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Three years ago, Tony Rice was forced to stop part-time sales work after being stabbed in the thigh and face.

Tony is about to be evicted from his home in North London, and for the first time in his life, has found himself reliant on food banks.

Like so many others, he's fallen victim to the failed roll-out of Universal Credit.

The 51-year-old, from Waltham Forest, has been deemed unfit to work by his doctor: he suffers from a combination of physical and mental health difficulties, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Tony has lived in a council flat for six years. He moved out of his parents' old house nearby after they died two years apart (you cannot succeed government-owned property twice).

In £10,000 debt after sanctions

(Image: Google)

Computer illiterate Tony, who was previously claiming incapacity benefit in a system that provided him a decent, if modest way of life, was put onto Universal Credit at the end of last year.

But contrary to his GP's professional view, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) assessed him fit for work. Tony was not informed of sanctions for more than half a year – an oversight that has led to massive debt.

On December 12, his Doughty Street Chambers barrister, Mary-Rachel McCabe, managed to persuade the judge at a county court to give him a little more time before Waltham Forest Council – which on the day wanted to press ahead with a possession order – eventually sends the bailiffs round.

If Tony's Universal Credit payments aren't amended in the next few months he'll be on the streets.

"I got stabbed three years ago," Tony told Mirror Online . "I used to help another guy out in the area with a few things. I was round his house and we got into an argument. He went for me.

"I've been paranoid since that and don't go out much. It's dulled my confidence really. I'd not encountered violence like that before."

Tony said he was told at the start of 2017 that he no longer qualifies for Employment Support Allowance, but was not aware of penalties that have left him in arrears amounting to £10,000.

He said: "I don't understand Universal Credit at all. I can't use a computer and I feel like banging my head against a brick wall. It's such a struggle.

"I've appealed and tried to get in touch with someone at the DWP so many times. There's no line of communication whatsoever and I'm not told anything.

"I'm just not getting enough money to survive. I never thought I'd have to use food banks."

Universal Credit has left Tony reliant on food banks

Tony's barrister Mary-Rachel, who last week fought his case before tweeting about his situation, called Universal Credit "inhumane" and "Kafkaesque".

She likened her client to Daniel Blake, the character in Ken Loach's award-winning film I, Daniel Blake , which candidly documents the dire impact the new benefits system is having on society's most desperate.

Mary-Rachel added that Tony must claim benefits in order to survive, and in a "fair and functioning welfare" set-up he would have enough money to pay the rent and cover his minimal living expenses.

Universal Credit has left him hungry – and, soon, homeless.

The barrister explained: "Tony has been failed by a malfunctioning system. From the moment Tony claimed Universal Credit last year, he suffered the consequences of its arbitrary rules and procedures, and so was immediately plunged into further rent arrears and other debt.

"The huge problems with hunger and deprivation in this country aren’t just affecting people like Tony. This is a widespread problem affecting those in work as well.

"We can only begin to address this with a combination of a proper living wage; rent control; a fair, functioning and humane welfare system to act as a safety net for both those in and out of work; and a properly-funded legal aid system."

Universal Credit is a flailing and complex web. Few understand its processes - even those, it might be fair to suggest, who have been given the task of implementing it.

Simply, Tony received, but was not told about, sanctions for 212 days. He was only paid the housing element of his benefits; he got no living expenses.

Appeals "fell on deaf ears", Tony said, and payments he did receive were delayed, leading to a thundering spiral of uncertainty and debt.

"His solicitor had to write to the Universal Credit department repeatedly in order to get an explanation for this sanction: it was very unclear for a long time why he had been sanctioned, and what he could do to get the sanction lifted," Mary-Rachel explained.

"He is still in the process of challenging the sanction but the Universal Credit department has not responded to any recent letters."

Legal aid was cut in 2013

(Image: Rex Features)

Mirror Online spoke briefly to the DWP four days ago but has yet to get a statement on Tony's circumstances. Or Universal Credit in general.

Unfortunate as it is, Tony's case is all too common. And in Mary-Rachel's view, only stands to worsen.

The housing law barrister said that in the past that legal aid was available for those in Tony's situation, so issues would be dealt with earlier and eviction therefore less likely.

Legal aid for those claiming welfare benefits advice was cut in 2013.

Mary-Rachel added: "Universal Credit is not fit for purpose.

"The delays in the initial payment are forcing people to get into debt and use food banks; and the relentless – and sometimes inexplicable - sanctions are plunging already poor people into abject poverty.

Tony's case worker Simon Mullings, from Edwards Duthie Solicitors, told us that he has decades of experience in dealing with people in financial trouble. But Universal Credit has left him at a loss.

"I know how to deal with benefits," said Simon, "but cannot get any info now. We summonsed a DWP representative to appear as a witness at Tony's court hearing, but they refused to come.

"Tony used to get between £60-70 to live on per week. He's now got less than half that, and it's all down to that first Universal Credit assessment that deemed him fit for work. He isn't.

"The DWP don't tell me anything. I see that bundling up payments is logical in theory. In reality, it's a very different story.

"The most vulnerable people in our society are being failed. Tony is vulnerable. There's a high chance he'll be evicted, and then he'll be in serious trouble. There's not really anywhere to go from there.

"We're in a massive mess".

Frank Field MP has repeatedly warned Parliament about the perils of Universal Credit

(Image: PA)

With no other support available (you can’t get legal aid for help with benefits), Tony has been getting help from Citizens Advice, a service picking up an increasing amount of slack. But workers there have limited resources and power.

Waltham Forest Council told Mirror Online that Tony's case is ongoing and so would not comment. Both Mary-Rachel and Simon said they understand that the council can only do so much, itself requires rental revenue, and has faced damaging cuts.

Last week, comparison site Choose Wisely conducted a survey that suggested just one in three claimants are aware of what Universal Credit actually is.

Today, the Guardian delved deeper into the story of how the system is subjecting low income individuals and families to hardship.

The deprivation and poverty appears almost Dickensian. Birkenhead MP Frank Field, who last week moved Tory MP Heidi Allen to tears after talking about hunger in his constituency, said he is encountering "destitution, not poverty".