46-year old Tony has worked all his life, but lost his job as a van driver for a fruit and vegetable wholesale firm when fuel prices went up. Not long after, local companies started closing offices. He says, “First the job centre was empty, and then suddenly it was packed full.” He attended courses, learned how to use a computer and write a CV, and continues to apply for jobs, but without success. He was told there would be new conditions attached to the benefits he received, and he must prove that he was applying for 20 jobs every week. Tony says, “It jumped from four jobs per week to 20. It’s quite a leap.” Initially, he met the target, even if it meant applying for jobs for which he was not qualified, but one week he managed to apply for only 15 positions. He was sanctioned. He was already struggling financially, with increased gas and electricity costs, and a £20 bedroom tax charge. After bills, he was left with about £13 per week for food. Tony says, “It was so shocking, when I was doing everything I could. I was panicking. I didn’t know what being sanctioned meant. I was so miserable.”