The DWP has apologised for telling an electrician to quit his £40k-a-year job and find another which doesn't require walking in order to claim benefits - after deeming him 'fit to work' with a broken leg.<br /><br />Martin Flowers, 60, was signed off sick by a doctor after having an accident at work, which has left him on crutches and unable to return to his position since January. <br /><br />Due to his injury, the skilled electrician has been living off £415 a month Statuary Sick Pay (SSP) and put in a temporary claim for Universal Credit to help pay his bills.<br /><br />But Martin was left stunned when assessors from the Department of Work and Pensions deemed him "fit to work" and told him to quit his £40,000-a-year position.<br /><br />They said he would only get financial help if he got another job he could do with his injury - despite his current employers saying they will welcome him back once fit.<br /><br />And he claims the DWP also 'effectively told him to lie' after advising him not to tell any future employers why he left his current post.<br /><br />The DWP has since apologised for the "error" and any distress they may have caused Martin.<br /><br />Martin, of Newport, Shrops., suffered his injury after falling from some steps just three weeks after starting at Wulfrun Building Solutions in Wolverhampton.<br /><br />He said: “Since I have had my accident, my employer has been as good as gold. <br /><br />"While I had only been there for three weeks, they have kept me on while I recover. <br /><br />"They even laid staff off earlier this year but still kept me on. They could have quite easily got rid of me but they haven't, they have been absolutely excellent.<br /><br />“I'm keen to get back to work a soon as possible but obviously in the building trade there are health and safety rules and you can't walk around a construction site on crutches.<br /><br />"So I need to be declared fit by my consultant who has said I should be able to start back from around mid-July.<br /><br />"The whole thing has left me feeling sick. My wife and I are worried. We stand to lose everything."<br /><br />Martin, whose wife is on Personal Independence Payment (PIP), found his SSC was not enough to support them both so made the Universal Credit claim.<br /><br />He said the temporary fix would have helped them pay their bills, otherwise they risked losing their home.<br /><br />However, despite his planned return to work next month, he was shocked to be told by the DWP on Wednesday (12/6) he was deemed fit to work.<br /><br />Martin, who is still using crutches, added: “They called and said I had been declared fit to work, despite me having a sick note signed by a consultant. <br /><br />"I explained that I could not go back to my job with a broken leg but the man on the phone said I had to quit that job and find another that I could do.<br /><br />“He said even though I am on crutches, I could work in a office or somewhere else. <br /><br />"But I have got a decent job and would not earn half the amount I do in an office - I've no office skills.<br /><br />“It is ridiculous. We risked losing our home as we could not pay our bills. It's like I'm banging my head of a brick wall.<br /><br />"Its someone asking question off a sheet and somebody else at the other end not going into the ins and outs of the person's situation.<br /><br />"It means some people who are terminally ill will pass a tick box and told if they don't work there will be sanctions. That's the attitude I've had."<br /><br />He added that the DWP also told him not to tell future employers why he left his post.<br /><br />Martin added: “I said to them, should I tell employers why I left my job and they said I must not. Effectively telling me to lie.”<br /><br />The Department of Work and Pensions has since apologised and blamed the independent agency who carried out Martin's assessment.<br /><br />A spokesperson said: "We apologise to Mr Flowers for the error and any distress caused. <br /><br />"Jobcentre staff have contacted Mr Flowers directly and the issue has been resolved."
