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A young man said he was forced to live off a packet of biscuits a day because of the new universal credit benefit.

Charities and politicians say the controversial welfare shakeup is causing misery and pushing people into debt as the full rollout begins in Sefton this month.

Michael Goodwin, 26, from Litherland , said he would have been scavenging from bins if his family hadn’t helped out when he was looking for work.

He said he even suffered blackouts from not eating enough during nearly six weeks without support, as welfare chiefs only pay out universal credit long after claimants apply.

Michael said he was in tears on the phone to officials after seeking help when the former supermarket worker’s contract expired.

How one claimant coped on “50p a day”

Mr Goodwin said he and other claimants struggled to get by in a similar way to the main character in the film I, Daniel Blake.

He told the ECHO: “I was in tears to an advisor over the phone, who sounded like she had no heart.

“I was living on 50p a day, just eating a packet of biscuits. It’s pretty rough. I had blackouts some days as I didn’t have energy.

“I couldn’t bring myself to go to a foodbank. I support them but I’ve got too much pride, and it feels like I shouldn’t have to in this day and age.

“It knocked me a bit, as I’ve had mental health issues in the past.

“I lived a month basically off handouts from family and friends. Otherwise I’d have been looking through bins.

“Luckily I live with my nan who I care for, so I don’t pay much rent - other people are getting evicted.”

He said he was “over the moon” when he recently landed a job as a support worker, which he will start in November.

He said he had been volunteering to help the homeless in the meantime.

(Image: Michael Goodwin)

What universal credit is and when it could affect you

Michael is one of tens of thousands of people already receiving the new benefit on Merseyside, with 40,000 households set to be transferred in Sefton alone by 2022.

Universal credit is the most radical shakeup of welfare in decades, with six different benefits now rolled into one for claimants both in and out of work.

It replaces benefits including jobseekers’ allowance, employment and support allowance, housing benefit and child tax credit with one single monthly payment.

It is supposed to simplify the system and make work pay, but has faced a huge backlash over lower payments, IT problems and long delays getting cash.

People receiving other benefits will all be moved over from November in Wirral, December in Ormskirk and Skelmersdale, January in Aintree, February in Kirkby and Huyton and June in the rest of Liverpool.

Birkenhead MP Frank Field warned yesterday his local foodbank would need 15 tonnes of extra food over Christmas when the rollout speeds up across Wirral.

How the benefit could lead to “hardship and misery”

More than 700 people have already turned to Sefton Citizens Advice for help over problems with the new benefit, even before the changeover was sped up this month.

Jane Groves, a manager at the charity, said: “Universal credit is deeply flawed and many people are already turning to us for help as they struggle with it.

She added: “While it is a good idea in principle, the system is not able to properly support those in Sefton who need it, and could even leave them worse off.

“Anyone with a question or concern about Universal Credit should get in touch with us for help at the earliest chance.”

The charity runs free money advice sessions 9.30am-4pm every Monday at Goddard Hall, and can be contacted for help on 0151 282 5650.

Neil Kenwright, a manager at Sefton landlord One Vision Housing, also said claimants would struggle with a six-week wait for payment.

He said the housing association was now trying to prevent its tenants falling into hardship by launching the OVH Help Hub advice website.

Peter Dowd, Labour MP for Bootle, said: “I have seen people brought to the brink by the approach the government has taken.

“Clearly the government simply do not get it, have set themselves a savings target and will hit it regardless improve the impact upon people’s lives.”

But Theresa May said in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday: “It is a simpler system. It is a system that encourages people to get into the workplace.

“It is a system that is working because more people are getting into work.”