0:00:02 > 0:00:04That's all we have at the moment.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Life on benefits can be tough.
0:00:06 > 0:00:07The government in Westminster
0:00:07 > 0:00:10is undertaking a shake-up of the welfare system.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13The aim is to focus payments on those in greatest need
0:00:13 > 0:00:15and help claimants into work.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18They're also aiming to cut £12 billion
0:00:18 > 0:00:20from the spend on benefits.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Do you think you could do this yourself?
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Tighter rules have been introduced.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Filling in those forms is an absolute nightmare.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29..new systems...
0:00:29 > 0:00:31It can drive you mental.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33..and stiffer penalties.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36It's not right, just cutting our money like that.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40Vulnerable and disabled people, even those who are ill, say
0:00:40 > 0:00:42they are being pushed to the limit.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45I don't see why we should be punished for having a spare bedroom.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48If it's just me that's not getting the help,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50who else is suffering in this world?
0:00:50 > 0:00:53In the Bridgend area, we followed people for ten months
0:00:53 > 0:00:57to see the impact on some of those who are experiencing the changes.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01And how challenging benefits decisions can be complicated
0:01:01 > 0:01:03and stressful.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07Why should I have to fight against it? But that's what it takes.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10And a lot of people would have given up, you know?
0:01:10 > 0:01:13A lot of people would have given up.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17This is the reality for those who are Battling with Benefits.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Over the last four years,
0:01:29 > 0:01:33the Westminster Government has revamped the entire benefits system.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36The aim is to provide better support to get people back to work,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40as well as making savings of £9 billion a year.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44One of the big changes is to housing benefit,
0:01:44 > 0:01:47with the introduction of the under-occupancy charge,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51which is commonly known as the bedroom tax.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53It affects 40,000 households in Wales
0:01:53 > 0:01:58who rent their homes from the council or housing associations.
0:01:58 > 0:01:59Those who have a spare room
0:01:59 > 0:02:02now have money deducted from their housing benefit.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06But what impact is the bedroom tax having
0:02:06 > 0:02:09in Wales' deprived communities?
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Kay Harris lives in an ex-mining community
0:02:13 > 0:02:15on the Bettws estate near Bridgend.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19- I love it here. - INTERVIEWER:- And why's that?
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Because we're a community that always...
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Like, if anything happens, we're there, like, you know?
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Kay's lived in Bettws her entire life.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Her three-bedroom rented house is home to husband Terrance
0:02:33 > 0:02:35and also son Gareth.
0:02:35 > 0:02:41Since 2013, they've been £49 a month worse off.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Well, this is the bedroom that I'm paying the bedroom tax for.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52The tax is the shortfall in her rent that she has to pay.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55One option to recoup it is to rent out the room.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58How can you rent a room out this size?
0:02:58 > 0:03:01You know, people are not going to pay, say, £40 a week
0:03:01 > 0:03:03for sleeping in this size room,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05when they can only fit a wardrobe...
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Cos you can't put nothing up against the radiator, it's against the law.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13You can't put nothing at the window, because it breaks out the light.
0:03:13 > 0:03:14The government's intention
0:03:14 > 0:03:18is that those who've been charged should move somewhere smaller.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19But that's difficult,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22because there's a shortage of one- and two-bedroom properties
0:03:22 > 0:03:23all over Wales.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29So where they got the ideas from for these things, I don't know.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Kay decided to try and challenge the decision
0:03:33 > 0:03:36and took her case to court, to an independent tribunal.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38But the judge ruled that she had no grounds
0:03:38 > 0:03:40to be exempt from the charge.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45I knew as soon as I walked through the door and seen the judge's face,
0:03:45 > 0:03:46I knew his decision.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48My grandchildren come over on the weekend.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52I have one on a Friday night, one on a Saturday night.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54So the bedroom is getting used.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57But they don't take that into consideration.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Butter.
0:04:01 > 0:04:02Cheese.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06For a family surviving on benefits,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09the extra cost of paying the charge for the bedroom
0:04:09 > 0:04:12comes out of the already tight household budget.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Flour.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16- INTERVIEWER:- So on a normal week,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18could you afford everything on that list?
0:04:18 > 0:04:20There's usually pretty more...
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Like, there's my frozen veg, my meat for Sunday dinners,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25and sausages,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29but half the time, we can't afford them, so I just leave them.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33But even though the family are struggling,
0:04:33 > 0:04:37Kay hasn't given up the fight against the bedroom tax.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43To have this bedroom tax stopped and our money as normal,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46it would make a heck of a difference.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49If I don't fight, who's going to fight?
0:04:49 > 0:04:51You know? And something's got to be done.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Another big change to the benefit system
0:05:02 > 0:05:05is the phasing out of Disability Living Allowance
0:05:05 > 0:05:07and the introduction of a new benefit
0:05:07 > 0:05:10called Personal Independence Payments.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15But what impact does this dramatic changeover have
0:05:15 > 0:05:18on some of the most vulnerable people in Wales?
0:05:22 > 0:05:2743-year-old Andrew Williams is in so much pain from walking,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30he has to stop every 15 metres.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34He used to work in a steel fabrication plant, a job he loved.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40It's not just the physical...
0:05:40 > 0:05:42HE WINCES IN PAIN
0:05:42 > 0:05:44..bit. It's...
0:05:49 > 0:05:52It's not being able to do what I used to do.
0:05:53 > 0:05:59His life changed drastically in 2008 when he injured his back doing DIY.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Injuries made worse by two car accidents.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08I used to do a lot of physical work, and I can't do it any more,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11and it's frustrating.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14I used to work 12-hour shifts lifting heavy steel.
0:06:17 > 0:06:18At the moment...
0:06:19 > 0:06:21..I'm still having...
0:06:23 > 0:06:26..problems adjusting mentally
0:06:26 > 0:06:30to what I can and can't do.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Despite getting treatment for his depression and anxiety,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38there are some days when Andrew hits rock bottom.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44'Struggling to do the things that you want to do...'
0:06:46 > 0:06:50..whether it be physical things, mental things...
0:06:50 > 0:06:52um...
0:06:52 > 0:06:54that kicks the depression off.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01And that's when you start getting silly thoughts like, you know...
0:07:01 > 0:07:04taking too many tablets, or...
0:07:05 > 0:07:08..contemplating going out in the shed with a razor blade, or...
0:07:10 > 0:07:11It's...
0:07:11 > 0:07:15It's been happening quite a few times over the last five, six weeks.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21No. Foot in straight would help.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Andrew relies on his partner, Donna,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26and was on Disability Living Allowance,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30which went some way to help with the extra expense of his needs.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33But when Andrew's condition worsened,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36he tried to get an increase in his DLA.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Because he was changing his claim,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41he had to apply, instead, for the new benefit,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Personal Independence Payments, which he did.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49But although he got the PIP award, he hadn't scored enough points
0:07:49 > 0:07:52to get financial support for his care needs,
0:07:52 > 0:07:56despite the fact that he'd had a £21-per-week care allowance
0:07:56 > 0:07:57when he was on DLA.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03They took off what I had. I had low rate care.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05They've taken that away,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08even though DLA told me I had that indefinitely.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Financially worse off and frustrated by the system,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17he's decided to appeal against the decision.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27For anyone surviving week to week on benefits, unforeseen costs
0:08:27 > 0:08:31can make a dent in even the best household budget.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39For the past two weeks, Kay has had to spend an extra £30 per week
0:08:39 > 0:08:40on bus fares.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45She's been shuttling back and forth from home to Morriston Hospital
0:08:45 > 0:08:47in Swansea, where her husband Terrance
0:08:47 > 0:08:50has just had open-heart surgery.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Last Monday, a week last Monday, when he had his heart attack,
0:08:53 > 0:08:58his last heart attack... I thought it was all over.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01I know they told me on the phone yesterday the operation went well,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03but until you see it for yourself,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05you know, you don't believe it, do you?
0:09:13 > 0:09:16A week later, Terrance is back home.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20But he is in pain and a long way from a full recovery.
0:09:20 > 0:09:25They replaced a valve with a mechanical valve.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29And they replaced an artery.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33And then, broke my ribs.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Broke my chest bone!
0:09:38 > 0:09:39One hell of a cut!
0:09:40 > 0:09:41As you can see...
0:09:45 > 0:09:47The chest bone expands, when I cough.
0:09:47 > 0:09:48And it's...
0:09:51 > 0:09:52..trying to tear.
0:09:54 > 0:09:55HE COUGHS
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Now, they need the spare room more than ever.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03The bed has been fitted with a grab rail.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Terrance has trouble sleeping because he's in constant pain,
0:10:07 > 0:10:09so sleeps here to avoid disturbing Kay.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15If I have got... If I get in trouble
0:10:15 > 0:10:19and I need Kay, all I have to do
0:10:19 > 0:10:22is give the wall a bang.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25At least I know I am only a door away.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30There is plenty of times I have woke up and I have gone like this
0:10:30 > 0:10:33to his mouth, just to make sure that he is actually breathing.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35And it is frightening.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39PAINED GASPING
0:10:43 > 0:10:47I think people should have a spare bedroom, just in case...
0:10:47 > 0:10:49You don't know what's around the corner.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51You don't know what's going to happen.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54I don't see why we should be punished for having
0:10:54 > 0:10:56a spare bedroom, anyway. We never used to.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09Andrew Williams
0:11:09 > 0:11:13is fighting the decision on his PIP benefit.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16Although he got a payment for his mobility,
0:11:16 > 0:11:17he got nothing for his care needs.
0:11:19 > 0:11:20OK...
0:11:22 > 0:11:24'This was never about money.'
0:11:24 > 0:11:28This, to me...has always been...
0:11:30 > 0:11:31..about being believed.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37He has already had his case heard before a judge,
0:11:37 > 0:11:41at a tribunal in Cardiff. And now, he is preparing for a final hearing
0:11:41 > 0:11:43in two months' time.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46I have decided you need supervision, prompting or assistance
0:11:46 > 0:11:49from another person to manage your therapy. And that is therapy...
0:11:49 > 0:11:52He is reviewing his original application
0:11:52 > 0:11:55for Personal Independence Payments. Using a points system,
0:11:55 > 0:11:59it's designed to assess his capabilities with daily activities.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Activity number four, which is washing and bathing.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05They have given me three points on that one.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08And the...
0:12:08 > 0:12:10It's not always clear to Andrew
0:12:10 > 0:12:12which sections of the form he should use
0:12:12 > 0:12:15to describe his complex disabilities and care needs.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19In my situation...it would be...
0:12:24 > 0:12:27..either 3C or 3D, probably.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31It could actually be 3B.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33It is far from straightforward,
0:12:33 > 0:12:38and he is finding the whole application process frustrating.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41They want you to put everything into nice little boxes -
0:12:41 > 0:12:44on Mondays and Tuesdays, I can't do that.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46On Wednesdays, I can do that.
0:12:46 > 0:12:47Life is not like that.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00The appeals process is proving difficult,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02so Andrew has decided to get help.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05In town with his partner, Donna,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Andrew is in more pain that usual,
0:13:07 > 0:13:09so he has chosen to use his wheelchair.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16God, things like that. Things like that bloody divot.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18They don't flipping...
0:13:19 > 0:13:21..fix them and it jars my back like hell.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25They are heading to the Citizens Advice Bureau,
0:13:25 > 0:13:28who offer free support for people facing problems with their benefits.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35- Are you Mr Williams?- I am, indeed. - I'm Denis Jones, right?
0:13:35 > 0:13:38- Pleased to meet you.- Pleasure.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Denis is the most experienced volunteer
0:13:40 > 0:13:43at Bridgend's Citizens Advice.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Still going strong, at 90 years of age,
0:13:46 > 0:13:47he is the oldest in Wales,
0:13:47 > 0:13:52and his track record with appealing benefits cases is second to none.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55- What have you lost? - I've lost my care component.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58I was on low care DLA.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01If they are to have a chance at overturning the decision
0:14:01 > 0:14:04of the tribunal, Denis will have to look at all the evidence
0:14:04 > 0:14:09of Andrew's care needs and make sure it is properly represented.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13There is, though, a possibility that he could end up worse off.
0:14:13 > 0:14:19Now, you are aware that you have got ten on mobility there,
0:14:19 > 0:14:23if you go to the tribunal, they can take it away,
0:14:23 > 0:14:25as well as awarding.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28- Yes. I'm fully aware of that. - You're aware of that.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31- Do you want me to go the appeal with you?- Yes, please.- Right.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37Over the following weeks, Denis will work closely with Andrew.
0:14:37 > 0:14:38I feel more confident
0:14:38 > 0:14:42going into the tribunal now, with someone like that behind us.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48'At least we've got support there, to help us through it now,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51'which, hopefully, is going to make life a bit easier.'
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Having lost her own case in court, there is nothing Kay Harris can do
0:15:04 > 0:15:07to avoid paying her £49 per month bedroom tax,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10but now, she is campaigning to help others.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14- Hello!- Oh, hello, Kay! Come on in!
0:15:14 > 0:15:17She has joined forces with Alan Short.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Together, they formed a campaign group called
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Bridgend Against The Bedroom Tax.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25And this appeal was for... She is quite ill...
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Alan is a retired ex-serviceman
0:15:28 > 0:15:32and the campaign has taken over his life.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35We're not arguing it wasn't a bedroom. We said, "Yeah, we know..."
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Although Alan hasn't been bedroom taxed himself,
0:15:38 > 0:15:41he is helping people challenge their case in the courts.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44This is what gets sent to people
0:15:44 > 0:15:46when they appeal, from the council.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49It is usually anywhere between 132 and 167 pages.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Now, how on Earth is a tenant going to sort that lot out?
0:15:53 > 0:15:55It's enough to put anybody off,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59but Alan is happy to help.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Right, these appeals, here,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04are appeals that are ongoing.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06These have all been withdrawn, these appeals.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11These here are all cases in the pipeline, waiting to be done.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14These... These are cases that have been lost.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17How many cases have you got here?
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Well, I just counted up on my laptop. 92, we had.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24What was it that made you start up this campaign?
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Fed up of the government walking all over people that are vulnerable.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32People are not prepared to speak up for themselves,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35so I'm prepared to do it for them.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37I can see it's wrong.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39It just isn't fair to people -
0:16:39 > 0:16:41people who have got no chance of paying.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45He is 100% into this campaign and I am really proud of him.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47I am glad to be his friend.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49ALAN LAUGHS
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Thank you very much!
0:16:53 > 0:16:56Their next mission takes them to the heart of Welsh government,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59to see if they can get more support for their campaign.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04- See you later, huh?- Yes.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08For months, Andrew has been living
0:17:08 > 0:17:11with the stress of his benefits appeal.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14He's on medication for severe anxiety,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18which sometimes prevents him from leaving the house.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Sometimes you think, "I'm going to go and do this,"
0:17:22 > 0:17:24and you get to the front door...
0:17:24 > 0:17:26and I think, "No, I'm not."
0:17:26 > 0:17:31It's... It's too hard to even open the front door.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35You get this knot, these butterflies in your stomach.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Today, he's managed to overcome his anxiety.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44With his PIP tribunal looming,
0:17:44 > 0:17:48Andrew heads to the Bridgend Citizens Advice Bureau.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51It's the last chance he has to get the all-important help
0:17:51 > 0:17:53he needs to prepare for his appeal.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00- Good morning, Mr Williams.- Morning.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04Denis and Andrew look at where he can score some more points.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07We have to see whether you deserve a higher reward
0:18:07 > 0:18:11on those activities for which you've got nothing,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14but which you could possibly achieve something.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Last time, Andrew wasn't given any points
0:18:17 > 0:18:21for the help he needs for putting on his clothes.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Dressing and undressing.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29- How do you manage with socks? - Most of the time my partner does it.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30Most of the time...does it for you.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33She more than likely does them about four days a week,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36four to five - sometimes it's seven days a week.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Is that spoiling you, out of...
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- No. No, I will try first. - It is needed.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Yeah, I will try first and if I can't do it,
0:18:45 > 0:18:46then she will have to come in.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50The appeals process can put heavy demands on people,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53especially those who are ill or vulnerable.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01'I wouldn't wish this sort of thing on anyone, because...'
0:19:02 > 0:19:06It's... It's not easily dealt with.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09I have this constant...
0:19:12 > 0:19:17..thing in the back of my head, when am I going to have this appeal?
0:19:17 > 0:19:20What's going to happen? When am I going to see Denis?
0:19:20 > 0:19:22What does Denis think about all this?
0:19:24 > 0:19:26It all goes on in your head, all the time -
0:19:26 > 0:19:29when you go to sleep, everything, it's always there.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Getting to the point now where you just want it over and done with.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37No matter what the decision, you just want it done with,
0:19:37 > 0:19:39because it's... it's getting too much now.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45With the tribunal just four days away,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48the pressure on Andrew is mounting.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02In Wales, 40,000 tenants have to pay the under-occupancy charge,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05or bedroom tax as it's more commonly known.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08That's almost half of those who rent their homes
0:20:08 > 0:20:11from housing associations or the council,
0:20:11 > 0:20:15and it's the highest proportion in any region in Great Britain.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Alan and Kay see the charge as an unfair tax
0:20:21 > 0:20:24and they're intent on doing something about it.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27They're in Cardiff, heading for the Welsh Assembly.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31That's where they let all the hot air out of, there, look.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33We just want to get our point across
0:20:33 > 0:20:35and we want them to do something.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Inside the Senedd,
0:20:37 > 0:20:42along with other campaigners, church representatives and charities,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45they meet with some of the political movers and shakers.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47We deal mainly with tenants on very low incomes
0:20:47 > 0:20:49who just cannot afford to pay.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52They're what we call the vulnerable tenants.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56We've got appeals waiting now and we've got many in the pipeline.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Hi, my name is Kay Harris and I'm a bedroom taxpayer.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Me and a few others made a campaign against the tax
0:21:02 > 0:21:04and we feel it is unfair to be punished
0:21:04 > 0:21:07because we want to live peacefully in our own homes.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09They are not buildings, they are people's homes,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12who have settled for years and brought up families
0:21:12 > 0:21:15and who have gone and made their own families.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19Opportunities for Kay to get her stories across to those in power
0:21:19 > 0:21:21don't come around too often.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25We still are urging people to join our campaign, to fight with us,
0:21:25 > 0:21:29so that we'll have more support for to come to places like this.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31Thank you very much.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Kay gets the attention of Assembly Member Joyce Watson.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41I don't want to move. You know, like...
0:21:41 > 0:21:44And half the time, he uses that bedroom anyway,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47because he wakes up in the night because he's in so much pain,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49so he goes into the spare bedroom,
0:21:49 > 0:21:51so it's not as if the bedroom's not being used.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52I just think to myself,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56"Why are they punishing us like they are? And why us?"
0:21:56 > 0:22:00Why are they hammering the people who need help?
0:22:00 > 0:22:03- The sick, the old, disabled. - The infirm, the vulnerable.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07Whichever category you want to put them in, they are the vulnerable.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12The Senedd has no say in the under-occupancy charge
0:22:12 > 0:22:14because it's a Westminster policy,
0:22:14 > 0:22:18but Kay and the other campaigners want the assembly to create a fund
0:22:18 > 0:22:22to pay the charges of everyone who's been hit in Wales,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25similar to what's already happened in Scotland.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41All the appeal paperwork.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47It's the day Andrew Williams takes his battle to court
0:22:47 > 0:22:50over his Personal Independence Payment.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54- INTERVIEWER:- So, how are you feeling this morning, Andrew?
0:22:54 > 0:23:00- HE CHUCKLES - Not good. Nervous.
0:23:00 > 0:23:01Anxious.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Taking extra tablets.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Because of his anxiety and his difficulty with walking,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16the tribunal service have sent a taxi to pick him
0:23:16 > 0:23:17and his partner, Donna, up.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Yeah, here he is.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26Morning.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30The last year has seen increasing numbers of people
0:23:30 > 0:23:35taking their benefits appeals to tribunal, so Andrew is not alone.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41- Cheers, mate.- See you later, mate. Be careful.- Ta-ra.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44- Morning.- Morning.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Without Denis' support, Andrew wouldn't have made it this far.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50There you are, phone is off.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54- There we are, then. Let's go in, eh? - Let's go.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01For a second time, his case is being heard by two experts and a judge.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04They'll decide whether or not to uphold
0:24:04 > 0:24:07the Department of Work and Pensions' decision on his benefits.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17They emerge almost an hour later.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19They went through everything.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22They went through - other than just the walking -
0:24:22 > 0:24:26they actually went through all the points that we were querying,
0:24:26 > 0:24:27didn't they?
0:24:27 > 0:24:29But it's not over yet.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34Couldn't make a decision there because we'd overrun.
0:24:34 > 0:24:35We just now have to wait and see.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41It'll be another two days before the decision comes through.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Back on the Bettws Estate,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Terrance is still recovering from open heart surgery.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Right, I'll go and make a coffee.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59The unexpected costs from when he was hospitalised
0:24:59 > 0:25:01have added to their money worries,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03and they've fallen behind on the rent.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09Now, as well as having to pay the £11 per week bedroom tax,
0:25:09 > 0:25:13they are also paying off their arrears.
0:25:13 > 0:25:18It's costing us now £26.60 a week.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23And that £26.60 could've gone on decorating the room.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34HE COUGHS
0:25:37 > 0:25:40The government's intention is to get people to downsize.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45But Terrance and Kay feel that moving isn't an option.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50A house isn't just a building.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52When you've got people living in there,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55that have been there for such a long time, it's a home.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59They've settled in that home, so why not leave them stay?
0:25:59 > 0:26:02As I said, the only way I'll get out of this house is in a wooden box.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13In the six months
0:26:13 > 0:26:16after the under-occupancy charge was introduced,
0:26:16 > 0:26:21the number of tenants in arrears in Wales increased by 23%.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Now, as a result,
0:26:23 > 0:26:26the housing associations are predicting evictions.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32I don't want to open it.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35The results of Andrew's tribunal have arrived.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40It's taken him four months to challenge the DWP's decision
0:26:40 > 0:26:42on his PIP benefit.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44"Decision notice.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46"Mr Williams has limited ability
0:26:46 > 0:26:50"to carry out activities of daily living. He scores nine points."
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Finally, Andrew has got the recognition that he has care needs.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Woohoo!
0:26:56 > 0:26:59And he's won his case.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02- It's over, love. - Yep, all done and dusted.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06On top of his other benefits, he's been awarded
0:27:06 > 0:27:11an additional £55 per week, that's more than he had before.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15But they've given you back your board,
0:27:15 > 0:27:17- which they originally took off you. - Yeah.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21I am happy I've been heard and I am happy it's all over.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Andrew calls Denis at Citizens Advice,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29who's support made all the difference.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30- ON PHONE:- 'Hi, Andrew.'
0:27:30 > 0:27:33- Hiya. I've just read it.- 'Yes.'
0:27:33 > 0:27:37And I'm still in a bit of shock, actually.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39'Why is that?'
0:27:39 > 0:27:41Because somebody actually listened for a change.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44'You got what you went for, that's the big thing.'
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Exactly.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49'You got it. I was very pleased when I saw the result.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52'I think it's a very good result.'
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Yeah, I couldn't be happier with it.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56- 'OK.'- Thanks a lot. - 'Bye, then.'- Ta-ra.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03It's a happy relief. It's a happy ending to...
0:28:04 > 0:28:08- ..an otherwise sad story, I think. - HE CHUCKLES
0:28:17 > 0:28:19For those who are ill or vulnerable,
0:28:19 > 0:28:23challenging benefits decisions can be a gruelling process.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26A survey shows that most of those who try
0:28:26 > 0:28:28say their health suffers as a result.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32But although the benefits appeals process can be difficult,
0:28:32 > 0:28:34growing numbers of people are successful.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38Next time on Battling With Benefits...
0:28:38 > 0:28:40They just sanctioned me.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43..a young Valleys couple struggle to comply
0:28:43 > 0:28:45with stricter Jobcentre rules...
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Only when we checked today that we noticed half the money was missing.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52..and when Bridgend-born Will Thomas returned to Britain injured
0:28:52 > 0:28:54after having worked abroad,
0:28:54 > 0:28:56he struggles to get any benefits at all.
0:28:56 > 0:29:01They have the nerve to tell me that I have to be back in my own country
0:29:01 > 0:29:04for two years to get what I'm entitled to.