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One of the first people to claim Universal Credit is declaring himself bankrupt as the new benefit system has left him penniless.

Les Ross, from Inverness, says he has only 24p in his bank account and does not know where his next meal will come from.

The 51-year-old revealed his struggle as a local petition to halt a national roll-out of Universal Credit reached almost 10,000 signatures.

Mr Ross went onto the benefit system – which replaces six separate hand outs with a single payment – when it was trialled in Inverness in 2013.

But he quickly racked up rent arrears when a reported change in circumstances froze his payments.

(Image: CASCADE NEWS)

He was only on benefits for a short time before getting a job in Tesco but suffered a breakdown a year ago and claimed Universal Credit.

Despite already selling most of his belongings, Mr Ross was not able to cover the rent for his home as he received no money for six weeks after applying.

He now receives around £269 per month but said some months it is less with no explanation.

After money is taken out to pay back rent arrears and an alleged overpayment of tax credits from 10 years ago, Mr Ross is left with next to no money for food and bills.

(Image: Getty)

He said: “It’s different every month. I don’t know what I’m going to get so I can’t budget, then when I do get paid it’s not enough.

“I have an appointment to make myself bankrupt purely as a consequence of this. I have literally nothing to live on. I haven’t eaten today and I don’t know when I’ll eat again – that’s the reality of it.”

Mr Ross has had to sell most of his belongings to try to stay afloat and now has only 24p in the bank. Everything I worked so hard to pay for when I was working is gone now, I sold it all,” he said.

“Without the help of my family I wouldn’t still be here, I can’t afford to live. I won’t get any more money until the 16th but I have 24p in the bank, that is my life.

“I have a lot of clothes from when I did work but they’re all too big for me, they’re falling off me. I have to put bags inside my boots to keep my feet dry because there’s no money for new ones.”

(Image: Alamy Stock Photo)

Drew Hendry – SNP MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey – organised a summit to bring together people trying to help those plunged into poverty by the new system.

Mr Ross's story brought many people in the audience to tears.

“Les shared his truly harrowing story and I know many of the attendees were both shocked and moved by what he said," Mr Hendry said.

“His story is a very real illustration of the devastating effects of this roll-out.

“I would urge anyone in the government who thinks the system is working to pay attention to his story.”

As well as complicated online forms, claimants automatically face a minimum six-week benefits freeze when they apply or even report a change of circumstances - but many people have reported waiting much longer for their first payment.

Around 4500 people in the Highlands are on Universal Credit.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

The system has been blamed for spiralling rent arrears as Highland Council is now owed more than £1.6 million and private landlords have evicted tenants unable to pay.

At the summit at Merkinch Community Centre, Susan Lyons from mental health support organisation HUG (Action for Mental Health) said people are so scared of eviction and debt they are attempting suicide.

"A letter went out recently from one of the housing associations advising people that they were likely to be in rent arrears and on the same day we had four reports of people going into a mental health crisis as a result of receiving that letter," she said.

"When I say mental health crisis I’m talking about people who can no longer function, who are at risk of suicide and self harm, who are absolutely terrified.

"These are the most vulnerable people in our society and they are being made worse, to the point that some of them are actually attempting suicide."

Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson said 2500 people have been given crisis grants while they wait for universal credit and criticised those who say Universal Credit claimants should "just get a job".

(Image: PA)

"In my time as a councillor I have seen problems with benefits and rent arrears but never as acute as they are now," she said.

"What are we doing as a nation that we are letting people get into this state?

"We are loading people with debt so by the time they even get Universal Credit they are already in debt. I’d like to remind people that all of us could go through this."

The SNP’s Phillipa Whitford has secured a 10-minute Rule Bill calling for the benefit system to be made fairer and if successful, it could become law.

The bill, to be heard on November 27, calls for the minimum six-week wait for the first payment to be reduced to one month, as well as twice-monthly payments instead of monthly.

She also wants to see the payments split between individuals, instead of one payment per household, to help people in controlling or abusive relationships.

The Department of Work and Pensions insists Universal Credit helps get people back into work.