‘Me versus the world’

With Ken Loach’s award-winning film I, Daniel Blake exposing the cruel reality of life those caught up in Britain’s brutal benefits’ system, we asked people to tell us what it’s like to be at the sharp end of this government’s cruel and punitive benefits’ regime.

So meet the real-life Daniel Blakes – names have been changed to protect identity.

Today we meet Tommy.

“I was first sanctioned four years ago after becoming homeless. I went to the cash machine as usual to find that my ESA (employment support allowance) had not been paid.

“First thing in the morning I went to my local job centre to try to find out why my benefits had not gone in and spoke with an adviser who looked on the system. All she said was that I had been sanctioned for eight weeks and said that I should ring the 0845 number. I had explained that I was street homeless and had no calling credit to ring the 0845 number but was only met by her telling me that I had to ring the number to get the decision re-considered by the ‘decision-maker’.

“I explained to her again about my situation and this time she asked the security guard to escort me out. Luckily I bumped into a friend who let me use their mobile to make the call.

“After 20 minutes on hold I spoke to a woman who explained again that as I had no permanent address and didn’t notify DWP about my change in circumstances was why I had been sanctioned – but she would put a form through and I had to wait for a call from the decision maker within the next week.

“I asked how I was supposed to survive for the week with no money and having to live on the streets and all she said was “I don’t know sir”.

“The next seven days were awful. There were many times I felt like giving up. On the seventh day the ‘decision maker’ called me and asked about my situation again which I explained all over again.

“Luckily the ‘decision maker’ decided to overturn the sanction and immediately released my payment but said next time this happens again the sanction would remain. The whole process made me feel like I was a criminal on a public trial and made me feel that it was me versus the whole world.”

Tomorrow UNITElive meets more ‘Daniel Blakes.’