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Scores of disabled people have told us of unseen consequences after a technical glitch in the benefits system sent people half their payment early.

A large number of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA) claimants received half their fortnightly payment ahead of time last week.

The government guaranteed no one will lose out - saying the rest of each person's payment WILL arrive on its usual date.

But that did not stop more than 70 people e-mailing us after we alerted readers to the glitch in a news story last week.

Even though people are getting the same amount of money as they would anyway, the fault has left desperate claimants high and dry.

(Image: PA)

Some told us they thought the early payment was a Christmas bonus, spent it, and are now short of cash.

Others thought the changing amount meant their benefits had been stopped, and panicked.

Here's what the problem is - and what our readers said in a flood of e-mails to the Mirror.

We have made all cases anonymous to protect their privacy.

What exactly is happening?

The error has paid out both sickness benefit Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Jobseekers' Allowance early to people across the country.

Usually, both those benefits are paid in one lump sum fortnightly.

But many claimants who were due to be paid this week received half their payment early.

Guidance on the DWP's website confirms: "If your ESA payment is due in the week starting 7 January 2019, you might be paid half of it early in the week starting 31 December 2018.

"The other half of your payment will be paid on the correct day. Your next fortnightly ESA payment will be paid as normal.

"If your JSA payment is due in the week starting 7 January 2019, you might be paid half of it early in the week starting 31 December 2018.

"If your JSA payment is due in the week starting 14 January 2019, you might be paid half of it early in the week starting 7 January 2019.

"The other half of your payment will be paid on the correct day. Your next fortnightly JSA payment will be paid as normal."

It is not yet known how many people were affected.

A DWP spokesperson said: “Some ESA claimants may have received an early half of their fortnightly payment. These claimants will now receive the second half of their payment on their usual pay date.

“No one has lost out and all ESA claimants will be paid on time.

“Staff are available to offer guidance for those seeking further support.”

What have people told us?

'I was worried my benefits had been stopped'

"Just checked my bank balance before going out and saw that I had a payment that was equivalent to half of my ESA payment, that i receive fortnightly.

"At first I was worried that my benefits had been stopped or cut, as i had a problem with governments disability assessment last year.

"I was glad to find your story to put my mind at rest. However I can only imagine that there will be numerous claimants who will either not realise this payment has been made. or who will not have access to the internet and may overspend this money and then be short next week."

'I spent all my money over Christmas without even knowing'

"I spent all my money in my bank account over Christmas without even knowing that I had been paid a week's money.

"So now on Tuesday I won't be able to pay all my bills because I will only get 1 week's money.

"Now i start 2019 in debt..happy new year."

'It scared me so much I was sick'

"I found out on Friday that half my ESA was paid into my bank. I usually get it fortnightly.

"I'm disabled & suffer anxiety & panic attacks also so when I saw the money I thought that's it, no more ESA.

"It scared me so much I was sick.

"Oh my goodness!! Nightmare!!"

'I thought it was a Christmas bonus'

"I care for a family member and thought it was the Christmas bonus... so I spent the money on the family.

"Next week I'll have half my pay to live off for two weeks.

"I've worked all my life and haven't been claiming long. Never in all my life have I been messed about so much by any institution or job as I have by the job centre."

'My son will have to go to school without lunch money'

"I spent the money not knowing it had been put in early.

"My son starts back at school tomorrow and I don’t think I’m gonna be able to send him with his usual lunch money because of this glitch.

"It also means I can’t even pay my phone bill.

"This has left me in a bad situation! I’m disabled and have no family."

'Panic - I thought my payments had been docked'

"I received a deposit into my account last night which is half of my usual amount.

"Nearly gave me heart failure - thought some kind person had docked my payment without my knowledge. Total PANIC!

"I was so relieved to fall across this post by way of notification. The DWP seems to be no longer fit for purpose."

'I thought it was a loan - now I'm short of money'

"I applied for a budgeting loan and assumed I had been awarded it, as there was nothing else I could think of as to why I received £167 well over a week before my due date.

"I know the usual procedure with loans is to sign it first but I assumed it was a new way of doing things.

"I now won't have enough money when I am paid on Tuesday for bills and direct debits etc.

"Does anyone know what I can do? I am now going to have to get a doorstep loan with massive interest to keep up with my bills.

"Alternatively I can decide whether to have gas but no electricity or vice versa or have food but pay no rent. I am fed up of it just being one of those things!"

'It was certainly alarming'

"I received a half payment today.

"It won’t affect me negatively as long as the other half does indeed arrive on time but it was certainly alarming.

"If only it had been an underpayment correction!"

'The system is often breaking down'

"The DWP payment system is often breaking down and payments are late or non existent.

"It seems to have become less efficient since the introduction of UC, even though any of us are still receiving ongoing benefits from the old system with no changes in circumstance."

'This is causing me huge panic'

"I'm affected by this and it has turned my world upside down.

"I struggle with mental health issues and this is causing me a huge panic as I don't know how to budget now."

'This has caused massive stress and anxiety'

"This has caused massive stress and anxiety around budgeting.

"Due to some of my disabilities I am unable to manage with any change and really struggle, this has sent my stress levels extremely high and caused me to utilise my emergency medication."

'It's ridiculous - no one called'

"I think it's completely ridiculous. No-one called. I just only knew something was up when i checked my bank.

"Tried calling esa to find out what was occurring to find an automated message about a glitch.

"It was very confusing and felt we needed more than a automated message on there phone lines to explain."

Where can you turn for help if you're affected?

If you are having trouble there are a number of organisations you can turn to. These include:

The DWP offers budgeting loans for certain essential goods and clothes.

The DWP also makes limited 'hardship payments' for some people who can't afford basic needs. Find out more from Citizens Advice or turn2us.

DWP officials advise people to check if their local council offers help.

For last resort cases find a Trussell Trust food bank here.

Don't forget, the DWP insists no one is actually receiving any less money in this case - it's just come at different times.