Zulfigar, aged 58, has worked for the past 30 years in the weaving and textile industry, but is now too ill, with diabetes and a range of complicating conditions, including severe visual impairment, mental health problems, incontinence and gangrene. He relies on friends, carers and family to shop for him. He applied for Employment and Support Allowance, but scored zero points. Zulfigar says, “I told them I wasn’t afraid to work, but that at the moment I was not well enough to. But they didn’t listen.” His sister says, “He couldn’t even make a claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance because he couldn’t leave the house without an ambulance.” With no income, Zulfigar was unable to eat properly and stopped taking his insulin for fear of a severe hypoglycaemic attack. His sight has deteriorated, and his hands and feet have become more severely affected.