A mentally ill Scot says he is suicidal after finding out he’ll be left with no money over Christmas

Alan White is facing a huge cut in his benefits as he moves to Universal Credit

A mentally ill Scot says he is suicidal after finding out he’ll be left with no money over Christmas under the transfer to Universal Credit.

Allan White says he can’t bear to see his nieces and nephews on Christmas Day because he won’t be able to buy them presents.

The 29-year-old said: “I’ve thought about ending it all.

“Christmas is totally ruined. I only have £2 left in my gas and electricity meter so will need to stay with my mum in Bathgate at some point and she’ll be making the dinner on Christmas Day.

“I have two nieces and three nephews. It sounds terrible but now I don’t know if I want to see the wee ones on Christmas Day. I’ll just feel so disappointed in myself about not being able to afford presents for them.”

Under the previous system, Allan received £925 a month in Employment Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payments. He also got housing benefit to cover his rent.

After the switch to Universal credit, he will lose £440 a month, leaving him with £485. From that, he will have to pay £76 a week rent, meaning he will have just £45 a week to live on.

Allan added: “I’ve suffered from borderline personality disorder along with severe anxiety and depression for five years and have been out of work that whole time.

“I passed medical tests with flying colours for all the benefits I received under Employment Support Allowance.”

To compound his problems, Allan was too ill to attend appointments with the Department for Work to discuss the benefits changeover.

As a result, he won’t receive anything in the first round of payments next week and he’ll have to wait another month for his weekly £45.

Allan from Bo’ness, West Lothian, started his application for Univeral Credit a couple of weeks ago.

Yesterday, he received a phone call saying his benefits were being slashed.

He said: “That phone call made me so upset and angry.

“I was told, ‘There’s nothing we can do. You’ll just have to manage.’”