Catherine Hawkins, 50, is dependent on carers to help her with her basic needs, including moving her from her bed to her lounge
A disabled mum who need help to get from her bed to her living room has criticised the DWP after being told she was fit enough to work. Catherine Hawkins, 50, was terrified of becoming homeless after her benefits were halted, leaving her with a mere £1.71 in her bank account.
The single mum felt she was being “pushed” into employment – even though she can’t walk – after her Universal Credit was stopped. Catherine is afflicted with neuropathy in her feet and Crohn’s Disease, relying on carers for bathing, feeding, and basic needs, including moving her from her bed to her lounge.
However, she was shocked when the Department for Work and Pensions insisted that Catherine attend a workshop and officials were “putting pressure” on her to find employment. Catherine was worried about losing her home as she wouldn’t be able to afford her rent and started reaching out to food banks as she had “no food”.
The DWP requested her last three bank statements – which she claimed she had already downloaded and sent – but it stated they hadn’t received them. The DWP has since apologised.
Catherine, from Diglis, Worcester, said: “I’m afraid I’m going to end up being made homeless. How can they expect me to work when I can’t even walk? If I even tried to stand up, I would fall straight down.
“I’ve had to ring a food bank today because I have no food. I feel like I’m going around in circles. I just feel depressed – sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
She gets just over £1,000 a month in Universal Credit, which covers the £722 rent for her ground-floor flat provided by Platform Housing Group and is used for other bills and living expenses. She also receives £900 a month in Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Mrs Hawkins was concerned about falling into rent arrears if the UC was not paid into her account by January 8 in time to cover her rent, due on January 10.
Catherine said: “I’ve said I can’t attend a workshop interview. I’m completely disabled. I can’t walk.
“They’ve said I should have had one on December 15. They were going to call me, but I never received the call.
“They threatened me again, saying I’ve got one on January 15. I could work from home, on the phone, but that’s about it. I can’t do anything where I have to walk around.”
The latest setback occurred shortly after a delay in fixing the door entry keypad to her home earlier in December, which meant one of her carers had to climb through her bedroom window to care for her. It is understood that Catherine has not missed any Universal Credit payment and all review investigations and all UCR team actions have concluded and she has been informed of this.
The DWP has apologised for the distress caused to Catherine and has since reversed its decision.
A DWP spokesperson said: “We apologise for any distress caused to Ms Hawkins as a result of the review into her case. We have lifted the suspension on her account. We are committed to improving processes to ensure vulnerable customers get the support they need.”