A bedbound mother from Worcester has spoken of her terror after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stopped her Universal Credit payments, leaving her with just £1.71 in her bank account and fearing she would lose her home.
Pressure to work despite severe disability
Catherine Hawkins, 50, from Diglis in Worcester, lives with debilitating conditions including neuropathy in her feet and Crohn's Disease. She is unable to walk and relies on carers for basic tasks like bathing, feeding, and moving from her bed to her lounge.
Despite her severe limitations, she was shocked when the DWP informed her she was fit enough to work. Officials instructed her to attend a workshop and began "putting pressure" on her to find employment. When she failed to attend a scheduled phone appointment on December 15—a call she says she never received—her benefits were suspended.
Facing homelessness and hunger
The sudden halt to her £1,000 monthly Universal Credit payment plunged Catherine into immediate crisis. With rent of £722 due on her ground-floor flat from Platform Housing Group on January 10, she feared falling into arrears and eviction.
"I'm afraid I'm going to end up being made homeless," Catherine said. "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."
With no money for food, she was forced to contact a food bank. "I've had to ring a food bank today because I have no food. I just feel depressed - sick and tired of being sick and tired," she explained.
DWP apology and reinstated payments
The DWP had claimed it did not receive Catherine's last three bank statements, which she insists she submitted. Following her complaints, the department has now apologised and lifted the suspension on her account.
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."
It is understood that Catherine, who also receives £900 a month in Personal Independence Payment (PIP), has not missed any payments and all review actions have concluded.
This distressing episode came shortly after another ordeal in December, where a broken door entry system meant one of her carers had to climb through her bedroom window to reach her, highlighting her profound vulnerability.
