A father left unable to walk after a road accident has been repeatedly asked to attend jobcentre appointments in person.

Greg Termena, 34, was knocked off his motorbike by an uninsured driver in Teynham, near Sittingbourne, in May on his way home from fishing.

After being airlifted to King’s College Hospital in London, he spent two days in a coma and underwent four surgeries, including a skin graft.

Still recovering from a broken pelvis, fractures to his right leg and dislocated knees, the former welder at Alexandra Security now has no choice but to spend most of his day in a bed so that he can keep his injured leg straight.

Carers visit to help Mr Termena wash and get changed every day.

He is unlikely to make a full recovery for another 18 months.

Having been forced to give up his job and rely on sick pay of £400 a month, he applied for universal credit on June 27.

But despite jobcentres having a duty to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ so that disabled people can apply for help, Mr Termena was told he would have to attend a face-to-face appointment in Sittingbourne on July 13.

He has moved into the front room at the home of his wife Izabela, from whom he is separated, in Lewis Close, Faversham.

Mrs Termena, 41, said: “The way the system works is just horrible. I’m lost for words.”

“He was told that if he didn’t show up, he wouldn’t be able to continue with his universal credit claim.”

Using a borrowed wheelchair, Mrs Termena decided to drive him to the appointment, only to be informed that a member of staff could have come to their home.

And after being assured they had provided all the documents needed to progress his application, they received a message later that day requesting they return with a contract of employment to prove that Mr Termena, who is from Poland, is a long-term resident in the UK.

The jobcentre eventually admitted they had missed a note on his file making them aware of his mobility issues, and has now allowed him to send an electronic copy.

But the ordeal has caused Mrs Termena, who was made redundant from her own job at Kingsfield Care Home earlier this year, considerable mental strain as she cares for her husband and son.

Without Universal Credit, the family are struggling to cover their food and medical prescription bills.

Mrs Termena, who suffers from panic attacks and anxiety, continued: “How much stress do we need to go through, just to get a little bit of help?

“I don’t have the money to continually go to Sittingbourne.

“How much stress do we need to go through, just to get a little bit of help?.." - Izabela Termena

“Greg is fortunate and lucky in that at some point in the future, he is going to recover.

“But there are people who are so much worse off. Why treat them like that?

“There are people who are injured even more, can you imagine if they were told they need to bring in more documents?

“If Greg could go to work he would, but physically, and mentally, it’s not possible.

“If he was living in his own place, he wouldn’t even have money for rent.

“If I didn’t take him in, he would have still been in hospital, or could have ended up homeless. Where would he go?”

James Taylor, the head of policy and campaigns at disability charity Scope, said: “We speak to disabled people every day who face difficulties attending benefit assessments.

“The Government has a duty to make reasonable adjustments and organise alternative arrangements for assessments such as home visits – but disabled people often tell us that this isn’t happening.

“Ahead of further rollout of universal credit, it’s vital the Government fixes the issues disabled people face when applying for the benefit to ensure individuals can quickly access financial support.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “We have been helping Mr Termena with his claim and have apologised to him over the issues he raised.

“His claim was fast-tracked and has been processed.

“Staff understand the mobility issues he has and the support he now needs.”