A struggling dad says he is often left with just £10 a week to feed himself after a life-threatening condition left him relying on Universal Credit.
Mark Chambers, from Woodville, Derbyshire, was forced to leave a well-paid job where he once earned £32-an-hour due to chronic joint pain and has been living on Universal Credit since 2016.
But he says things got worse two years later when he ruptured his aorta - the biggest artery in the body that carries blood to the heart.
The former automotive engineering worker was then diagnosed with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which severely weakens his tissues, arteries and internal organs, and he is now on 28 tablets a day.
His heavy medication means he lacks an appetite and spends most of his time indoors weak and fatigued.
Mr Chambers had worked in his industry for more than 20 years, earning in excess of £20,000 a year, but now relies on Universal Credit of £137 a week, a quarter of what he once earned.
From this he has to pay all his bills, including gas, electric and water.
He said: "On Universal Credit, you aren't really living - you're just surviving.
"You have no money for any form of social life or activities and you live a very limited life.
"The system needs to change as more and more people are clearly incapable are being forced to work.
"Every time I go to the job centre, it feels like I'm visiting a hospital."
Mr Chambers once owned two houses, but had to sell one to pay his mortgage on the other, which he also moved out of when he got divorced from his wife.
Mr Chambers, said: "I get around £550 per month and often have to sacrifice shopping for food over paying the bills.
"I have limited options for food and often go to the reduced aisles in the supermarkets. I sometimes find myself with only £10 for food.
"When my lad, Thomas, 22, comes to visit me, we just stay indoors as I can't afford to take him out.
"I find it difficult, especially when I look back and think at the amount I was earning at one point.
"To now find myself only affording things like pasta and tinned food is very upsetting"
Money is so tight he rarely buys fresh fresh fruit or meat and often his money runs out and he has to use food banks - and on some days he simply doesn't eat.
Mr Chambers said: "Growing up, I was brought up on proper home-cooked food, with meat and veg included in almost every meal, and now when I have meat it feels like a treat.
"I worked more than 20 years and contributed my fair share of tax and I'm now getting tarred with the same brush as everyone else on benefits.
"There have been times where I've had to rely on food banks from South Derbyshire Community Voluntary Services, as I've had literally no food in my flat."
Mr Chambers had worked since he was 14 and was devastated when illness forced him to give up his job, which he enjoyed.
Mr Chambers said: "I'd always thought of myself as a fit and healthy individual.
"However, as I got older, I started to have chronic back, knee and joint pains and, because of that, started taking time off work.
"Everyone thought I was making it up - the doctors would always tell me there was nothing wrong with me and it was all in my head, so I had to leave, but I knew something wasn't right.
"When I left work, I applied for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which would have meant I got more benefits but failed the assessment and was offered Universal Credit.
"I scored zero on the assessment due to my condition so even if I try to apply for it again, I know I will fail the assessment."
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "Mr Chambers has been on Universal Credit since 2016 and is receiving the maximum amount he is eligible for.
"Universal Credit is helping to support more than 2.8 million people across the UK.
"It gives people financial help if they're unemployed, low-paid or unable to work.
"Advances are available to help people access money quickly, and there are safeguards in place to ensure repayments are affordable and spread over a lengthy period of time."
