading."
A DWP spokesman said: “We are committed to supporting hard-working households but we also know the best way to support people’s living standards is through good work, better skills, and higher wages.
“Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit, which means that as earnings increase Universal Credit is gradually reduced. Mr Ford’s most recent Universal Credit payment was reduced due to his earnings in October and deductions made to repay existing debts. His housing element is worth £319.67 and is paid directly to his landlord on a monthly basis.”
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