A MAN with HIV has been told he must still attend a job centre in person even though he faces a walk of up to 12 miles to sign on.

Barry Benson has been told he cannot apply for his benefits by post – despite the fact that a river crossing which links his home with the main road is closed for safety reasons.

The closure means that instead of a half-mile walk to the nearest bus stop, he faces a trek on foot of eight or 12 miles, depending on bus services.

The 40-year-old, who does not have a car, lives in the hamlet of Barforth, between Darlington and Barnard Castle.

Since last October, a bridge over the Tees ,which connects Barforth with the A67 into Darlington, has been closed for safety reasons.

The journey from his house to the Jobcentre, in Bondgate, Darlington, takes him at least two hours. But he said it feels much longer because of his condition. “It does me in,” he said.

He also said the trek was discouraging him in his job hunt.

“I’m trying to get motivated to go back to work, but they are making things harder for me,” he added. “I want to work, but all I am seeing is obstacles put in front of me.”

The Jobcentre can allow special cases to sign-on remotely, and Mr Benson said he fits those criteria.

He said: “They say I live too near to Darlington, but they are not taking into account the bridge, which adds miles onto my journey. All I am asking for is some human decency.”

A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We have ensured Mr Benson’s regular appointment is in the afternoon to help with any travel issues he faces.

“To be eligible for Jobseeker’s Allowance a person must sign an agreement stating they will meet every two weeks with their personal adviser and must be able to demonstrate they are actively seeking work.”

Mr Benson moved into the village about nine months ago, under the assumption that the bridge would soon be fixed.

But a dispute over who the bridge belongs to and who should pay for its repair means it is unlikely to be fixed in the near future.