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The Dorchester Hotel’s former pianist who is now living on Universal Credit has spoken out about being left with pennies at the end of each month.

Lee Reed has blasted the system which he says is discriminatory, terrible for people with mental health issues and forces people to apply for jobs they can’t do.

The 41-year-old, who performed at The Dorchester Hotel for 10 years, has played for celebrities including Shirley Bassey, Kate Moss, Simon Cowell and Jools Holland.

But mingling with celebrities didn’t stop his descent into poverty after he was violently attacked and forced to give up his job.

He now wants to shed light on the difficulties of living on Universal Credit, as he claims the threat of sanctions hangs over him despite applying for 150 jobs a week.

Since May, Lee has been in the Better Working Futures programme which aims to get people with difficulties back into work but claims he has been offered unsuitable work he must accept.

Are you a struggling parent on Universal Credit? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

(Image: Triangle News)

The pianist, whose stage name was Lee Mathews, said: “It’s been tough.

“I’ve been on that programme since May and all they do is tick boxes every week I go.

“The people they have there are not qualified to deal with people who have had previous mental health problems.

“I’d be rooting around in bins or use food banks if I got sanctioned.

“The entire thing isn’t fit for purpose.”

Lee had always played the piano and went from gigging at local restaurants to being put forward for the £20k job at the Dorchester when he was 28.

He also played at other top London venues including the Savoy, Claridge’s and the Lanesborough, with a steady stream of A-listers hearing him tinkle the ivories.

Visitors also remarked on TripAdvisor what a superb player he was when enjoying their afternoon tea at the landmark Dorchester.

But in June 2016 he was violently attacked after meeting someone from an internet dating site.

The assault, which left him in hospital for three days, led him to suffer a breakdown and PTSD.

He tried to continue working but found the constant stream of gigs too much and eventually had to give up his rented home near Rickmansworth, Herts.

After living in a string of hostels and BnBs, Lee eventually went home to Durham to live with his parents in December 2017 as he battled to get over the assault.

He signed on in January 2017 and was put on Universal Credit, earning benefits of £348-a-month plus housing benefit of £300 when he found his own flat.

He also had counselling and financial help from Help Musicians UK, a charity which supports struggling musicians in times of hardship.

(Image: Triangle News)

He says he is desperate to get his old career back and has been playing at weddings and parties in the north east to earn a bit of spare cash.

He also regularly travels down to London to take any gig he can - even though the travel costs often mean he makes nothing.

Since May this year he has been on the Better Working Futures programme, run by employment agency Reed, which tries to help people who face additional barriers get back into work.

But he says he has been offered driving jobs he can’t do alongside other positions he simply isn’t qualified for.

And even sending out 150 emails a week enquiring about work is not enough to stop him being threatened with his money being cut off, he says.

Lee said: “I had points on my licence and they tried to get me sanctioned for not applying for a job as a delivery driver.

“He said I’d be sanctioned if I refused to do the interview. It caused me a lot of upset.

“I thought I’d lose my benefits and when you get sanctioned you have no money for a long period of time, sometimes three months.

“I’m doing 150 job applications a week and it’s still not enough for them.

“The people they are employing to help people like me are making their conditions worse.

“The interviews they are doing are uncomfortable and I feel like I’m being harassed and forced to take on jobs I’m not qualified to do.

“They’re not interested in helping me further my career.

“If they keep doing it I will go downhill.”

Asked how much money he has left over when he’s paid his rent, bills and food, Lee says: “Well, nothing. I’m down to the wire.”

A spokesman for the employment agency Reed said they were unable to give specific details regarding Lee’s case.

But he said: “Participants are referred to the service by Jobcentre Plus when they are actively looking for work and may require additional support.

“Advice and support is provided based on our available information at the time.

“This includes information about both their job goals and personal circumstances. Where issues or further information later comes to light we are able to adjust and change focus in order to offer the best possible support to help people start working.

“Staff advising participants have access to a range of training, including help for supporting participants with mental health conditions.

“It is of course counterintuitive to put forward participants for jobs they have no interest in doing.

“Similarly, we would never encourage someone to apply for a job that they are not qualified or able to do.

“Since last week we have been discussing with Mr Reed how best we can continue supporting him, taking into account all of his personal circumstances.”