No bread for a hungry man

He was fobbed off with food for thought instead of being given the price of a square meal.

Unemployed Steve of Knutsford Road, Alderley Edge, had not eaten for three days when he called at the Department of Work and Pensions office in Water Lane where his dole claim was being processed.

But he left empty handed and without the price of even a plate of chips after being told they were short staffed.

Now he has been given an apology for the anxiety caused.

Steve, 33, went into Wilmslow Job Centre on Friday afternoon to ask for a crisis loan while his dole claim was being processed.

And despite telling staff he hadn’t eaten for three days, he was told they were short staffed and asked him to return on Monday.

He said: "I really could not believe it. They said ‘we are short staffed call us back on Monday.’ I just thought that was the wrong thing to say to a man who has just told you he hasn’t eaten for three days. In some countries they would call that a human rights abuse."

Steve signed on as unemployed on March 29 after finishing casual work as a letting agent, showing tenants around properties.

But when his claim for income support had not been processed two weeks later, he went to ask for a crisis loan so that he could buy food.

Despite telling staff it was an urgent case and he had not eaten, hard pressed workers asked him to come back on Monday morning.

He was issued with a helpline phone number but was unable to get through on the line as it was constantly busy.

Steve said: "I was able to go to my brother’s house and get something to eat, but if my brother did not live near by I would have been completely stuck."

A DWP Spokesperson said: "We have followed up outstanding information and an urgent payment will be issued. DWP would like to offer an apology to Mr. Eddison for any anxiety caused."