He was only 34 years old.

The reason? He was forced to wait weeks for his first Universal Credit payment — a wait that proved too long, too cruel, and too devastating.

Universal Credit is a UK government welfare program designed to replace six older benefits with a single monthly payment. It’s meant to simplify the welfare system and encourage people to find work. But for many, it’s become a source of hardship.

Like so many others struggling to make ends meet, Phillip Herron was drowning in debt when he quietly applied for Universal Credit — never telling his family just how bad things had gotten.

The 34-year-old father was out of work and barely managing to feed