Benefit payment finally made to disabled man - nearly six weeks after losing his job
A disabled man has finally received a benefit payment – almost six weeks after losing his job.
Steve Bilton got a £205 Job Seeker's Allowance payment yesterday, after he revealed his frustration at the benefits system in an open letter in Tuesday's Leicester Mercury.
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Steve Bilton, from Ashby, Leicestershire
The 50-year-old Falklands veteran's claim for benefit was refused as he did not put in a claim until two weeks after he lost his job – because he was on honeymoon.
He said yesterday: "I've been given £205, which covers three weeks.
"I'm very grateful for the money as it means I can now concentrate my efforts on finding work – though I'm not sure it would have happened without me creating a fuss.
"What I'm still questioning is the system and the fact that the left hand doesn't seem to know what the right hand is doing."
Mr Bilton, from Ashby, was made redundant from his job with a Swadlincote logistics firm on his wedding day, June 11.
His delay in making a claim for Job Seeker's Allowance until he returned from a two-week break with his new wife meant it was refused.
Mr Bilton, who is willing and able to work despite a spinal injury sustained in the Falklands War, described his plight as a Catch-22 situation.
Without the benefit, he said, he could not afford the fuel for his Motability car to get to Jobcentre appointments or interviews.
Mr Bilton's story struck a chord with Mercury readers, with many posting comments on the newspaper's website.
One, Martin, wrote: "The vast majority of the unemployed are also like this gentleman.
"They want to work, they want to contribute, they don't want benefits unless it is absolutely essential.
"Yes, there are scroungers and freeloaders but they are a small minority.
"For every story – especially popular in the tabloid press – about a family of 10 who claim thousands in benefits, there are hundreds like Mr Bilton struggling to get the little they are entitled to."
Jon posted: "The benefits office is very quick to withhold benefits if you do not present yourself the day after being laid off.
"The last time I was laid off I had already arranged a job interview for the following Monday.
"This involved a 120-mile trip and took all day so I only got to their office on the Tuesday morning. That cost me my first week's allowance.
"A wonderful incentive for using my initiative by trying to get another job, that was."
A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: "Jobcentre Plus is committed to doing everything it can to help people back into work.
"We are contacting Mr Bilton as a matter of urgency to discuss his individual circumstances."
Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, said he would be meeting Mr Bilton this week to "get to the bottom of where and why the system is failing him" and try to prevent others from facing the same problems in the future.
Richard Foster, county manager of the Royal British Legion, which helps veterans, said: "There are serious delays and apparent inefficiencies shown by those who are paid to help people like Mr Bilton get back into work as soon as possible."
14 Comments
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by jmg, yorkshire
Sunday, August 15 2010, 1:55PM
“I see Steven Bilton is still a compulsive liar.
Theres no wonder he didnt tell his wife about what happened in the falklands, he was never there. He certainly wasnt injured in a blast there. He sneezed and hurt his back and has scrounged off the state ever since. Poor Bethan, i hope you know who youve married.”
by GFS, Grimsby
Friday, August 13 2010, 3:59PM
“LIES! LIES! You need to investigate his history and his disability as there are more lies in this story than Pinocchio!”
by mary smith, leicester
Tuesday, August 10 2010, 8:01PM
“what a liar. this man has never been to the falklands. He spent years claiming disability benefits, when he was able to work. Ask him how he sustained his injury to his back, the truth is not as exciting as hes telling you.”
by j, leic
Friday, July 30 2010, 2:45PM
“"comments like that,about time we BRITISH people stood up for ourselves, work all our lifes and pay every month into the system, and when hard times come they turn there backs on us."
What? What on earth are you on about? What relevance does the "BRITISH" (CAPITALS??!??!) element have to this? Is there a suggestion anywhere in the story that Mr Bilton is being badly treated because he is British??! Is there an agenda behnd your post that you haven't mentioned?”
by Edward, Leicester
Friday, July 30 2010, 9:25AM
“The benefit system is a shambles. I have only ever needed it in this last year due to redundancy. Because of my background I appear to be too qualified or not qualified enough for positions out there. As a result I now get nothing because I have been out of work for 6 months and my wife works 20 hours a week part time at a doctors, as she has for 12 years now. I cannot get any payments because she does not do at least 30 hours per week and after she has had 2 strokes I would not want her too. The only way she can get more hours is to leave her secure position and take another job somewhere else if she could get one, which could be gone at any time so both of us would be on benefits. In addition to Job Seekers you then have to deal with the council and every time you get or loose something with the benefits system you have to notify the council who recalculate what you pay them. I have a large draw full of countless forms and letters due to all the checks and rechecks to ensure the genuine people get as little as possible. Because I have worked all my life and saved I now have to spend it all looking for positions which I do not seem to be able to get, some 300 applications later I have only had 5 interviews and been acknowledged by about 20 of them.”