By JOHN COLES
March 29, 2007

A DEAL Or No Deal winner is moaning his benefits have been stopped — after he pocketed £75,000 on the gameshow.

Retired trucker Doug May, 76, claims he is WORSE off than before he went on the hit TV show.

He says he cannot pay his bills now his £140-a-week handouts in council tax relief and income support have been axed.

He added: “I’ve been left absolutely penniless. I wish I hadn’t put myself forward for the show — it wasn’t worth it.”

Widower Doug, from Newquay, Cornwall, bought a Renault Clio car and cleared his debts after landing the huge prize on Noel Edmonds’ Channel 4 hit.

He claimed he gave the remaining £60,000 to his four children and 12 grandkids.

Doug said: “As soon as the show had been on TV, these social workers came to my house in flashy cars and they wanted to take money off me.

“I told them I’ve got no money left but they say I’ll have to reapply for benefits. It could take months. I have no idea how I’m going to pay the bills. I can’t believe something that made me so happy has ruined my life.”

Doug, registered as disabled because he has limited use of his arms, applied to appear on the show last year.

He was treated to five-star hotel accommodation during filming and appeared on 18 shows until he sat in the hot seat in January.

Anyone with £21,000 in savings does not qualify for council tax relief or income support for social care.

Cornwall County Council said: “If someone’s financial situation has changed then they are free to reapply to the council for funding.”

I wonder if this appeared in any other papers?

DEAL OR NO DEAL WINNER HAS BENEFITS STOPPED

Thursday March 29,2007
By Padraic Flanagan

A MAN who won £75,000 on TV’s Deal or No Deal says it has ruined his life.

Doug May, 76, was delighted when he walked away from Noel Edmonds’ hit show with his windfall back in January.

But as soon as the episode was broadcast on Channel 4 last Friday, eagle-eyed benefit officers swooped to tell him his good fortune meant he was losing £140 a week in council tax relief and pension credit.

By then the retired HGV driver had shared out £60,000 among his four children and 12 grandchildren and spent the rest on a new Renault Cleo Sport car and clearing debts and his outstanding mortgage.

“I’ve been left absolutely penniless,” said Doug, of Newquay, Cornwall. “I went on the show to represent my four children. But I might as well have gone on representing the social services because that’s where the money is going to go.

“I’ve told them I have got no money left – but they say I’ll have to reapply for benefits all over again. It could take months.”

Doug, who has lived alone after his wife Shirley died 20 months ago, is registered as disabled because he has limited use of his arms.

He said: “As soon as the show had been on TV, these social workers came to my house in their flashy cars and just wanted to take money off me. I have no idea how I’m going to pay the bills. I can’t believe something that made me so happy has ruined my life.”

Doug first applied to appear on Deal or No Deal a year ago and said his “dreams came true” when he received an invitation to take part.

“I had a wonderful time and made lots of friends,” he said. “Noel was really nice, even though he kept making the odd joke about me – but it has all gone sour now.”

Doug had to sit through 18 shows before reaching the hot seat.

“For the last three shows the big money had been on the table so although I promised myself I would go on until the end, I found myself dealing,” he said.

“I did have £100,000 in my box but £75,000 was plenty, or at least I thought it would be. Maybe I should have gambled – all of the money has gone now.”

Benefits guidelines say anyone with £21,000 in savings does not qualify for council tax relief, income support or pension credit.

A Cornwall County Council spokesman would only say: “These services are always means-tested but if someone’s financial situation has changed then they are free to reapply to the council for funding.”

The rapid response by benefits officers was praised by the Department for Work and Pensions.

“It shows that the system is working efficiently,” said a spokesman.

29 March 2007
NO DEAL ON BENEFITS

A PENSIONER who won £75,000 on Deal Or No Deal claims the show has ruined his life because all his benefits were axed.

Doug May, 76, netted the cash on Noel Edmonds's hit TV series.

He says after filming in January, he gave £60,000 to his four children and 12 grandchildren.

He also bought a car and paid off debts, including his mortgage.

But after the programme was aired on Friday, Doug claims social services told him he no longer qualifies for benefits.

Doug, of Newquay, Cornwall, said: "I've been left penniless."

Cornwall County Council said benefits are means-tested but anyone is free to reapply.

Pensioner: 'Deal' ruined me
Thursday 29th March

A pensioner has said his life had been ruined after winning £75,000 on the game show Deal Or No Deal.

Doug May said he was representing his four children on the programme, presented by Noel Edmonds, and immediately gave £60,000 to them and his 12 grandchildren.

With the remaining funds the retired HGV driver bought a car and has nothing left but now says his benefits have been stopped.

The 76-year-old, from Newquay, Cornwall, said that after the programme, which was filmed in January and broadcast last week, council officers visited his home and told him he no longer qualified for state money. In total he has lost about £560 a month.

"I've been left absolutely penniless," he said. "I might as well have gone on the show representing social services because that is where the money is going.

"I've told them I have no money left but they have said I'll have to reapply all over again.

"I've no idea how I am going to pay the bills. I can't believe that something that made me so happy has ruined my life."

A spokesman for Cornwall County Council said they could not comment on individual cases.

After talking to a friend of Dougs my understanding of it is that initially he was told if he kept the money he would have his benefits stopped, so it looks like he gave it away and they stopped his benefits anyway,

This is very harsh on Doug, I hope all this gets sorted.

He is a top bloke and giving so much of his winnings to his family is very generous of him.

I am delighted he got caught and exposed. Someone who wins £75,000 tax-free should stop holding the begging bowl out. The benefits system is there for those who need it, not those who do not.

The old "I gave it to my family" line is totally see-through. "There you go, kids, have that money. Me? Don't worry! I'll just keep holding out the begging bowl and the tax-payer will pay for me!"

I can't believe the sheer naivety of some of the reactions here, nor the naive and hateful comment about single mothers and immigrants.

Give me an honest immigrant or single mother any day rather than a man on the fiddle.

Let those who need benefits get *every penny* they deserve. Let Doug and the other fiddlers be shown for what they are.

This is very harsh on Doug, I hope all this gets sorted.

He is a top bloke and giving so much of his winnings to his family is very generous of him.

I am delighted he got caught and exposed. Someone who wins £75,000 tax-free should stop holding the begging bowl out. The benefits system is there for those who need it, not those who do not.

The old "I gave it to my family" line is totally see-through. "There you go, kids, have that money. Me? Don't worry! I'll just keep holding out the begging bowl and the tax-payer will pay for me!"

I can't believe the sheer naivety of some of the reactions here, nor the naive and hateful comment about single mothers and immigrants.

Give me an honest immigrant or single mother any day rather than a man on the fiddle.

Let those who need benefits get *every penny* they deserve. Let Doug and the other fiddlers be shown for what they are.