‘Kafkaesque’: teacher in Birmingham fights to clear his name after identity fraud

Michael Bene, a special needs teacher from Birmingham, is facing a Kafkaesque situation as he battles to clear his name after identity fraud led to a fraudulent universal credit claim in his name. Despite providing evidence that he was in the Scottish Highlands during the supposed verification interview, the Department for Work and Pensions has refused to acknowledge the fraud, leaving him responsible for repaying £763. This case highlights the challenges individuals face when dealing with bureaucratic systems and the urgent need for reforms to protect victims of identity theft.