A PENSIONER has revealed he was forced into £3,000 debt after his Universal credit payments were cut to a mere £1.88 a month.
Daniel Walsh, 74, claimed the DWP has “destroyed” him mentally and financially over the last eight months.
The issues began last year when his wife, Esperanza, 48, – who he shares a joint Universal Credit claim with – started her university Master’s course.
Previously, the pair were paid between £439 and £568 a month from their Universal Credit claim, after their deductions.
Daniel also received a state pension and Attendance Allowance as he requires a mobility scooter, whereas, Esperanza received a Carers Allowance.
The couple knew once Esperanza began her studies their Universal Credit claim would change as you can no longer claim the Carer’s Allowance when studying full time.
Yet, they did not predict how much the DWP would cut from their claim.
A payment of £1.88 just feels insulting
Daniel Walsh
Esperanza claimed the loans she received from her Master’s degree barely stayed in her account as she used the money in its entirety to pay for the course.
The pair were paid just £95.29 in September 2023.
The following months saw their Universal Credit payments as low as £40.79.
However, it got worse when the DWP cut their claims to absolutely nothing in January and February.
In March the benefits department awarded the pensioner and his wife a measly £1.88.
Daniel told the Mirror: “I couldn’t get my head around what was going on, it didn’t make sense and a payment of £1.88 just feels insulting.”
The two flagged the problem in their Universal Credit journal and repeatedly reached out to the DWP for help – but to no avail.
Esperanza claimed the Carer’s Allowance was still being cut from their claim even though she wasn’t declaring it anymore.
The pair’s housing cost didn’t add up either and DWP were asked to check their calculations, she added.
They also appeared to have an extra income reported on their claim, however, they both claimed this was inaccurate.
I have been registered with a crisis team because I’ve come so close sometimes
Daniel Walsh
The couple sent more than 80 messages, between September 2023 and March 2024, asking for help with their claim.
The impact of the DWP’s cuts was disastrous for the pair who were plunged into more than £3,000 in debt after they failed to pay rent.
The cost-of-living crisis combined with their Universal Credit cuts has forced them to rely on food banks to eat.
Luckily, Daniel and Esperanza live in an Almhouse charity property, which saved them from being evicted.
However, because of the severity of Daniel’s financial issues, he was forced to take out a Debt Relief Order which is set to remain on his credit file for the next six years.
The pensioner is terrified that he will die with this “black mark” after spending his whole life working hard to build a high credit score.
He previously was in the high 890s but has since dropped to the low 500s.
The stress Daniel is under has caused his mental and physical health to deteriorate.
“I’ve been put on medication and I have been registered with a crisis team because I’ve come so close sometimes,” he added.
After a year, the DWP finally reviewed the couple’s case and confirmed they had made a mistake with Esperanza’s student payment.
The couple had their claims cut by 70 per cent instead of 30 per cent and the benefits department also had incorrect details regarding their housing payment.
They had been underpaid a whopping £1,942.14 between August 2023 and April 2024.
The DWP confirmed Daniela and Esperanza had been fully reimbursed and are currently reassessing their monthly Universal Credit payment.
The pair are ecstatic that their claim is finally being addressed but Daniel is furious after hearing that his credit score for the next six years is ruined because of their “incompetence”.
A DWP spokesperson said: “After reviewing this case, we have reimbursed Mr and Mrs Walsh in full and have apologised to them for the error made.”
The Sun has approached the DWP for comment.
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