Episode 1 Battling with Benefits

That's all we have at the moment.

Life on benefits can be tough.

The government in Westminster

is undertaking a shake-up of the welfare system.

The aim is to focus payments on those in greatest need

and help claimants into work.

They're also aiming to cut £12 billion

from the spend on benefits.

Do you think you could do this yourself?

Tighter rules have been introduced.

Filling in those forms is an absolute nightmare.

..new systems...

It can drive you mental.

..and stiffer penalties.

It's not right, just cutting our money like that.

Vulnerable and disabled people, even those who are ill, say

they are being pushed to the limit.

I don't see why we should be punished for having a spare bedroom.

If it's just me that's not getting the help,

who else is suffering in this world?

In the Bridgend area, we followed people for ten months

to see the impact on some of those who are experiencing the changes.

And how challenging benefits decisions can be complicated

and stressful.

Why should I have to fight against it? But that's what it takes.

And a lot of people would have given up, you know?

A lot of people would have given up.

This is the reality for those who are Battling with Benefits.

Over the last four years,

the Westminster Government has revamped the entire benefits system.

The aim is to provide better support to get people back to work,

as well as making savings of £9 billion a year.

One of the big changes is to housing benefit,

with the introduction of the under-occupancy charge,

which is commonly known as the bedroom tax.

It affects 40,000 households in Wales

who rent their homes from the council or housing associations.

Those who have a spare room

now have money deducted from their housing benefit.

But what impact is the bedroom tax having

in Wales' deprived communities?

Kay Harris lives in an ex-mining community

on the Bettws estate near Bridgend.

-I love it here.

-INTERVIEWER:

-And why's that?

Because we're a community that always...

Like, if anything happens, we're there, like, you know?

Kay's lived in Bettws her entire life.

Her three-bedroom rented house is home to husband Terrance

and also son Gareth.

Since 2013, they've been £49 a month worse off.

Well, this is the bedroom that I'm paying the bedroom tax for.

The tax is the shortfall in her rent that she has to pay.

One option to recoup it is to rent out the room.

How can you rent a room out this size?

You know, people are not going to pay, say, £40 a week

for sleeping in this size room,

when they can only fit a wardrobe...

Cos you can't put nothing up against the radiator, it's against the law.

You can't put nothing at the window, because it breaks out the light.

The government's intention

is that those who've been charged should move somewhere smaller.

But that's difficult,

because there's a shortage of one- and two-bedroom properties

all over Wales.

So where they got the ideas from for these things, I don't know.

Kay decided to try and challenge the decision

and took her case to court, to an independent tribunal.

But the judge ruled that she had no grounds

to be exempt from the charge.

I knew as soon as I walked through the door and seen the judge's face,

I knew his decision.

My grandchildren come over on the weekend.

I have one on a Friday night, one on a Saturday night.

So the bedroom is getting used.

But they don't take that into consideration.

Butter.

Cheese.

For a family surviving on benefits,

the extra cost of paying the charge for the bedroom

comes out of the already tight household budget.

Flour.

-INTERVIEWER:

-So on a normal week,

could you afford everything on that list?

There's usually pretty more...

Like, there's my frozen veg, my meat for Sunday dinners,

and sausages,

but half the time, we can't afford them, so I just leave them.

But even though the family are struggling,

Kay hasn't given up the fight against the bedroom tax.

To have this bedroom tax stopped and our money as normal,

it would make a heck of a difference.

If I don't fight, who's going to fight?

You know? And something's got to be done.

Another big change to the benefit system

is the phasing out of Disability Living Allowance

and the introduction of a new benefit

called Personal Independence Payments.

But what impact does this dramatic changeover have

on some of the most vulnerable people in Wales?

43-year-old Andrew Williams is in so much pain from walking,

he has to stop every 15 metres.

He used to work in a steel fabrication plant, a job he loved.

It's not just the physical...

HE WINCES IN PAIN

..bit. It's...

It's not being able to do what I used to do.

His life changed drastically in 2008 when he injured his back doing DIY.

Injuries made worse by two car accidents.

I used to do a lot of physical work, and I can't do it any more,

and it's frustrating.

I used to work 12-hour shifts lifting heavy steel.

At the moment...

..I'm still having...

..problems adjusting mentally

to what I can and can't do.

Despite getting treatment for his depression and anxiety,

there are some days when Andrew hits rock bottom.

'Struggling to do the things that you want to do...'

..whether it be physical things, mental things...

um...

that kicks the depression off.

And that's when you start getting silly thoughts like, you know...

taking too many tablets, or...

..contemplating going out in the shed with a razor blade, or...

It's...

It's been happening quite a few times over the last five, six weeks.

No. Foot in straight would help.

Andrew relies on his partner, Donna,

and was on Disability Living Allowance,

which went some way to help with the extra expense of his needs.

But when Andrew's condition worsened,

he tried to get an increase in his DLA.

Because he was changing his claim,

he had to apply, instead, for the new benefit,

Personal Independence Payments, which he did.

But although he got the PIP award, he hadn't scored enough points

to get financial support for his care needs,

despite the fact that he'd had a £21-per-week care allowance

when he was on DLA.

They took off what I had. I had low rate care.

They've taken that away,

even though DLA told me I had that indefinitely.

Financially worse off and frustrated by the system,

he's decided to appeal against the decision.

For anyone surviving week to week on benefits, unforeseen costs

can make a dent in even the best household budget.

For the past two weeks, Kay has had to spend an extra £30 per week

on bus fares.

She's been shuttling back and forth from home to Morriston Hospital

in Swansea, where her husband Terrance

has just had open-heart surgery.

Last Monday, a week last Monday, when he had his heart attack,

his last heart attack... I thought it was all over.

I know they told me on the phone yesterday the operation went well,

but until you see it for yourself,

you know, you don't believe it, do you?

A week later, Terrance is back home.

But he is in pain and a long way from a full recovery.

They replaced a valve with a mechanical valve.

And they replaced an artery.

And then, broke my ribs.

Broke my chest bone!

One hell of a cut!

As you can see...

The chest bone expands, when I cough.

And it's...

..trying to tear.

HE COUGHS

Now, they need the spare room more than ever.

The bed has been fitted with a grab rail.

Terrance has trouble sleeping because he's in constant pain,

so sleeps here to avoid disturbing Kay.

If I have got... If I get in trouble

and I need Kay, all I have to do

is give the wall a bang.

At least I know I am only a door away.

There is plenty of times I have woke up and I have gone like this

to his mouth, just to make sure that he is actually breathing.

And it is frightening.

PAINED GASPING

I think people should have a spare bedroom, just in case...

You don't know what's around the corner.

You don't know what's going to happen.

I don't see why we should be punished for having

a spare bedroom, anyway. We never used to.

Andrew Williams

is fighting the decision on his PIP benefit.

Although he got a payment for his mobility,

he got nothing for his care needs.

OK...

'This was never about money.'

This, to me...has always been...

..about being believed.

He has already had his case heard before a judge,

at a tribunal in Cardiff. And now, he is preparing for a final hearing

in two months' time.

I have decided you need supervision, prompting or assistance

from another person to manage your therapy. And that is therapy...

He is reviewing his original application

for Personal Independence Payments. Using a points system,

it's designed to assess his capabilities with daily activities.

Activity number four, which is washing and bathing.

They have given me three points on that one.

And the...

It's not always clear to Andrew

which sections of the form he should use

to describe his complex disabilities and care needs.

In my situation...it would be...

..either 3C or 3D, probably.

It could actually be 3B.

It is far from straightforward,

and he is finding the whole application process frustrating.

They want you to put everything into nice little boxes -

on Mondays and Tuesdays, I can't do that.

On Wednesdays, I can do that.

Life is not like that.

The appeals process is proving difficult,

so Andrew has decided to get help.

In town with his partner, Donna,

Andrew is in more pain that usual,

so he has chosen to use his wheelchair.

God, things like that. Things like that bloody divot.

They don't flipping...

..fix them and it jars my back like hell.

They are heading to the Citizens Advice Bureau,

who offer free support for people facing problems with their benefits.

-Are you Mr Williams?

-I am, indeed.

-I'm Denis Jones, right?

-Pleased to meet you.

-Pleasure.

Denis is the most experienced volunteer

at Bridgend's Citizens Advice.

Still going strong, at 90 years of age,

he is the oldest in Wales,

and his track record with appealing benefits cases is second to none.

-What have you lost?

-I've lost my care component.

I was on low care DLA.

If they are to have a chance at overturning the decision

of the tribunal, Denis will have to look at all the evidence

of Andrew's care needs and make sure it is properly represented.

There is, though, a possibility that he could end up worse off.

Now, you are aware that you have got ten on mobility there,

if you go to the tribunal, they can take it away,

as well as awarding.

-Yes. I'm fully aware of that.

-You're aware of that.

-Do you want me to go the appeal with you?

-Yes, please.

-Right.

Over the following weeks, Denis will work closely with Andrew.

I feel more confident

going into the tribunal now, with someone like that behind us.

'At least we've got support there, to help us through it now,

'which, hopefully, is going to make life a bit easier.'

Having lost her own case in court, there is nothing Kay Harris can do

to avoid paying her £49 per month bedroom tax,

but now, she is campaigning to help others.

-Hello!

-Oh, hello, Kay! Come on in!

She has joined forces with Alan Short.

Together, they formed a campaign group called

Bridgend Against The Bedroom Tax.

And this appeal was for... She is quite ill...

Alan is a retired ex-serviceman

and the campaign has taken over his life.

We're not arguing it wasn't a bedroom. We said, "Yeah, we know..."

Although Alan hasn't been bedroom taxed himself,

he is helping people challenge their case in the courts.

This is what gets sent to people

when they appeal, from the council.

It is usually anywhere between 132 and 167 pages.

Now, how on Earth is a tenant going to sort that lot out?

It's enough to put anybody off,

but Alan is happy to help.

Right, these appeals, here,

are appeals that are ongoing.

These have all been withdrawn, these appeals.

These here are all cases in the pipeline, waiting to be done.

These... These are cases that have been lost.

How many cases have you got here?

Well, I just counted up on my laptop. 92, we had.

What was it that made you start up this campaign?

Fed up of the government walking all over people that are vulnerable.

People are not prepared to speak up for themselves,

so I'm prepared to do it for them.

I can see it's wrong.

It just isn't fair to people -

people who have got no chance of paying.

He is 100% into this campaign and I am really proud of him.

I am glad to be his friend.

ALAN LAUGHS

Thank you very much!

Their next mission takes them to the heart of Welsh government,

to see if they can get more support for their campaign.

-See you later, huh?

-Yes.

For months, Andrew has been living

with the stress of his benefits appeal.

He's on medication for severe anxiety,

which sometimes prevents him from leaving the house.

Sometimes you think, "I'm going to go and do this,"

and you get to the front door...

and I think, "No, I'm not."

It's... It's too hard to even open the front door.

You get this knot, these butterflies in your stomach.

Today, he's managed to overcome his anxiety.

With his PIP tribunal looming,

Andrew heads to the Bridgend Citizens Advice Bureau.

It's the last chance he has to get the all-important help

he needs to prepare for his appeal.

-Good morning, Mr Williams.

-Morning.

Denis and Andrew look at where he can score some more points.

We have to see whether you deserve a higher reward

on those activities for which you've got nothing,

but which you could possibly achieve something.

Last time, Andrew wasn't given any points

for the help he needs for putting on his clothes.

Dressing and undressing.

-How do you manage with socks?

-Most of the time my partner does it.

Most of the time...does it for you.

She more than likely does them about four days a week,

four to five - sometimes it's seven days a week.

Is that spoiling you, out of...

-No. No, I will try first.

-It is needed.

Yeah, I will try first and if I can't do it,

then she will have to come in.

The appeals process can put heavy demands on people,

especially those who are ill or vulnerable.

'I wouldn't wish this sort of thing on anyone, because...'

It's... It's not easily dealt with.

I have this constant...

..thing in the back of my head, when am I going to have this appeal?

What's going to happen? When am I going to see Denis?

What does Denis think about all this?

It all goes on in your head, all the time -

when you go to sleep, everything, it's always there.

Getting to the point now where you just want it over and done with.

No matter what the decision, you just want it done with,

because it's... it's getting too much now.

With the tribunal just four days away,

the pressure on Andrew is mounting.

In Wales, 40,000 tenants have to pay the under-occupancy charge,

or bedroom tax as it's more commonly known.

That's almost half of those who rent their homes

from housing associations or the council,

and it's the highest proportion in any region in Great Britain.

Alan and Kay see the charge as an unfair tax

and they're intent on doing something about it.

They're in Cardiff, heading for the Welsh Assembly.

That's where they let all the hot air out of, there, look.

We just want to get our point across

and we want them to do something.

Inside the Senedd,

along with other campaigners, church representatives and charities,

they meet with some of the political movers and shakers.

We deal mainly with tenants on very low incomes

who just cannot afford to pay.

They're what we call the vulnerable tenants.

We've got appeals waiting now and we've got many in the pipeline.

Hi, my name is Kay Harris and I'm a bedroom taxpayer.

Me and a few others made a campaign against the tax

and we feel it is unfair to be punished

because we want to live peacefully in our own homes.

They are not buildings, they are people's homes,

who have settled for years and brought up families

and who have gone and made their own families.

Opportunities for Kay to get her stories across to those in power

don't come around too often.

We still are urging people to join our campaign, to fight with us,

so that we'll have more support for to come to places like this.

Thank you very much.

Kay gets the attention of Assembly Member Joyce Watson.

I don't want to move. You know, like...

And half the time, he uses that bedroom anyway,

because he wakes up in the night because he's in so much pain,

so he goes into the spare bedroom,

so it's not as if the bedroom's not being used.

I just think to myself,

"Why are they punishing us like they are? And why us?"

Why are they hammering the people who need help?

-The sick, the old, disabled.

-The infirm, the vulnerable.

Whichever category you want to put them in, they are the vulnerable.

The Senedd has no say in the under-occupancy charge

because it's a Westminster policy,

but Kay and the other campaigners want the assembly to create a fund

to pay the charges of everyone who's been hit in Wales,

similar to what's already happened in Scotland.

All the appeal paperwork.

It's the day Andrew Williams takes his battle to court

over his Personal Independence Payment.

-INTERVIEWER:

-So, how are you feeling this morning, Andrew?

-HE CHUCKLES

-Not good. Nervous.

Anxious.

Taking extra tablets.

Because of his anxiety and his difficulty with walking,

the tribunal service have sent a taxi to pick him

and his partner, Donna, up.

Yeah, here he is.

Morning.

The last year has seen increasing numbers of people

taking their benefits appeals to tribunal, so Andrew is not alone.

-Cheers, mate.

-See you later, mate. Be careful.

-Ta-ra.

-Morning.

-Morning.

Without Denis' support, Andrew wouldn't have made it this far.

There you are, phone is off.

-There we are, then. Let's go in, eh?

-Let's go.

For a second time, his case is being heard by two experts and a judge.

They'll decide whether or not to uphold

the Department of Work and Pensions' decision on his benefits.

They emerge almost an hour later.

They went through everything.

They went through - other than just the walking -

they actually went through all the points that we were querying,

didn't they?

But it's not over yet.

Couldn't make a decision there because we'd overrun.

We just now have to wait and see.

It'll be another two days before the decision comes through.

Back on the Bettws Estate,

Terrance is still recovering from open heart surgery.

Right, I'll go and make a coffee.

The unexpected costs from when he was hospitalised

have added to their money worries,

and they've fallen behind on the rent.

Now, as well as having to pay the £11 per week bedroom tax,

they are also paying off their arrears.

It's costing us now £26.60 a week.

And that £26.60 could've gone on decorating the room.

HE COUGHS

The government's intention is to get people to downsize.

But Terrance and Kay feel that moving isn't an option.

A house isn't just a building.

When you've got people living in there,

that have been there for such a long time, it's a home.

They've settled in that home, so why not leave them stay?

As I said, the only way I'll get out of this house is in a wooden box.

In the six months

after the under-occupancy charge was introduced,

the number of tenants in arrears in Wales increased by 23%.

Now, as a result,

the housing associations are predicting evictions.

I don't want to open it.

The results of Andrew's tribunal have arrived.

It's taken him four months to challenge the DWP's decision

on his PIP benefit.

"Decision notice.

"Mr Williams has limited ability

"to carry out activities of daily living. He scores nine points."

Finally, Andrew has got the recognition that he has care needs.

Woohoo!

And he's won his case.

-It's over, love.

-Yep, all done and dusted.

On top of his other benefits, he's been awarded

an additional £55 per week, that's more than he had before.

But they've given you back your board,

-which they originally took off you.

-Yeah.

I am happy I've been heard and I am happy it's all over.

Andrew calls Denis at Citizens Advice,

who's support made all the difference.

-ON PHONE:

-'Hi, Andrew.'

-Hiya. I've just read it.

-'Yes.'

And I'm still in a bit of shock, actually.

'Why is that?'

Because somebody actually listened for a change.

'You got what you went for, that's the big thing.'

Exactly.

'You got it. I was very pleased when I saw the result.

'I think it's a very good result.'

Yeah, I couldn't be happier with it.

-'OK.'

-Thanks a lot.

-'Bye, then.'

-Ta-ra.

It's a happy relief. It's a happy ending to...

-..an otherwise sad story, I think.

-HE CHUCKLES

For those who are ill or vulnerable,

challenging benefits decisions can be a gruelling process.

A survey shows that most of those who try

say their health suffers as a result.

But although the benefits appeals process can be difficult,

growing numbers of people are successful.

Next time on Battling With Benefits...

They just sanctioned me.

..a young Valleys couple struggle to comply

with stricter Jobcentre rules...

Only when we checked today that we noticed half the money was missing.

..and when Bridgend-born Will Thomas returned to Britain injured

after having worked abroad,

he struggles to get any benefits at all.

They have the nerve to tell me that I have to be back in my own country

for two years to get what I'm entitled to.