Benefits couple on breadline (From South Wales Guardian)

Benefits couple on breadline

10:16am Wednesday 7th March 2007

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AN AMMANFORD man urgently in need of benefits says he and his wife have been left virtually penniless for the last week.

The 54-year-old, who does not wish to be named, says a phone number Job Centre Plus staff gave him for a Crisis Loan is constantly engaged and he claims they have been living on beans on toast for the past week and relying on handouts from relatives in order to make ends meet.

He said: "The psychological effect on me and my wife has been unbelievable. They say no-one can go hungry in this country any more but the situation we find ourselves in is a complete joke."

He says his troubles started when his benefits were stopped after Job Centre Plus staff in Ammanford said he had not completed the neccesary form.

"I've never even received this form so I don't know what they are talking about," he said.

"For the past week I've been ringing this number and not getting anywhere, yet people who ring the Welsh number can get through. As far as I'm concerned the whole system is crazy."

A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said "Every effort is being made to rectify this situation. We apologise for any inconvenience being experienced by customers trying to use this service."

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