A SWANSEA citizen who escaped poverty in Liberia claims his children have been plunged into hardship because of the benefits system.

Max Kpakio arrived in the UK seeking asylum in 2002.

Three years later, having been granted British citizenship, he married another asylum seeker, Felicity Kpakio, originally from Zimbabwe.

But the marriage has since broken down, and Mrs Kpakio failed in her asylum bid.

Her estranged husband said she had been forced into destitution, unable to claim UK benefits and provide for their two children.

"My children are living in complete poverty," he said.

"My wife is given £35 a week from the immigration service to provide for them. I am desperately looking for a job but my Jobseekers Allowance barely covers the cost of living," said 32-year- old Mr Kpakio, who lives in Dyfed Avenue, Townhill.

"Our child benefit payments have been cut off.

"I fear for the future of my children, £5 a day is not enough to feed a family of three, let alone provide them with any leisure. They cannot afford to eat properly or enjoy activities that children should be able to do."

Mrs Kpakio is being housed at UK Border Agency accommodation in Winch Wen. In circumstances such as this, limited non-cash support in kind is given to failed asylum seekers who have agreed to return to their country of origin but cannot because of a temporary barrier, as is the case in Zimbabwe.

This form of support is called Section 4 and provides £35 per week per person via a Section 4 Payment Card, which can be used in a variety of supermarkets and other retail outlets.

But as Mrs Kpakio has custody of seven-year-old son Romeo and two-year-old Ronan, her former partner is helpless to provide for his family.

And Mr Kpakio, who suffers from disabilities resulting from suffering polio as a child does not feel able enough to take custody of his boys.

"Social services will not help me, the immigration service will not help me. I cannot understand why the Government is not helping my children, who were both born and raised in Britain."

He added: "They love to play sports but now they are suffering because of the Government."

However, the Home Office said the law was clear in such circumstances.

Jane Farleigh, UK Border Agency regional director for Wales and the South West, said: "People in the asylum system typically live in UK Border Agency accommodation and do not have to pay housing costs, or water, gas, electricity or council tax bills. They are therefore not entitled to access the mainstream benefits system, and we have always been clear that those in the asylum system should not be allowed to work because this could act as a draw for bogus claims.

"It is not right to ask the UK taxpayer to continue to fund those who choose to remain here when they have been found by our caseworkers and the appeal courts to have no grounds to stay.

"An exception is where there is a temporary barrier preventing a failed asylum seeker from returning home through no fault of their own. In such cases, Section 4 support — in the form of accommodation and money via the new Azure card — is given on a temporary basis on condition the failed asylum seeker agrees to return home when the temporary barrier to returning home is removed."

However, Mr Kpakio added: "I am seeking legal advice because, although I am a British citizen, nobody will help my children. I am living in limbo, waiting to see what will happen to my wife, and waiting to see what will happen to my children."

sion.morgan@swwmedia.co.uk