These are the images of a starving man who was denied vital benefits after being deemed ‘fit to find work’ – despite being unable to even stand.

Stephen Smith, 64, was rushed to hospital over Christmas when his severe health problems left him in such a poor state his weight dropped to just six stone.

Despite his awful condition, Stephen was forced to get a pass out from hospital to go and fight a decision by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) which repeatedly denied him benefits.

Stephen Smith, 64, was rushed to hospital over Christmas when his severe health problems left him in such a poor state his weight dropped to just six stone (Picture: Liverpool Echo)

Instead, the DWP insisted he was fit and capable of finding work.


He won his appeal after a tribunal judge saw what should have been ‘glaringly obvious’ – that Mr Smith can barely walk down the street let alone hold down a job.

Murder investigation after 'particularly violent' stabbing near Manchester

Stephen has since spoke out about his story after revealing that repeated calls to grant him Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) were denied – despite written evidence from doctors stating that he couldn’t walk for 20 metres without collapsing with pain and exhaustion.



Stephen, from Kensington, has suffered with a number of serious conditions for several years.

His most debilitating illness is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, an incurable respiratory problem that causes severe breathing issues and gets worse over time.

But he also suffers with excruciating Osteoarthritis, has an enlarged prostate and uses a colostomy bag to go to the toilet.

Despite all of this, the 64-year-old failed a DWP work capability assessment in 2017 – which meant his ESA payments were stopped and he was told to sign on for a £67 a week Jobseeker’s Allowance.

He was also told to visit the job centre once a week and prove he was looking for work.

Throughout this period, Stephen said he was living alone and didn’t know where to turn as his health deteriorated.

The DWP insisted he was fit and capable of finding work (Picture: Liverpool Echo)

This was the condition Steve Smith was in in hospital in December – before he fought and won a tribunal allowing him vital benefits (Picture: Liverpool Echo)

‘I had no muscles in the back of my leg which meant I couldn’t stand up at all – and had to lean or sit down all the time – but they were telling me I was fit for work’ (Picture: Liverpool Echo)

Stephen believes he could have died if it wasn’t for two men, community worker Tony Nelson and former city council welfare officer Terry Craven (Picture: Liverpool Echo)

He said: ‘I could only make it to the kitchen to make food once a day.

‘I had no muscles in the back of my leg which meant I couldn’t stand up at all – and had to lean or sit down all the time – but they were telling me I was fit for work.’

Armed police surround pub with 20 customers trapped inside

Stephen believes he could have died if it wasn’t for two men, community worker Tony Nelson and former city council welfare officer Terry Craven.

The pair took up his case and battled with the DWP to get him the benefits.

Eventually, the judge stated that his mobility and health problems meant he satisfied the requirement for ESA.

The ruling means Stephen will be put back on to ESA but Terry believes he is owed around £4,000 in backpay.

In a statement a spokesperson for the DWP claimed Mr Smith has ‘continued to receive all of the benefits he was entitled to, as well as offers of personal support to improve his skills and health issues’.

The said: ‘We’re committed to ensuring that people with health conditions get the support they’re entitled to and we are sorry for the experience Mr Smith has had.

‘Following the independent tribunal’s ruling, he is now receiving full ESA support.

‘While Mr Smith continued to receive benefits and support during his appeal, we can confirm he will shortly receive all back-payments for ESA due.’