Former plumber with multiple sclerosis says he can’t grip tools or walk but was declared ‘fit for work’ Clifford Raw, 51, had to wait six weeks for his first Universal Credit payment, when he said he was ‘left without a penny’

When Clifford Raw first began suffering back pain a few years ago, he put it down to years of working as a plumber having taken a physical toll.

The once very active father-of-six also then started to struggle to walk.

And when his colleagues began using the nickname “shaky”, he knew something else was going on.

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Around 18 months ago, he was forced to give up work and last June, at age 50, he was diagnosed as having primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), the most severe form of the disease, which can cause problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.

“I’ve got pretty much all of the MS symptoms – pins and needles and numbness from head to toe, foot drop, cognition problems, and bladder problems,” he told i. “The maximum I can walk is maybe 10 metres and then I’ll have to sit and rest. Now I need a wheelchair.”

But while Clifford says he always thought he could rely on the benefits system as a safety net should be need it, he says he’s found it a great source of stress and one that was thrown him in poverty.

In the lead up to his diagnosis and afterwards, he had to endure being deemed “fit to work”.

Being forced to switch from Employment Support Allowance (ESA) to the controversial Universal Credit, meant he had to go six weeks without any money.

“I’ve been refused a home visit even though I struggle to walk,” he said. “I was told I had to sign on every two weeks at the Jobcentre, and they sent me to another town.

“I’ve had to get taxis as I can’t do public transport and it’s cost me £12 a round-trip but I can’t claim the expenses.

“Then there was the delay in getting my money through Universal Credit. It creates so much stress which has made my symptoms worse.”

‘We didn’t have a penny for six weeks’

‘They refused to come to me or give me an interview in my own town even though I told them I was in severe pain’ Clifford Raw

Clifford, from Bradford, claimed ESA in late 2017 after he left work, and had to wait six months for an assessment.

“That’s when I was first told I was fit to work,” he said. “I’d been signed off work with sick notes and it was three weeks before my diagnosis. I’d been seeing a neurologist and my medical notes said I ‘probably’ had MS. It can take time to get a definitive diagnosis because there’s no simple test for MS but they don’t consider that.”

With no other form of income, he was then left with no choice but to apply for Universal Credit. His assessment took place in a different town in Keighley, 12 miles away.

“They refused to come to me or give me an interview in my own town even though I told them I was in severe pain and struggling greatly with my walking. I had a definite diagnosis of MS by then.

“I think they do it on purpose so they can say, ‘If you can get here then you can get to work’.”

Clifford got help from a local organisation called Equality Together and he successfully applied for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and had the ESA decision on him being “fit to work” reversed.

However, he was told he couldn’t continue claiming ESA and had to wait for a Universal Credit payment – which took six weeks.

The Government has been urged to speed Universal Credit payments up after campaigners warned delays are driving families into using food banks.

“We didn’t have a penny,” said Clifford. “How are you meant to eat and pay your bills?”

‘Stressful’ process

Clifford was placed in the “limited capacity for work” group while claiming Universal Credit.

“It meant I had to sign on at the Jobcentre every two weeks. The building was huge and I’d have to struggle on my crutches – I hadn’t got my wheelchair yet – to get to the second floor.

“Eventually after five or six times, my advisor took pity on me as he could see how much pain I was in and allowed me to have telephone appointments.

“But that should have been picked up during my assessment. It’s been a very stressful process.”

Clifford was told he had to apply for at least 10 jobs a week, and spend 10 hours a week searching for work.

“I’m not writing myself off on the scrap heap. I’m keen to find a job. But I was a plumber and I can’t do that anymore. I need retraining.

“Applying for jobs that you have no experience in just to show you have applied and so you don’t get sanctioned is pointless.

“You live in fear of being sanctioned and the little money you already have being reduced.”

Universal Credit: A ‘cruel and pointless’ system The MS Society is a leading charity of the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC), a coalition of more than 80 charities campaigning for a fairer benefits system. It recently surveyed disabled people who have claimed or are currently claiming and receiving Universal Credit and found more than 70 per cent had to wait more than five weeks for their first payment, with almost 17 per cent saying they had to wait more than nine weeks. The report also discovered: Almost 30 per cent of those respondents said that they couldn’t eat as a result of the wait

31 per cent couldn’t heat their home

31 per cent had to use a food bank

66 per cent had to borrow money from family and friends Genevieve Edwards, director of external affairs at the MS Society, said: “People with MS tell us that Universal Credit has left them struggling to afford rent, heating and food, and is making both their physical and mental health worse. MS is relentless, painful, and disabling and our welfare system must provide support to those affected to help them live independently. Instead, thanks to cruel and pointless systems like Universal Credit’s five-week wait and the DWP’s advance payments, it’s driving disabled people deeper into poverty. “We’re supporting the 5 Weeks Too Long campaign to fight this unnecessary delay, and want to see the Government urgently reintroduce the extra disability payments it removed under Universal Credit.”

Partner paid £40 a month as carer

‘I think the stress from the benefits system has substantially contributed to my decline in health’ Clifford Raw

Clifford is set to start volunteering work with the MS Society, which he says has provided him with invaluable support.

His partner has been forced to quit work to become his full time carer.

“My partner claimed Carer’s Allowance but because of my Universal Credit income they’ve taken most of her allowance off her and left her with £40 a month,” he explained.

“Because of the emergency loan I had to take waiting for my first Universal Credit payment – and they’ve also said I was incorrectly paid working tax credits – the Department for Work and Pensions are taking back £413 each month.

“So we have £1,103 for the whole family – me, my partner, and our six kids – to pay our rent, bills and food. I haven’t been told how long the deductions will go on for.

“We’re only just getting by, and if it wasn’t for both of our parents supporting us we’d be destitute.

“I’ve gone from walking to being in a wheelchair. I think the stress from the benefits system has substantially contributed to my decline in health.”.

The DWP spokesperson said: “Decisions for ESA are made by healthcare professionals, examining all the information provided, including from a claimant’s GP or medical specialist.

“Mr Raw has continued to receive benefits each month, including an advance Universal Credit payment. Following an appeal he is now receiving full disability benefits and is not required to seek work.

“On Universal Credit, no one has to wait five weeks to be paid – your first payment is available on day one as an advance.”